An Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestseller.
New York Times bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde brings heartwarming authenticity to the story of two strangers who find that kindness is a powerful antidote to fear. Raymond Jaffe feels like he doesn’t belong. Not with his mother’s new family. Not as a weekend guest with his father and his father’s wife. Not at school, where he’s an … father’s wife. Not at school, where he’s an outcast. After his best friend moves away, Raymond has only two real connections: to the feral cat he’s tamed and to a blind ninety-two-year-old woman in his building who’s introduced herself with a curious question: Have you seen Luis Velez?
Mildred Gutermann, a German Jew who narrowly escaped the Holocaust, has been alone since her caretaker disappeared. She turns to Raymond for help, and as he tries to track Luis down, a deep and unexpected friendship blossoms between the two.
Despondent at the loss of Luis, Mildred isolates herself further from a neighborhood devolving into bigotry and fear. Determined not to let her give up, Raymond helps her see that for every terrible act the world delivers, there is a mirror image of deep kindness, and Mildred helps Raymond see that there’s hope if you have someone to hold on to.
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Every times I read a Catherine Ryan Hyde book, my heart gets trounced upon! This story is so rich with characters to love and subjects to pause and give some serious thought! This book is a great book for book clubs and discussions! I listened to the audio which is such a beautiful rendition and marvelously performed!
If you love a book about overcoming obstacles and a book that will make you cry and make you smile, you will love Catherine Ryan Hyde’s new book. I loved it! The character development of seventeen-year-old Raymond and his friendship with a 92 year-old blind neighbor, Millie, is a beautiful journey of overcoming obstacles and forming a deep friendship. Raymond, who is bi-racial, lives with his mother, stepfather, and three step-sisters. He is bi-ratial. Twice a month he goes to his father’s who has a new wife.
Raymond meets Millie, by chance, one day in the hall. She hawk him if he has seen Luis Velez. Luis has not been to Millie’s in seventeen days. Luis helps Millie by running errands, bringing her food etc. You owe it to yourself to read this beautiful story. Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This beautiful story of friendship between a teenage boy and an elderly woman touched my heart and moved me. A tragedy brought an unlikely set of people together to create both family and community. Although I found the ending to be a bit weak, I would still highly recommend this book for its soul and wisdom.
All of Ryan-Hyde’s books are good, but this is one of her best yet!
One of the best books I’ve ever read.
I admit I did not finish this book, but I didn’t care for the quality of the writing.
I was drawn to this book by the title and cover. I did not know anything about it. Sometimes things come to you for a reason and I guess I know the type of book I would enjoy.
The little I read about the plot was enough for me to know that this book was meant for me. I have always befriended people older than me. Most women have their hearts overflowing with love for a newborn. That is not me. Yes, they are cute, cuddly and little angels, but my heart is always touched more by an older person.
They are wise and know from all the years of living that there are so many things in life that are not important. They know what is important and do not sweat the small stuff. I learn so much from them. I have been very fortunate in my life to always have the grounding that an older friend gives to me.
When I read that this book revolved around the relationship of Raymond, a seventeen-year-old young man and Millie, a ninety-two year old blind women, I was already hooked. I love stories that have an older person in them. I adore the relationships that can be developed, if people would just open their hearts.
I went into reading the book with no other knowledge and I want the same for other readers. I would suggest that you do not dig deeper into reviews to find out more. The story is best experienced with no knowledge of it. Knowing too much is not good sometimes.
I absolutely loved this book and I hope many people find their way to read it. If the world had more Raymonds and Millies in it, it would be a much better place for us all.
I want to thank NetGalley.com and Lake Union Publishing for giving me the wonderful gift of allowing me to read the ARC. My opinion was not influenced at all by them.
Please read this excellent story and open your heart to the special friendship of Raymond and Millie.
Another winner from one of my favorite authors
I’ve read a lot of author Hyde’s books and enjoyed them all. They make the reader FEEL – happiness, sadness and all points in between.
HAVE YOU SEEN LUIS VELEZ? is a mix of sad and feel good.
17 year-old Raymond lives with his mom, stepdad and sisters in a walk up apartment in New York City. Every other weekend he spends with his dad and his new wife elsewhere in the city.
One day one of his neighbors, a 92 year old blind woman, Millie, who is concerned about a man who used to help her with errands – Luis Velez. She hasn’t seen or heard from him for 17 days and is worried about him.
This is the start of an unusual friendship between Raymond and Millie. Raymond helps her with her errands and takes it upon himself to try to track down Luis.
I loved this story. I loved the characters, the storyline, the settings. It is a story of friendship, of empathy, of hope but also of despair and prejudice.
I highly recommend this book by the best-selling author of PAY IT FORWARD.
I received this book from Lake Union Publishing through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.
I loved this book from the first page, I wanted to read it slowly so I could enjoy for a long time but I just couldn’t put it down. I was so disappointed when I finished it, I wanted it to go on & on.