From New York Times bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde comes a feel-good story of four outcasts who learn that some bonds are stronger than blood.
On an isolated Texas ranch, Dr. Lucy cares for abandoned animals. The solitude allows her to avoid the people and places that remind her of the past. Not that any of the townsfolk care. In 1959, no one is interested in a woman doctor. Nor are they … woman doctor. Nor are they welcoming Calvin and Justin Bell, a newly arrived African American father and son.
When Pete Solomon, a neglected twelve-year-old boy, and Justin bring a wounded wolf-dog hybrid to Dr. Lucy, the outcasts soon find refuge in one another. Lucy never thought she’d make connections again, never mind fall in love. Pete never imagined he’d find friends as loyal as Justin and the dog. But these four people aren’t allowed to be friends, much less a family, when the whole town turns violently against them.
With heavy hearts, Dr. Lucy and Pete say goodbye to Calvin and Justin. But through the years they keep hope alive…waiting for the world to catch up with them.
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It’s 1959 and the country is still prejudiced against anyone of color. When an abused 12 year old boy, Pete, finds what he thinks is a dog injured alongside the road he tries to help it and his best friend abandons him. Turned away from the vets because the animal is a cross between a wolf and dog he tries to make it several miles out of town to get help at a lady doctor who he has learned helps animals. Along the way he meets an African American boy by the name of Justin his own age and they strike up an allegiance. His father forbids him to be friends with the young man but he cannot bring himself to tun his back on the boy. When Justin is attacked and Justin’s father arrested the young men become even closer and when he is released they move out of town but he and the doctor remain in contact. Pete’s dad throws him out and he goes to live with the doctor and against all odds they become a family. This is a great coming of age story and about how love can overcome prejudice off all kinds. Great read. I would like to thank the Publishers and Net Galley for the chance to read this ARC.
Catherine Ryan Hyde has written yet another compelling, timeless novel, Say Goodbye for Now. Hyde has a knack for getting to the heart of issues without being preachy, while letting the reader feel the unfairness, distress, or heartache so unavoidable in our everyday lives.
It’s a hot summer day in Texas, 1959, and Pete and a friend are going fishing. Alongside the road the boys find a big dog—maybe even a wolf—that has something wrong with its leg. Maybe it was hit by a car. Pete’s friend doesn’t want to bother with the injured animal and continues with his fishing plans. But Pete just can’t leave the animal to suffer; he has to do something.
He returns to his home and gets an old wagon from the garage, returns, and manages to get the big dog into his wagon to seek help. On the way he meets a black boy, Justin, who walks along with Pete and the dog. The boys get to know each other and realize they might become friends.
They arrive at Dr. Lucy’s. She’s a crusty middle-aged lady who is actually licensed to practice medicine in Texas, but instead lives off her alimony and takes in stray and injured animals, all kinds of animals. She has retired race horses, dogs, birds, even a pig. She treats the injured animal Pete brings to her, and is quite certain it is part dog, part wolf. Pete forms a strong attachment to the dog whom he names Prince.
When Pete returns home, he’s in trouble for being so late, for being where he hadn’t permission to go, and also for being seen with a black boy. His father whips him so severely, he draws blood.
The next time Pete sees his friend Justin, he finds him terribly beaten. The boy claims white men beat him. Pete immediately takes him to Dr. Lucy’s. She recognizes serious head injuries and contacts the boy’s father, Calvin, for permission to treat him.
As Pete, Justin, Dr. Lucy and Calvin’s relationships grow, there are complications. Black people have little recourse for injustices; segregation is the norm. Texans are openly intolerant of minorities. Interracial marriages are against the law.
Say Goodbye for Now spans from 1959 to 1967, years that saw changes in law, and changes in attitude. I loved this book and especially appreciated Hyde’s unflinching treatment of interracial relationships.
A character driven novel that you can’t put down until you know how it ends.
Say Goodbye For Now was an excellent book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Pete Solomon and his friend are on their way to go fishing when they find a dog that has been hit by a car. Pete can not leave the dog there to die. This is the beginning of his friendships with Justin Bell and Dr. Lucy Armstrong. It also begins the unraveling of his contentious relationship with his father. Again this is an excellent read and one of my favorites of the year. I would highly recommend it.
