What do you think?
Rate this book
Just a Regular Boy
An orphaned boy raised by a survivalist wends his way into the real world in an emotional novel about hope, fears, and found family by New York Times bestselling author Catherine Ryan Hyde.
Out there is chaos, the collapse of society, and so much to be afraid of. All that matters is freedom.
That’s what Remy Blake has been taught by his survivalist father. Raised off the grid in the middle of nowhere, his own survival skills not yet honed, Remy is days shy of his eighth birthday when his father unexpectedly dies. As seasons pass, supplies run out, and fending for himself grows more desperate, Remy sets out on foot, unprepared for the great unknown of civilization.
He is found—near feral, silent, and terrified—in the small rural town of Blaire. To Anne, a nurturing mother of two adopted teenagers who’s still dealing with her own childhood rejections, Remy is not a lost cause. Just a challenging one. As Remy cautiously adapts to his new foster home, his family wants nothing more than to reassure him that he can trust the world. But to do so, they must first reexamine how much they trust the world themselves, and how much they should. As Remy’s journey into the real world begins, figuring out how to navigate it becomes a path they will have to learn to walk together.
Out there is chaos, the collapse of society, and so much to be afraid of. All that matters is freedom.
That’s what Remy Blake has been taught by his survivalist father. Raised off the grid in the middle of nowhere, his own survival skills not yet honed, Remy is days shy of his eighth birthday when his father unexpectedly dies. As seasons pass, supplies run out, and fending for himself grows more desperate, Remy sets out on foot, unprepared for the great unknown of civilization.
He is found—near feral, silent, and terrified—in the small rural town of Blaire. To Anne, a nurturing mother of two adopted teenagers who’s still dealing with her own childhood rejections, Remy is not a lost cause. Just a challenging one. As Remy cautiously adapts to his new foster home, his family wants nothing more than to reassure him that he can trust the world. But to do so, they must first reexamine how much they trust the world themselves, and how much they should. As Remy’s journey into the real world begins, figuring out how to navigate it becomes a path they will have to learn to walk together.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 2, 2023
About the author
Catherine Ryan Hyde
61 books5,794 followersCatherine Ryan Hyde is the author of 44 published and forthcoming books.
Her newer releases are Dreaming of Flight, Boy Underground, Seven Perfect Things, My Name is Anton, Brave Girl, Quiet Girl, Stay, Have You Seen Luis Velez?, Just After Midnight, Heaven Adjacent, The Wake Up, Allie and Bea, Say Goodbye for Now, Leaving Blythe River, Ask Him Why, Worthy, The Language of Hoofbeats, Take Me With You, Walk Me Home, and When I Found You.
Forthcoming are So Long, Chester Wheeler, and Just a Regular Boy..
Other novels include When You Were Older, Where We Belong, Don’t Let Me Go, Second Hand Heart, Jumpstart the World, Becoming Chloe, Love in the Present Tense, The Year of My Miraculous Reappearance, Chasing Windmills, The Day I Killed James, and Diary of a Witness.
She is co-author, with publishing industry blogger Anne R. Allen, of How to be a Writer in the E-Age: a Self-Help Guide.
Her bestselling 1999 novel Pay It Forward was made into a major Warner Brothers motion picture. It was chosen by the American Library Association for its Best Books for Young Adults list, and translated into more than two dozen languages for distribution in over 30 countries. Simon & Schuster released a special 15th anniversary edition in December of ’14.
Pay It Forward: Young Readers Edition, an age-appropriate edited edition of the original novel, was released by Simon & Schuster in August of ‘14. It is suitable for children as young as eight.
You can learn much more about Catherine at www.catherineryanhyde.com
Her newer releases are Dreaming of Flight, Boy Underground, Seven Perfect Things, My Name is Anton, Brave Girl, Quiet Girl, Stay, Have You Seen Luis Velez?, Just After Midnight, Heaven Adjacent, The Wake Up, Allie and Bea, Say Goodbye for Now, Leaving Blythe River, Ask Him Why, Worthy, The Language of Hoofbeats, Take Me With You, Walk Me Home, and When I Found You.
Forthcoming are So Long, Chester Wheeler, and Just a Regular Boy..
Other novels include When You Were Older, Where We Belong, Don’t Let Me Go, Second Hand Heart, Jumpstart the World, Becoming Chloe, Love in the Present Tense, The Year of My Miraculous Reappearance, Chasing Windmills, The Day I Killed James, and Diary of a Witness.
She is co-author, with publishing industry blogger Anne R. Allen, of How to be a Writer in the E-Age: a Self-Help Guide.
Her bestselling 1999 novel Pay It Forward was made into a major Warner Brothers motion picture. It was chosen by the American Library Association for its Best Books for Young Adults list, and translated into more than two dozen languages for distribution in over 30 countries. Simon & Schuster released a special 15th anniversary edition in December of ’14.
Pay It Forward: Young Readers Edition, an age-appropriate edited edition of the original novel, was released by Simon & Schuster in August of ‘14. It is suitable for children as young as eight.
You can learn much more about Catherine at www.catherineryanhyde.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,182 reviews
June 1, 2023
Remy's mother passed away and his Dad sold the house. Remy and his Dad, Roy moved off the grid in the middle of nowhere, in the wilderness. Roy was a survivalist. They lived in a tiny unadorned cabin. It was no bigger than their old one car garage and it didn't have electricity.
Remy's Dad told Remy, "We'll have the most important thing a person could have: freedom. And the greatest freedom there is, well thats got to be the freedom to survive what's coming. If you don't survive then you got nothing."Remy had never asked what was coming. He didn't figure it was anything he wanted to know.
Roy also taught Remy not to talk to strangers because people might kill you. He thought that the world was coming to an end. Roy then dies from a heart attack and Remy was only eight years old. Remy is in the wilderness all by himself. He does everything he can to survive.
After awhile he is found. He is near feral, silent and afraid. Anne a mother of two adopted teenagers, finds Remy. Remy is very challenging.
As Remy cautiously adapts to his new foster home his family wants to reassure him that he can trust the world. Remy just wants to be a regular boy.
I really loved this book. I am a picky contemporary reader and this book is a winner. It is worth every star.
I just loved Remy. My heart broke for him. His Dad made me so mad. Remy was such a sweet boy. He just went through so much and he was only eight years old. Remy never felt like a regular boy. I admired his foster Mom. Such a wonderful Mom! She adopted three foster kids and did such a great job.
All of the characters were done so well. The title of this book was perfect.
I want to thank Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 2, 2023
4.5 Stars!!!
A deeply moving and satisfying novel from Catherine Ryan Hyde!
Storytelling at its best!
"Out there is chaos, the collapse of society, and so much to be afraid of. All that matters is freedom."
These are just some of the things five year old, Remy Blake's survivalist father preaches to him. Now he's being raised off the grid by his father in the middle of nowhere.
