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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I loved this book! Amazing story of friendship and growing up/growing old. So many life lessons in one book!
Read this wonderful book twice it’s that good it will stay with you for a long time.
a feel-good book, but not in a fairytale way
One of the best reads I have ever been lucky enough to come across!
5 stars. Reminds me a bit of Jodi Picoult in that Catherine’s books always makes me think and take me outside of my bubble to look at things from different angles. I found this book to be really well written and thought out and brings a little light to this world. There are quite a few things that can be learned from this and I’m so glad I read it!
Heartwarming read.
This book caused me to consider what’s important in life. Raymond Jaffe, a teenager who has literally just lost his best friend, befriends Mildred Gutermann, age 92. Mildred is blind, lives alone, and has depended on someone named Luis Velez for several years. Luis, who walked her to the bank, to the store, and spent time with her, has suddenly stopped coming. Raymond is on a mission to find Luis, and to figure out why he’s disappeared from Mildred’s life.
This sweet and tender story shows the growing friendship between the two of them, and the unexpected results of Raymond’s search.
The overall thought behind the book, but I thought it was too long.
Just one of the nicest books to read during these times
A friend recommended this book as a possible YA for my students. I have to admit, I wasn’t sure I would like it, but I have to say, the relationship between the two main characters really touched me. This book is a journey. It has wonderful characters from different backgrounds and a sweetness that undercuts its tragedy. I highly recommend it.
I liked it. If everybody read it the world would be a better place.
This is a great book – plan to recommend to my book group – can’t wait to discuss.
I enjoyed this book which was more about an unlikely relationship between a young boy and and elderly lady and learning from eachother
A bit slow but a peasant book. I read it as an audio book, do the various accents made but come alive.
Loved the story and the twist at the end.
Sweet and timely.
I fell in love with the characters. By the end of the book I felt I knew what each person looked like, there expressions and how they talked. The characters Truly came alive.
It is a delightful book. The characters are wonderful There are many times that good advice is given about life and also how a person’s life touches so many others.
Such a great book. Left me feeling good. I’m recommending it to my bookclub.
I’m a huge fan of Catherine Ryan Hyde, and think that this is one of her best. As usual, it is a love story between unusual characters. (Not romantic love, but great love nonetheless.). So good, so inspiring, that I’m sure I will want to re-read this one.