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A review by meganpeterson77
Have You Seen Luis Velez? by Catherine Ryan Hyde
5.0
4.5 ⭐️
“Have You Seen Luis Velez?” was a pleasant read that is outside my usual repertoire of go-to genres but well worth the read! The book explores both some of the most heart-breaking and heart-warming experiences we can have as human beings. An overall feel-good novel and quick read, the story follows a teenager, Raymond, who befriends a blind ninety-two-year-old woman in his building. Through their growing friendship and Raymond’s quest to find the woman’s former caretaker, the reader experiences the darkest and lightest parts of human nature. This book makes the reader consider: are we someone who is “too busy” to do the right thing (work, kids, etc)? Or is there room to do more, even just simple acts of kindness? The author also calls into question how we treat others who are different than us; there’s a tendency to want to separate “us” vs “them” (consciously or subconsciously), but what if we all worked for one common good and the rights of all? Altogether, Raymond’s journey, and the relationships he builds and mends along the way, remind the reader to: treat everyone well no matter our differences; take the time to do the things that matter even if we’re “busy;” make the most of life no matter what it throws at you; and be grateful for the chance we’ve been given to experience all that life has to offer, both the good and the bad. Overall, I would recommend this book to others!
“Have You Seen Luis Velez?” was a pleasant read that is outside my usual repertoire of go-to genres but well worth the read! The book explores both some of the most heart-breaking and heart-warming experiences we can have as human beings. An overall feel-good novel and quick read, the story follows a teenager, Raymond, who befriends a blind ninety-two-year-old woman in his building. Through their growing friendship and Raymond’s quest to find the woman’s former caretaker, the reader experiences the darkest and lightest parts of human nature. This book makes the reader consider: are we someone who is “too busy” to do the right thing (work, kids, etc)? Or is there room to do more, even just simple acts of kindness? The author also calls into question how we treat others who are different than us; there’s a tendency to want to separate “us” vs “them” (consciously or subconsciously), but what if we all worked for one common good and the rights of all? Altogether, Raymond’s journey, and the relationships he builds and mends along the way, remind the reader to: treat everyone well no matter our differences; take the time to do the things that matter even if we’re “busy;” make the most of life no matter what it throws at you; and be grateful for the chance we’ve been given to experience all that life has to offer, both the good and the bad. Overall, I would recommend this book to others!