The story is told from Remy as well as another character, Anne's point of view. Anne is a nurturing mother of two who is dealing with the recent loss of a foster child her family loved who is no longer in their care. Anne also has some childhood issues she hasn't yet dealt with.
Just a Regular Boy was a heartwarming and at times heart wrenching read. Catherine Ryan Hyde is skilled at getting readers to empathize, sympathize, and understand her characters. She writes with such emotional honesty and appears to have a great understanding of people. She creates characters you can't help but cheer for. Many I wish I knew in real life. Her animal characters always brighten my day too.
I picked this up with the intention of just reading a few pages. About 10 pages in I realized I didn't want to stop reading as I really wanted to see how things worked out.
This moving story takes place during the height of the Covid pandemic and deals with relevant issues in a sensitive way.
A story about grief, loss, love, friendship, and the different kinds of family. A hopeful and inspiring read.
Catherine Ryan Hyde is the author of more than forty books. It has been a while since I've read one of her novels. I read quite a few of them a few years ago and loved them all. Many of the stories have stayed with me.
After thoroughly enjoying this novel, I can't wait to catch up on any that I may have missed!
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.
April 10, 2023
My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
Twitter - Amazon - Storygraph - The Book Review Crew
My first thought after finishing this book was I wish I could give it ten stars. I loved this book so much that I read it in a single sitting. I love Catherine Ryan Hyde books and have read everything she has ever written. I would read a grocery list if she wrote it! Please don't read too much into the blurb, it's not really about a survivalist, it's about what it did to a five to eight year old boy emotionally and how a nearly broken Anne helps bring him back and how he also healed her. in his own way. Anne and Remy really grow and learn from each other.
This one is from two points of view, we have five-year-old Remy and his foster to adopt mother Anne. Remy's situation broke my heart but by the end of the book he and Anne and their family helped put the pieces back together again. It was such an emotional story, it was intense and sad but also very compassionate. I will be thinking of this story for years to come. I hugged the book when done.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
My first thought after finishing this book was I wish I could give it ten stars. I loved this book so much that I read it in a single sitting. I love Catherine Ryan Hyde books and have read everything she has ever written. I would read a grocery list if she wrote it! Please don't read too much into the blurb, it's not really about a survivalist, it's about what it did to a five to eight year old boy emotionally and how a nearly broken Anne helps bring him back and how he also healed her. in his own way. Anne and Remy really grow and learn from each other.
This one is from two points of view, we have five-year-old Remy and his foster to adopt mother Anne. Remy's situation broke my heart but by the end of the book he and Anne and their family helped put the pieces back together again. It was such an emotional story, it was intense and sad but also very compassionate. I will be thinking of this story for years to come. I hugged the book when done.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
April 20, 2023
Remy Blake was five years old when his survivalist father sold their home in Pocatello, leaving Remy's best friend Lester, and Lester's family, and driving high up into the wilderness where he'd bought land, preparing for this day, which had a small, very basic cottage for them to live in. Roy Blake knew the world was beginning to fall to pieces, that the killings would begin and he and Remy would be the only survivors. But Remy had no natural instinct for the woods and with the world narrowed to their existence, Remy tried to do as his father said. But the day his father died, when Remy was only seven, was when Remy's nightmare really began.
Eventually, starving, thirsty, mute and terrified, Remy knew his life was ending. The small town of Blaire, where he'd been existing in the nearby woods, was where he gave himself up. The doctors and nurses who tended him were horrified at old injuries that hadn't been treated, the state of this wild child, but Anne, a caring foster parent, knew that this poor child needed saving. Anne and Chris already had two foster children whom they'd adopted - she knew she would do the same to the broken child laying in hospital. But would Remy become a survivor? Or would his fragility crush him?
Catherine Ryan Hyde has a magical way with words. Her passion for the story, the empathy shown for Remy in Just a Regular Boy shines through. Her plots are always different, spectacular, and all I have read of this author's have been 5+★ reads. This one is no exception! Remy is an amazing character, with a strength he was unaware he had. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Eventually, starving, thirsty, mute and terrified, Remy knew his life was ending. The small town of Blaire, where he'd been existing in the nearby woods, was where he gave himself up. The doctors and nurses who tended him were horrified at old injuries that hadn't been treated, the state of this wild child, but Anne, a caring foster parent, knew that this poor child needed saving. Anne and Chris already had two foster children whom they'd adopted - she knew she would do the same to the broken child laying in hospital. But would Remy become a survivor? Or would his fragility crush him?
Catherine Ryan Hyde has a magical way with words. Her passion for the story, the empathy shown for Remy in Just a Regular Boy shines through. Her plots are always different, spectacular, and all I have read of this author's have been 5+★ reads. This one is no exception! Remy is an amazing character, with a strength he was unaware he had. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
April 17, 2023
'You look at the world, see it for exactly what it is, and then make this conscious choice to be a part of it.'
Remy is just five years old when, having recently lost his mother, his father, decides to escape the threats of society and 'enslavement' to authority, to become a survivalist. Roy takes Remy with him to a small cabin in the remote woodlands, determined to be done with society and its imminent downfall. Remy is relied upon to carry his weight by doing chores and living 'like a man' within Roy's egalitarian ideals. When Roy unexpectedly dies, the real story of survival begins.
Told in a dual narrative, we learn that Anne has been ignoring her troubled marriage and instead concentrates on finding another child to foster; to prove that no child is truly unlovable. Anne soon learns, after Remy moves in, that actually it's everyone who is fighting for their own survival, 'We walk around thinking we're different from everybody else. Thinking it's just us.'
'Just a Regular Boy' is a very engaging and readable book. Written during the COVID pandemic, when we were all scared and isolated, for me it clearly draws parallels with how people isolate in fear, lash out like angry wounded animals and resent what society has inflected upon them. However, the realisation is that bad things happen, sadly, around us every day but we need to choose to move past them and not give them extraordinary credence or consideration. 'people can hurt you, and that's true, but they usually don't, and anyway, nothing is worse than being alone. So if you make yourself all alone, then you're hurting yourself as bad as anybody else could ever hurt you.' My only slight criticism is I believed Remy articulated his thoughts and emotions well beyond a small child's capability. However, I would definitely recommend this as a short, thoughtful read with lessons for all of us.
Remy is just five years old when, having recently lost his mother, his father, decides to escape the threats of society and 'enslavement' to authority, to become a survivalist. Roy takes Remy with him to a small cabin in the remote woodlands, determined to be done with society and its imminent downfall. Remy is relied upon to carry his weight by doing chores and living 'like a man' within Roy's egalitarian ideals. When Roy unexpectedly dies, the real story of survival begins.
Told in a dual narrative, we learn that Anne has been ignoring her troubled marriage and instead concentrates on finding another child to foster; to prove that no child is truly unlovable. Anne soon learns, after Remy moves in, that actually it's everyone who is fighting for their own survival, 'We walk around thinking we're different from everybody else. Thinking it's just us.'
