The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni (2018)

One of the best books I’ve read in a long time. I became so attached to the characters that I didn’t want the book to end. The main character and narrator, Sam Hill, was born in 1957 with a condition called ocular albinism, which made his eyes red. In school, he was ostracized and given the nickname “Devil Boy.” Sam takes us back and forth between his childhood and 1989, and then into the present. A significant aspect of his journey depicts the lifelong friendships he develops with two other outcast students, Ernie and Mickie. His Catholic school experiences were all too familiar and cringe-worthy, and at times, I felt like I was reading someone’s memoir. That’s how realistic and compelling I found the characters and storyline in The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell.

I experienced a whole range of emotions: sympathy for Sam’s childhood struggles, anger and heartbreak at the bullying, admiration for his mother’s undying faith and encouragement, revulsion at the acts of a particularly vile character, and hopefulness due to his relationships with Ernie and Mickie. Highly recommend this Robert Dugoni novel for anyone who loves books with a great cast of interesting characters that are part of an emotional journey.