The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni (Review by Lara Ferguson )
This book. Captivating, thought provoking, enthralling.
From the moment of his birth, Sam elicits an immediate reaction from those around him. He is, as his mother insists, extraordinary, destined to live an extraordinary life.
But Sam is not so sure. He is just an ordinary boy with a difference he cannot hide, he cannot blend in and oh, how he longs to. This story of his life, with its huge challenges doesn’t sugar coat, doesn’t paint an easy, pretty picture, actually parts of it are horrible, but it does allow us to walk beside this little boy into manhood—and what a man he turns out to be. This book is a testament to how mean children can be, how important excellent parenting is, and how we can all grow up to be who we were meant to be.
We are all different, for some of us, it’s on the inside, easier to camouflage, but for some, the differences impossible to ignore, out there for all to see. Robert Dugoni gives us Sam and his life of love and struggle, seeking and finding. The challenge for all in this book is to find your difference and celebrate it, for we are all extraordinary.