'Just a Regular Boy' is a very engaging and readable book. Written during the COVID pandemic, when we were all scared and isolated, for me it clearly draws parallels with how people isolate in fear, lash out like angry wounded animals and resent what society has inflected upon them. However, the realisation is that bad things happen, sadly, around us every day but we need to choose to move past them and not give them extraordinary credence or consideration. 'people can hurt you, and that's true, but they usually don't, and anyway, nothing is worse than being alone. So if you make yourself all alone, then you're hurting yourself as bad as anybody else could ever hurt you.' My only slight criticism is I believed Remy articulated his thoughts and emotions well beyond a small child's capability. However, I would definitely recommend this as a short, thoughtful read with lessons for all of us.
September 13, 2023
This is the 12th book I have read by Ms Hyde. I find her books can be hit or miss, either spot on or a big miss, but sometimes in between. This is one of her best, another five star read and a recent one as she has written 40 something books.
This book was about many things; a survivalist parent taking his five year old son to live in a cabin in the woods near the Canadian border, about whether you can love a parent who does bad things to you, about fostering, about fear and school shootings, about dealing with fear every day and many other things. But mostly it is about love and trust.
I loved it and what we can learn about ourselves and others by noticing. Good stuff.
This book was about many things; a survivalist parent taking his five year old son to live in a cabin in the woods near the Canadian border, about whether you can love a parent who does bad things to you, about fostering, about fear and school shootings, about dealing with fear every day and many other things. But mostly it is about love and trust.
I loved it and what we can learn about ourselves and others by noticing. Good stuff.
May 24, 2023
After a couple of mentally and emotionally challenging books, I found this one to be be like eating a brownie after being forced to eat spinach. And I love spinach. It's just a very different taste experience for my mouth, as this kind of book is for my soul. I knew it would be, having read a couple of other Ryan Hyde books. They go down smoothly and easily and leave a nice sweet residue.
A person simply has to root for Remy, forced to live the unimaginable based on his father's decisions. Was it realistic? Probably not, but that's OK for me in a fiction novel. I wanted a Hallmarkish read, and this one fit the bill. I want to believe in the goodness of people and the possibility of redemption and resilience, and this story provides all that. Watching the trust grow between Remy and his new foster mother was like what I see in the challenging kids out there....they have excellent antennas for who deserves the trust and who doesn't. And once you earn it, miracles happen. Not all at once, but over time, over experiences, over open wounds becoming thickened scars that can handle the pressure.
My undying gratitude for all the people out there who are willing and able to take on the care of those needing it when their own families can't/won't. And bless Ryan Hyde for capturing that pretty darn well, at least for some of those struggling young people out there. It's not always this "easy", but it can happen eventually.
A person simply has to root for Remy, forced to live the unimaginable based on his father's decisions. Was it realistic? Probably not, but that's OK for me in a fiction novel. I wanted a Hallmarkish read, and this one fit the bill. I want to believe in the goodness of people and the possibility of redemption and resilience, and this story provides all that. Watching the trust grow between Remy and his new foster mother was like what I see in the challenging kids out there....they have excellent antennas for who deserves the trust and who doesn't. And once you earn it, miracles happen. Not all at once, but over time, over experiences, over open wounds becoming thickened scars that can handle the pressure.
My undying gratitude for all the people out there who are willing and able to take on the care of those needing it when their own families can't/won't. And bless Ryan Hyde for capturing that pretty darn well, at least for some of those struggling young people out there. It's not always this "easy", but it can happen eventually.
April 6, 2023
4.5 Stars
I always take the opportunity to read Catherine Ryan Hyde authored books. She has a formula that appeals to me. It usually involves a youth that is wise before their time, has endured much strife, and triumphs over adversity. There is profound dialogue and many touching moments. She executed these points on all fronts with aplomb.
This particular story involves a 5 year old boy named Remy. When his mother passes away, the father (who is a survivalist) sells the family home and moves with Remy to a bare bones cabin out in the boondocks...off the grid. The dad influences his son never to go near the road or to interact with the rare person who might drive by. He breeds a sense of distrust in his son and of the state of the world beyond their secret location. Without giving away the remainder of the book, suffice it to say that Remy experiences injuries, loneliness, extreme hunger, fear and despair before circumstances intervene to bring him back from the brink. My experience with this book was one of being riveted, in wonder at the compassion of human beings, and at times welled up with tears. Bravo, Catherine Ryan Hyde...you've done it again!
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
I always take the opportunity to read Catherine Ryan Hyde authored books. She has a formula that appeals to me. It usually involves a youth that is wise before their time, has endured much strife, and triumphs over adversity. There is profound dialogue and many touching moments. She executed these points on all fronts with aplomb.
This particular story involves a 5 year old boy named Remy. When his mother passes away, the father (who is a survivalist) sells the family home and moves with Remy to a bare bones cabin out in the boondocks...off the grid. The dad influences his son never to go near the road or to interact with the rare person who might drive by. He breeds a sense of distrust in his son and of the state of the world beyond their secret location. Without giving away the remainder of the book, suffice it to say that Remy experiences injuries, loneliness, extreme hunger, fear and despair before circumstances intervene to bring him back from the brink. My experience with this book was one of being riveted, in wonder at the compassion of human beings, and at times welled up with tears. Bravo, Catherine Ryan Hyde...you've done it again!
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
April 4, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own
TW: COVID-19, Death of a character, Generational Trauma, Scenes of hunting and killing an animal.
Once I start a Catherine Ryan Hyde novel, there is no way that I can physically put the book down. Her characters always hit their target right in the middle of my heart. Remy, an orphaned boy surviving in the woods, and Anne, the foster mother that takes Remy into the home she shares with her husband and two children kept me up past my bedtime last night. I liked this novel for its positive depiction of foster care. The characters and conversations were very realistic.
However, I did raise an eyebrow at police officials needing a child who had experienced trauma to revisit the scene of that experience.
Overall, a heartwarming story.
Expected Publication Date 02/05/23
Goodreads Review Published 04/04/23
#JustaRegularBoy #NetGalley.
TW: COVID-19, Death of a character, Generational Trauma, Scenes of hunting and killing an animal.
Once I start a Catherine Ryan Hyde novel, there is no way that I can physically put the book down. Her characters always hit their target right in the middle of my heart. Remy, an orphaned boy surviving in the woods, and Anne, the foster mother that takes Remy into the home she shares with her husband and two children kept me up past my bedtime last night. I liked this novel for its positive depiction of foster care. The characters and conversations were very realistic.
However, I did raise an eyebrow at police officials needing a child who had experienced trauma to revisit the scene of that experience.
Overall, a heartwarming story.
Expected Publication Date 02/05/23
Goodreads Review Published 04/04/23
#JustaRegularBoy #NetGalley.