One of my favorite authors. This was in a recommendation and not sure why I kept passing it over, but so glad I did not. The writing reminds me of Jodi Picoult, in that the stories make you think and I get completely engrossed. Very well written and poignant.
I could read the phone book if Catherine Ryan Hyde wrote it her books are so moving and stay with you long after you finish
Amazing story about two boys and wolf-dog and a man and woman who find each other and form an unconventional family even though the world is a harsh place for those who chose to not see black and white, but instead see a person. Heartwarming book showing how love and kindness are the most important thing.
This is a serious book that deals with tough issues. I liked it and would recommend it, but it is heavy at times.
Bad time in history, Excellent book!
Relatable characters living in messed up times. A few bad things are worked through here in a very thoughtful and honest manner. Loved it!
Should be required reading. So thankful times are better.
Say Goodbye for now is my first book by Catherine Ryan and I’m in awe with her writing.
Say Goodbye for now is a story of compassion, hope, and kindness a story that shows us that we don’t choose our parents and family but we do choose our friends, friends that eventually can become more important and closer than those who are supposed to love us.
Pete is just an 11-year-old boy who is trying to live his life, making new friends even if that meant having problems with his father. Pete was an amazing “hero” he was kind and gentle trying to understand life. He didn’t understand why his father didn’t care about him or love him the way other kids were.. he had a rough life in his house so he is trying to make a better one with his new friends.
Dr.Lucy was trying to forget her past, a past that kept lurking at all times reminding her what she lost. she was always kind and helpful whenever someone needed her help but also was guarded as the town didn’t like a woman Dr. she helped everyone in need, including Horses, Dogs, and many other animals who were healing at her sanctuary. Her life was quiet and lonely until things happen and a young boy comes knocking at her door, seeking help for his beautiful friend Prince.
Gossip, fear, injustice, and Racism was the main motive of the town, they lived in fear always pointing fingers to everybody in specially Dr.Lucy as she was an enigma to many of them but wanted to see her gone.
Calvin and Justin’s life wasn’t the greatest, people around town didn’t like them or wanted to have any type of relationship with them until things got out of control. Desperate seeking help Calving knocks on Dr. Lucy’s door knowing she was the last and the only resort they have to heal Justin and bring him back to health. they didn’t know their life was about to change, new friends, new love, new stories that will bring more compassion and unity that any of them ever felt.
One of the reasons I love this book was that each character in the book was going through the same type of feelings and situations, even if each story was different all of them needed love and compassion to continue their paths. Eventually, with the help and understanding of each one of these amazing characters, they started to build a big family, a family that understood and needed to feel whole again.
I really disliked Pete’s Dad, he was a very narrowed-minded man, who was only looking for his own interests even if that meant hurting other people and not caring and loving his own son. he was a racist, sick man with no future or company around, he was all alone with his own demons.
A beautiful story that will bring tears, so much love, and compassion.
I love how Catherine Ryan Hyde’s characters mentor each other.
Wonderfully written story that takes place in the 50’s in a town in Texas that displays racial prejudice of a friendship between two young teens of different color. The boys only see a friendship. The tension is strong for Pete and his father and keeps building as Pete hides where he’s been going daily and who he’s associating with. The author does a wonderful job with character development including the animals. Can Dr Lucy’s maintain her role in helping the broken who come to her door whether it is animal or human? Lucy has built this wall around her heart but gradually she finds the ability to find love and patience.
Loved this book! The characters are so well developed, you feel like you know them. Her style of writing is so easy to read. Love her!
I like all her books but this one was the introduction to her work and set the stage for my enjoyment of others. The characters are well-developed and always teach me something about life: perseverance, respect for life, independent thought, consciousness. I am grateful to spend time with a good book and these have never disappointed.
Loved this book about real times.
Two stories beginning in the 1950’s intertwine–that of two young boys’ interracial friendship and two adults’ interracial romance–to make a poignant tale of racial discrimination and the determination to do what’s right.
I loved this book. The picture of a wolf or husky on the cover drew me in. The story is about kids, canines, adults, compassion, loyalty and prejudice set in 1960’s segregated Texas. Reading this book made me feel like I was there.
It involved the struggles of interacial friendships and relationships and how far we have come thru this. A very heatrwarming and true to life scenario thru the times. And to prevail thru all hardships. Very touching, a page turner.
This was the best book I have read in a long time. I highly recommend this book. I had a hard time putting it down.