May 17, 2023
✰ 4 stars ✰
“This is something you do with your eyes open. You look at the world, see it for exactly what it is, and then make this conscious choice to be part of it.”
There was absolutely nothing regular about Just a Regular Boy, Catherine Ryan Hyde's latest book that was as beautifully written and heart-breaking as the previous work that I read of hers. She has such a gift with words - that transport you right into the heart and mind of the characters, that you can visibly feel the intense emotions that envelope them at any given moment. Told through the eyes of two alternating perspectives of Remy and Anne, we are presented a honestly raw glimpse into two different sides of humanity - how it can be both ugly and pure at the same time.
The time Remy spent out in the wilderness as a young child, alone in the cabin, with only his father as his sole companion, completely cut off from society and civilization and made to believe that humanity had changed and was a danger to his survival - those moments were absolutely devastating and heart-wrenching to even read. 💔💔 How he struggled so hard for his survival - how he fought to make ends meet - how he despaired in vain - how he forgot even how to express his emotions, simply because he just didn't know what was right or wrong.
Catherine Ryan Hyde left no chance for not taking prisoners with prose that echoed with such ache and sadness and loss of innocence. I would have been more than satisfied if the story was told entirely from his POV, but we had to see - had to know - how his paths would cross - by the chance of fate - or circumstance - with Anne, a foster mother determined to find that one case - that one child - that she needed to save - not only for himself, but for her own personal reasons.
It took me awhile to warm up to Anne - it may be my own personal reasons that made it hard for me to find her likable at first, especially as how she described her urgent necessary compulsion for fostering a child that was so broken that she could find a way to heal. But, when their fated meeting occurred - in a flash of light - their searing connection was formed - a bond so unbreakable - unmistakably certain that she would be the one to help him find a way back into society - for him to shed the darkness and misconceptions his father had ingrained into his mind and heart - then, I knew that it was really the best fit for them, both.
“Son,” the man said, “on behalf of the world and all of humankind, I apologize for the hell you had to go through in your short life so far. I have no idea why so much gets dumped on any one person, especially just a little slip of a child, but, damn, boy. That’s a tough row you had to hoe.”
There was such a soft tender approach to how Anne and her family helped Remy adjust to society again - it was even more interesting that as it was depicting a time during the COVID pandemic - life already had it's own changes that wasn't the norm. So to see how Remy reacted to it all - what was the new normal and how he tried to grasp the difference between the ways of living and how much he had lost during his time of isolation and for him to unlearn everything that he had been taught - it made me tear up so many times.
I especially loved the scenes where Anne's children were able to make him comfortable around them - opening up about their own problems - sharing their own personal fears and issues - and that scene, where he was finally able to overcome his fear of dogs as he was forever haunted by his past encounters with the savage beasts - it was too raw - too touching and too perfect. 🥺🥺 For as Anne told the mother of his best friend from his previous life - underneath the sadness and the pain, there is still the heart of the pure boy he was once before - that he never lost that side of him that still effortlessly shined - bright and beautiful. 🌟
Just an exceptionally poignant moving story - the author has a mastery of her words that she can bring out the rawest of emotions in the simple way she writes. I'll never be able to forget how she painfully described Remy's return to the cabin that had been his captivity - how he violently reacted upon the reminder of his beloved mother - how he tearfully clung to his best friend who never forgot or gave up on him - how he respectfully let go of his father's memory in order for him to move on - you can't just create feelings like that in words - you have to believe them. And Ms.Hyde has proven once again to me that her books can hit you in the heart - no matter how hard you will try to fight it. I know - I no longer can. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
“This is something you do with your eyes open. You look at the world, see it for exactly what it is, and then make this conscious choice to be part of it.”
There was absolutely nothing regular about Just a Regular Boy, Catherine Ryan Hyde's latest book that was as beautifully written and heart-breaking as the previous work that I read of hers. She has such a gift with words - that transport you right into the heart and mind of the characters, that you can visibly feel the intense emotions that envelope them at any given moment. Told through the eyes of two alternating perspectives of Remy and Anne, we are presented a honestly raw glimpse into two different sides of humanity - how it can be both ugly and pure at the same time.
The time Remy spent out in the wilderness as a young child, alone in the cabin, with only his father as his sole companion, completely cut off from society and civilization and made to believe that humanity had changed and was a danger to his survival - those moments were absolutely devastating and heart-wrenching to even read. 💔💔 How he struggled so hard for his survival - how he fought to make ends meet - how he despaired in vain - how he forgot even how to express his emotions, simply because he just didn't know what was right or wrong.
Catherine Ryan Hyde left no chance for not taking prisoners with prose that echoed with such ache and sadness and loss of innocence. I would have been more than satisfied if the story was told entirely from his POV, but we had to see - had to know - how his paths would cross - by the chance of fate - or circumstance - with Anne, a foster mother determined to find that one case - that one child - that she needed to save - not only for himself, but for her own personal reasons.
It took me awhile to warm up to Anne - it may be my own personal reasons that made it hard for me to find her likable at first, especially as how she described her urgent necessary compulsion for fostering a child that was so broken that she could find a way to heal. But, when their fated meeting occurred - in a flash of light - their searing connection was formed - a bond so unbreakable - unmistakably certain that she would be the one to help him find a way back into society - for him to shed the darkness and misconceptions his father had ingrained into his mind and heart - then, I knew that it was really the best fit for them, both.
“Son,” the man said, “on behalf of the world and all of humankind, I apologize for the hell you had to go through in your short life so far. I have no idea why so much gets dumped on any one person, especially just a little slip of a child, but, damn, boy. That’s a tough row you had to hoe.”
There was such a soft tender approach to how Anne and her family helped Remy adjust to society again - it was even more interesting that as it was depicting a time during the COVID pandemic - life already had it's own changes that wasn't the norm. So to see how Remy reacted to it all - what was the new normal and how he tried to grasp the difference between the ways of living and how much he had lost during his time of isolation and for him to unlearn everything that he had been taught - it made me tear up so many times.
I especially loved the scenes where Anne's children were able to make him comfortable around them - opening up about their own problems - sharing their own personal fears and issues - and that scene, where he was finally able to overcome his fear of dogs as he was forever haunted by his past encounters with the savage beasts - it was too raw - too touching and too perfect. 🥺🥺 For as Anne told the mother of his best friend from his previous life - underneath the sadness and the pain, there is still the heart of the pure boy he was once before - that he never lost that side of him that still effortlessly shined - bright and beautiful. 🌟
Just an exceptionally poignant moving story - the author has a mastery of her words that she can bring out the rawest of emotions in the simple way she writes. I'll never be able to forget how she painfully described Remy's return to the cabin that had been his captivity - how he violently reacted upon the reminder of his beloved mother - how he tearfully clung to his best friend who never forgot or gave up on him - how he respectfully let go of his father's memory in order for him to move on - you can't just create feelings like that in words - you have to believe them. And Ms.Hyde has proven once again to me that her books can hit you in the heart - no matter how hard you will try to fight it. I know - I no longer can. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
April 22, 2023
Roy Blake plans to leave Pocatello and he’s sold his house, and he’s purchased some land in the wilderness near the Canadian border. Roy thinks everyone is out to get him, society is falling apart and he wants to be free. Roy is a survivalist, he's moving to live in a little cabin in the woods, with no running water or cooking facilities, he plans on supplementing his stockpile of food by hunting and fishing.
This would be fine if it was just Roy, he has a son Remy and he’s confused and upset when they arrive at the cabin. Roy assures him they will be fine, Remy might only be five and even he can see his father’s plans are not practical. Roy has a medical condition, just before Remy’s eight birthday he goes hunting and doesn’t return. Remy is alone, he’s scared and he doesn’t know what to do? Remy sets out on foot, he takes what little food he has left and starts walking towards the Canadian border. A severely injured Remy is found, he’s silent and filthy, and people have been talking about a wild wolf boy in the area!
Anne and Chris are foster parents to teenagers Peter and Janie and when Anne hears about Remy she wants to help him. Remy needs around the clock care, extensive physiotherapy and the doctors are not sure what the impact of being alone in the wilderness has done to his mind? Remy slowly begins to trust Anne, he wants reassurance that nothing bad will happen to him again and Anne has been instructed to gently tell him the truth. Is the world a bad place, sometimes, they can’t shield Remy from everything, he watches the news and they have to explain about the Covid pandemic.
I received a copy of Just a Regular Boy from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Catherine Ryan Hyde has a way of writing stories about obscure subjects, she always has a meaning tucked between the pages and a purpose. The narrative makes you consider what it would be like to be a young boy abandoned in the woods, what an idiot his father was and how he made his son think the world is a bad place. Anne has to confront her own fears of being abandoned to help Remy, it’s a story about feeling vulnerable, scared, you can’t hide from the truth, life is for living, families come in all sorts of configurations and hope. Four and a half stars from me and Catherine Ryan Hyde's books always make me feel like an emotional wreck.
This would be fine if it was just Roy, he has a son Remy and he’s confused and upset when they arrive at the cabin. Roy assures him they will be fine, Remy might only be five and even he can see his father’s plans are not practical. Roy has a medical condition, just before Remy’s eight birthday he goes hunting and doesn’t return. Remy is alone, he’s scared and he doesn’t know what to do? Remy sets out on foot, he takes what little food he has left and starts walking towards the Canadian border. A severely injured Remy is found, he’s silent and filthy, and people have been talking about a wild wolf boy in the area!
Anne and Chris are foster parents to teenagers Peter and Janie and when Anne hears about Remy she wants to help him. Remy needs around the clock care, extensive physiotherapy and the doctors are not sure what the impact of being alone in the wilderness has done to his mind? Remy slowly begins to trust Anne, he wants reassurance that nothing bad will happen to him again and Anne has been instructed to gently tell him the truth. Is the world a bad place, sometimes, they can’t shield Remy from everything, he watches the news and they have to explain about the Covid pandemic.
I received a copy of Just a Regular Boy from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Catherine Ryan Hyde has a way of writing stories about obscure subjects, she always has a meaning tucked between the pages and a purpose. The narrative makes you consider what it would be like to be a young boy abandoned in the woods, what an idiot his father was and how he made his son think the world is a bad place. Anne has to confront her own fears of being abandoned to help Remy, it’s a story about feeling vulnerable, scared, you can’t hide from the truth, life is for living, families come in all sorts of configurations and hope. Four and a half stars from me and Catherine Ryan Hyde's books always make me feel like an emotional wreck.
March 7, 2023
2 ⭐️⭐️. Where do I start?! First off, this is my third book by Catherine Ryan Hyde. The other two were both 5 stars for me so I was really excited to receive an advanced copy of this one.
Let me start with what I did like. I don’t want to make this whole review negative. I really enjoyed the storyline itself. The first 40% was so good. I loved Remy from beginning to end. What a sweet and courageous little boy. Roy (his dad), well he was “off his rocker” so obviously didn’t like him. Anne, Chris, Peter and Janie - liked all of them. I loved how protective Anne was of Remy and how she wanted to help him before she even met him. His bond with her was a very sweet part of the book.
Now let’s get into the negatives. Oh Catherine! Why oh why did you have to go all Covid crazy in this book?!?! We lived through it…and masks/vaccinations were forced on so many people, it’s not something I want to go back and read about. Looking back at the synopsis, there is ZERO mention of Covid. To be honest, if I had known it would obsess over Covid I would never have chose to read it. It didn’t start until around 40% but once it started, it was OVERKILL. Again, no mention in the synopsis but from 40% to the end I kept track and here’s a rundown of Covid comments: Masks/face coverings were mentioned 27 times, vaccinations mentioned 4 times and Covid mentioned 7 times! Not only was it mentioned but it was obvious how the author feels because there were comments about being unmasked ONLY if vaccinated and making sure to show that vaccination card. Let’s not forget “pull up that mask and cover your nose” 🙄. Honestly I absolutely HATE when an author uses their book to push an agenda. I’m very, very disappointed in this author. Let me add that I’m not saying Covid couldn’t be mentioned at all but it was OVER THE TOP!!! Even in the last chapter she had to get one more mask comment in there!
Sadly, I felt like the ending dragged on and on. By 65%, I was ready to just be done with it, but I forced myself to push through and finish. Unfortunately, I don’t recommend this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Let me start with what I did like. I don’t want to make this whole review negative. I really enjoyed the storyline itself. The first 40% was so good. I loved Remy from beginning to end. What a sweet and courageous little boy. Roy (his dad), well he was “off his rocker” so obviously didn’t like him. Anne, Chris, Peter and Janie - liked all of them. I loved how protective Anne was of Remy and how she wanted to help him before she even met him. His bond with her was a very sweet part of the book.
Now let’s get into the negatives. Oh Catherine! Why oh why did you have to go all Covid crazy in this book?!?! We lived through it…and masks/vaccinations were forced on so many people, it’s not something I want to go back and read about. Looking back at the synopsis, there is ZERO mention of Covid. To be honest, if I had known it would obsess over Covid I would never have chose to read it. It didn’t start until around 40% but once it started, it was OVERKILL. Again, no mention in the synopsis but from 40% to the end I kept track and here’s a rundown of Covid comments: Masks/face coverings were mentioned 27 times, vaccinations mentioned 4 times and Covid mentioned 7 times! Not only was it mentioned but it was obvious how the author feels because there were comments about being unmasked ONLY if vaccinated and making sure to show that vaccination card. Let’s not forget “pull up that mask and cover your nose” 🙄. Honestly I absolutely HATE when an author uses their book to push an agenda. I’m very, very disappointed in this author. Let me add that I’m not saying Covid couldn’t be mentioned at all but it was OVER THE TOP!!! Even in the last chapter she had to get one more mask comment in there!
Sadly, I felt like the ending dragged on and on. By 65%, I was ready to just be done with it, but I forced myself to push through and finish. Unfortunately, I don’t recommend this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 13, 2023
This book kept making me cry, so for the few days I was reading it, I had to keep explaining to people I wasn't sick I was reading a really good book!
Remy is only five when his mother passes away, and his father takes him to live in a remote area in a tiny wood cabin. Remy is scared, cold and hungry. He doesn't think his father is right to take him away from the life and people he knew but he is too young to question his father's motives and force a change. So he has to accept his father's 'survivalist' ways and make do. Yet, he wonders if the world really is so bad, and if there is anyone out there that could help him.
Anne, is the mother of two foster children and suspects her husband is having an affair. When she confronts him he is offended but doesn't outright deny the accusation. She finds herself at an impasse and wondering how to get herself out of it. Then she hears about a young boy reportedly living wild and her curiosity is piqued.
This is a story with a big heart and it gave me a new appreciation for all that I have.
Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.
Remy is only five when his mother passes away, and his father takes him to live in a remote area in a tiny wood cabin. Remy is scared, cold and hungry. He doesn't think his father is right to take him away from the life and people he knew but he is too young to question his father's motives and force a change. So he has to accept his father's 'survivalist' ways and make do. Yet, he wonders if the world really is so bad, and if there is anyone out there that could help him.
Anne, is the mother of two foster children and suspects her husband is having an affair. When she confronts him he is offended but doesn't outright deny the accusation. She finds herself at an impasse and wondering how to get herself out of it. Then she hears about a young boy reportedly living wild and her curiosity is piqued.
This is a story with a big heart and it gave me a new appreciation for all that I have.
Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.
January 7, 2023
Just a Regular Boy is my first ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 star read of 2023!! Catherine Ryan Hyde is one of my favorite authors and once again, she writes a masterpiece. Heartwarming, raw, engaging … such a wonderful story that will stay with me for awhile. Remy is a 5 year old boy whose dad is a recent widow and is a survivalist and he forces him to leave their home and live like that. My heart ached for Remy in this emotional story! I could not put this book down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. This is sure to be a winner when it’s published in May 2023.
May 4, 2023
This is the latest heartwarming family drama from one of my favourite authors. Somehow she manages to publish two of these lovely stories every year, without them ever feeling stale or repetitive. I needed a guaranteed Good Read, and she’s the closest I know to a literary Sure Thing. Somehow she combines similar elements - a brave, thoughtful young person, a sad or challenging situation, a new friendship, and animals, and still keeps her stories both haunting and hopeful. I read this in less than a day, and once more fell in love with her characters.
Remy is only five when his paranoid widowed survivalist father Roy takes him to live in a remote cabin in the Idaho wilderness, to escape the “conflagration” he’s sure is coming. For a while they do manage to live in complete isolation, but then Roy dies, and Remy is left on his own. When he finally runs out of food, he is forced to venture back into the civilisation he’s been taught to fear. Injured, mute and terrified, he needs a protector. Luckily, a few hours away in Boise, experienced foster mother Anne has decided she needs to find another child to rescue, in spite of her rocky marriage. With patience, kindness and love, two wounded souls will help each other heal.
“There was a hole in “home.” It felt as though this odd little adventure was her best shot at filling that hole, though she knew in her conscious brain that the hole was in her, and not in the house or the family.”
This is told from Rémy and Anne’s alternating viewpoints. The first chapters are tough to read - I felt so angry at Roy, for willingly inflicting such a harsh environment on a young child, but you know from the blurb that Roy’s not going to survive. He’s not abusive, just deluded, but his neglect makes for harrowing scenes. Anne’s an interesting character - initially prickly and one track minded with her saviour complex, but my sympathies grew as we learn what made her so driven to welcome damaged children into her home. The relationship with her husband Chris was believable and moving: “ “I know how important it is to you,” he said. In that moment it came into Anne’s head, for the first time in a very long time, that her marriage might just be strong enough to hold up after all.” And I loved the way Remy’s new adopted siblings take him under their wing, and the smart kindly therapist Dr Klausner.
There weren’t any great surprises as to how this would turn out, but she manages to include a number of serious topics without this becoming depressing or dull. It’s set during the first year of the pandemic, and includes relevant details without dwelling on it. As ever, the young central character can seem too good to be true - the pace of Remy’s recovery was somewhat hard to believe, but hey, it’s Christmas and I enjoyed the warm fuzzies. 4.5 rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and Lake House Publishing for the ARC - and especially for making it Read Now! I am posting this honest review voluntarily.
Remy is only five when his paranoid widowed survivalist father Roy takes him to live in a remote cabin in the Idaho wilderness, to escape the “conflagration” he’s sure is coming. For a while they do manage to live in complete isolation, but then Roy dies, and Remy is left on his own. When he finally runs out of food, he is forced to venture back into the civilisation he’s been taught to fear. Injured, mute and terrified, he needs a protector. Luckily, a few hours away in Boise, experienced foster mother Anne has decided she needs to find another child to rescue, in spite of her rocky marriage. With patience, kindness and love, two wounded souls will help each other heal.
“There was a hole in “home.” It felt as though this odd little adventure was her best shot at filling that hole, though she knew in her conscious brain that the hole was in her, and not in the house or the family.”
This is told from Rémy and Anne’s alternating viewpoints. The first chapters are tough to read - I felt so angry at Roy, for willingly inflicting such a harsh environment on a young child, but you know from the blurb that Roy’s not going to survive. He’s not abusive, just deluded, but his neglect makes for harrowing scenes. Anne’s an interesting character - initially prickly and one track minded with her saviour complex, but my sympathies grew as we learn what made her so driven to welcome damaged children into her home. The relationship with her husband Chris was believable and moving: “ “I know how important it is to you,” he said. In that moment it came into Anne’s head, for the first time in a very long time, that her marriage might just be strong enough to hold up after all.” And I loved the way Remy’s new adopted siblings take him under their wing, and the smart kindly therapist Dr Klausner.
There weren’t any great surprises as to how this would turn out, but she manages to include a number of serious topics without this becoming depressing or dull. It’s set during the first year of the pandemic, and includes relevant details without dwelling on it. As ever, the young central character can seem too good to be true - the pace of Remy’s recovery was somewhat hard to believe, but hey, it’s Christmas and I enjoyed the warm fuzzies. 4.5 rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley and Lake House Publishing for the ARC - and especially for making it Read Now! I am posting this honest review voluntarily.
April 14, 2023
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic review copy received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: May 2, 2023
Catherine Ryan Hyde has a way of writing powerful, emotional novels that hit you right in the feels. The author of “Pay It Forward” (and forty four other books, by the way) again pulls on the heartstrings with her newest novel, “Just a Regular Boy”.
When Remy is five years old, his mother passes away and his father, devastated by her loss, moves himself and Remy into a secluded cabin in the wilderness. Remy’s father is convinced the world outside is about to implode, and the only way to stay safe is to stay away from everyone and everything and live a life off the grid. When Remy’s father dies, Remy is eight years old and does everything his father taught him in order to stay alive, including staying away from people. But eventually he’s discovered and he’s brought into the care of Anne and Chris, who want to provide the right kind of environment for Remy. But with a boy as traumatized as poor Remy is, the responsibility could prove to either make, or break, Anne and Chris’ marriage.
Similar to “Room”, the main protagonist is young Remy, and he narrates his portion of the novel in his own words. The reader is able to see the world through the boys’ eyes, bringing into perspective the honesty, naiveté, and unwavering trust young children have. Anne, who becomes the boy’s foster mother, narrates the other portion of the novel, and it is through this that the reader is able to experience the joys, and horrors, of bringing a traumatized soul into your life, and your marriage.
Obviously, I loved Remy and immediately felt sympathy for him. Anne, too, has her own demons, leading her to bring the most traumatized kids into her home. The two connect from the beginning, and the ending is predicted right from page one.
Ryan Hyde manages to highlight the struggles of foster care, as well as the benefits, in a completely nonjudgmental and honest way. The stigmas Remy faced, through no fault of his own, is heartbreaking and the only way to end the novel is the way Ryan Hyde did- in an authentic and heartwarming way.
Ryan Hyde’s books are always good for a light read, full of positivity and hope, and there is no better time than now to pick up one of her novels (and I highly recommend “Just A Regular Boy”). For anyone who has ever struggled with finding their place, and finding love and family, it will connect on a deep, emotional level.
Expected publication date: May 2, 2023
Catherine Ryan Hyde has a way of writing powerful, emotional novels that hit you right in the feels. The author of “Pay It Forward” (and forty four other books, by the way) again pulls on the heartstrings with her newest novel, “Just a Regular Boy”.
When Remy is five years old, his mother passes away and his father, devastated by her loss, moves himself and Remy into a secluded cabin in the wilderness. Remy’s father is convinced the world outside is about to implode, and the only way to stay safe is to stay away from everyone and everything and live a life off the grid. When Remy’s father dies, Remy is eight years old and does everything his father taught him in order to stay alive, including staying away from people. But eventually he’s discovered and he’s brought into the care of Anne and Chris, who want to provide the right kind of environment for Remy. But with a boy as traumatized as poor Remy is, the responsibility could prove to either make, or break, Anne and Chris’ marriage.
Similar to “Room”, the main protagonist is young Remy, and he narrates his portion of the novel in his own words. The reader is able to see the world through the boys’ eyes, bringing into perspective the honesty, naiveté, and unwavering trust young children have. Anne, who becomes the boy’s foster mother, narrates the other portion of the novel, and it is through this that the reader is able to experience the joys, and horrors, of bringing a traumatized soul into your life, and your marriage.
Obviously, I loved Remy and immediately felt sympathy for him. Anne, too, has her own demons, leading her to bring the most traumatized kids into her home. The two connect from the beginning, and the ending is predicted right from page one.
Ryan Hyde manages to highlight the struggles of foster care, as well as the benefits, in a completely nonjudgmental and honest way. The stigmas Remy faced, through no fault of his own, is heartbreaking and the only way to end the novel is the way Ryan Hyde did- in an authentic and heartwarming way.
Ryan Hyde’s books are always good for a light read, full of positivity and hope, and there is no better time than now to pick up one of her novels (and I highly recommend “Just A Regular Boy”). For anyone who has ever struggled with finding their place, and finding love and family, it will connect on a deep, emotional level.
April 20, 2023
This is my first introduction to this author and I was impressed! I binge-read this book on a recent flight and was willing to trade reading time for sleep.
In short, five-year-old Remy Blake finds himself swept up in his father’s quest for freedom and follows his plan for a survivalist existence. When something happens to his father, Remy is forced to grow up and put his childhood behind him.
Have you read Hatchet by Gary Paulsen? It had some essence of that award-winning book.
I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s spotlight on the Importance of freedom, the impact of our formative years on our development and adult life, the exploration of fear-driven behaviour, and the encouragement given when facing challenges in today’s world.
At first, I couldn’t understand why references to the pandemic were important but then realized that it linked in with the theme of isolation. It was easy then for me to recall how I felt socializing after being isolated for so long and this enabled me to understand how Remy felt at being surrounded by Anne’s family.
Days later, I’m still pondering Miri’s philosophy. The more I think about it and re-read this quote, the more convinced I am that she is right.
“This is something you do with your eyes open. You look a the world, see it for exactly what it is, and then make this conscious choice to be a part of it.”
The heartfelt examination of owing fear as an adult and the guilt of acknowledging a tug of war between love and hatred within were expertly explored and left me searching out this author’s backlist.
Remy will worm his way into your heart and you’ll be in awe at the lengths Anne will go to help the needy.
I was gifted this book by Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
In short, five-year-old Remy Blake finds himself swept up in his father’s quest for freedom and follows his plan for a survivalist existence. When something happens to his father, Remy is forced to grow up and put his childhood behind him.
Have you read Hatchet by Gary Paulsen? It had some essence of that award-winning book.
I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s spotlight on the Importance of freedom, the impact of our formative years on our development and adult life, the exploration of fear-driven behaviour, and the encouragement given when facing challenges in today’s world.
At first, I couldn’t understand why references to the pandemic were important but then realized that it linked in with the theme of isolation. It was easy then for me to recall how I felt socializing after being isolated for so long and this enabled me to understand how Remy felt at being surrounded by Anne’s family.
Days later, I’m still pondering Miri’s philosophy. The more I think about it and re-read this quote, the more convinced I am that she is right.
“This is something you do with your eyes open. You look a the world, see it for exactly what it is, and then make this conscious choice to be a part of it.”
The heartfelt examination of owing fear as an adult and the guilt of acknowledging a tug of war between love and hatred within were expertly explored and left me searching out this author’s backlist.
Remy will worm his way into your heart and you’ll be in awe at the lengths Anne will go to help the needy.
I was gifted this book by Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
May 22, 2023
At the age of 5 Remy's whole world changes when his survivalist father takes him from their home and moves them to the wilderness, in the middle of nowhere, to avoid what he believes the approaching apocalypse. At the age of 8 Remy's father unexpectedly dies. Left on his own to fend for himself the month's go by, the seasons change, supplies run out and feeling desperate Remy sets out on foot for civilization. Many challenges follow as well as many life lessons.
Author Catherine Ryan Hyde's characters are always realistic, well-developed and memorable. Remy is no exception!
A story that brought tears is also a wonderful heart warming story!
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest reveiew.
Author Catherine Ryan Hyde's characters are always realistic, well-developed and memorable. Remy is no exception!
A story that brought tears is also a wonderful heart warming story!
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest reveiew.
May 5, 2024
Just A Regular Boy is a novel by award-winning best-selling American author, Catherine Ryan Hyde. At five years old, Remy Blake is plucked from the only home he has known by his widowed father, a survivalist, to live in a primitive isolated cabin in the Idaho woods. Roy Blake rejects his fatherhood role: he and Remy are equal partners preparing for the coming conflagration. He firmly believes society is on the brink of collapse, and the wilderness is the only place to survive it.
Some three years on, Roy dies, and Remy is left by himself in the woods. He makes a few unsuccessful attempts to leave, but three years alone with his father have infected him with Roy’s paranoia, and another six months with no voice of reason to contradict Roy’s convictions make Remy fearful of authority figures and wary of returning to civilisation. When the supplies run out, he has little choice, which is why a boy of eight sets out to walk to Canada.
Anne Sebastian and her husband Chris have fostered many children, even adopted two of them. Perhaps something in Anne’s own upbringing makes her want to provide a safe home for children who desperately need it. Quite what draws her to the most difficult and damaged souls isn’t clear, but the compulsion does put a strain on their marriage.
They are still mentally recovering from handing back their last foster when she hears, by chance, of a feral boy stealing food from a convenience store, evading authorities, and apparently living in the woods in the north of the state. She knows she has to help him. Circumstances put him in hospital, all those gowned and masked people a terrifying experience for a boy programmed by Roy Blake.
With one penetrating look and her calm manner, Anne connects and, despite all the negative reactions, her only impulse is to say “yes”, she will foster this boy. But even knowing his trauma will emerge, she can’t predict quite what she las let herself in for. Luckily, it turns out she has an understanding and tolerant family, and a therapist full of sound advice to back her up.
Remy enters the reader’s heart on page one and stays there. Ryan Hyde really knows people and, as always, many of her characters restore the reader’s faith in humankind. She gives them plenty of wise words and insightful observations. There are some jaw-dropping moments, some that put a lump in the throat or bring a tear to the eye, but ultimately, the support and love that many of the characters give Remy make this a truly uplifting tale. Utterly captivating.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing.
Some three years on, Roy dies, and Remy is left by himself in the woods. He makes a few unsuccessful attempts to leave, but three years alone with his father have infected him with Roy’s paranoia, and another six months with no voice of reason to contradict Roy’s convictions make Remy fearful of authority figures and wary of returning to civilisation. When the supplies run out, he has little choice, which is why a boy of eight sets out to walk to Canada.
Anne Sebastian and her husband Chris have fostered many children, even adopted two of them. Perhaps something in Anne’s own upbringing makes her want to provide a safe home for children who desperately need it. Quite what draws her to the most difficult and damaged souls isn’t clear, but the compulsion does put a strain on their marriage.
They are still mentally recovering from handing back their last foster when she hears, by chance, of a feral boy stealing food from a convenience store, evading authorities, and apparently living in the woods in the north of the state. She knows she has to help him. Circumstances put him in hospital, all those gowned and masked people a terrifying experience for a boy programmed by Roy Blake.
With one penetrating look and her calm manner, Anne connects and, despite all the negative reactions, her only impulse is to say “yes”, she will foster this boy. But even knowing his trauma will emerge, she can’t predict quite what she las let herself in for. Luckily, it turns out she has an understanding and tolerant family, and a therapist full of sound advice to back her up.
Remy enters the reader’s heart on page one and stays there. Ryan Hyde really knows people and, as always, many of her characters restore the reader’s faith in humankind. She gives them plenty of wise words and insightful observations. There are some jaw-dropping moments, some that put a lump in the throat or bring a tear to the eye, but ultimately, the support and love that many of the characters give Remy make this a truly uplifting tale. Utterly captivating.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing.
February 28, 2023
If the author is Catherine Ryan Hyde, I just grab the book because I know it will be amazing. Her characters jump off the page and into your life. She never fails to tug at my heart. In this book the character Remy is one I will never forget. Here's the book's description:
"Out there is chaos, the collapse of society, and so much to be afraid of. All that matters is freedom.
That’s what Remy Blake has been taught by his survivalist father. Raised off the grid in the middle of nowhere, his own survival skills not yet honed, Remy is days shy of his eighth birthday when his father unexpectedly dies. As seasons pass, supplies run out, and fending for himself grows more desperate, Remy sets out on foot, unprepared for the great unknown of civilization.
He is found—near feral, silent, and terrified—in the small rural town of Blaire. To Anne, a nurturing mother of two adopted teenagers who’s still dealing with her own childhood rejections, Remy is not a lost cause. Just a challenging one. As Remy cautiously adapts to his new foster home, his family wants nothing more than to reassure him that he can trust the world. But to do so, they must first reexamine how much they trust the world themselves, and how much they should. As Remy’s journey into the real world begins, figuring out how to navigate it becomes a path they will have to learn to walk together."
Remy was so brave! No child should have to face the monumental hurdles he had to deal with. I could not put this book down; I devoured it. The book moved at a good pace and there were a lot of tense moments. Highly recommended to anyone - I really can't think of anyone who would not like this book.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on May 2, 2023.
"Out there is chaos, the collapse of society, and so much to be afraid of. All that matters is freedom.
That’s what Remy Blake has been taught by his survivalist father. Raised off the grid in the middle of nowhere, his own survival skills not yet honed, Remy is days shy of his eighth birthday when his father unexpectedly dies. As seasons pass, supplies run out, and fending for himself grows more desperate, Remy sets out on foot, unprepared for the great unknown of civilization.
He is found—near feral, silent, and terrified—in the small rural town of Blaire. To Anne, a nurturing mother of two adopted teenagers who’s still dealing with her own childhood rejections, Remy is not a lost cause. Just a challenging one. As Remy cautiously adapts to his new foster home, his family wants nothing more than to reassure him that he can trust the world. But to do so, they must first reexamine how much they trust the world themselves, and how much they should. As Remy’s journey into the real world begins, figuring out how to navigate it becomes a path they will have to learn to walk together."
Remy was so brave! No child should have to face the monumental hurdles he had to deal with. I could not put this book down; I devoured it. The book moved at a good pace and there were a lot of tense moments. Highly recommended to anyone - I really can't think of anyone who would not like this book.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing through Netgalley for an advance copy. This book will be published on May 2, 2023.
May 21, 2023
Not what I expected
I did not like this book at all. I expected a story about a boy returning to the city after living in the woods with his father. Instead it is a book of someone explaining their political beliefs and making “survivalist” a bad word. There was too much focus on Covid and too much preaching. I read books for enjoyment and having political views throughout the book just made this very hard to finish. Would not recommend.
I did not like this book at all. I expected a story about a boy returning to the city after living in the woods with his father. Instead it is a book of someone explaining their political beliefs and making “survivalist” a bad word. There was too much focus on Covid and too much preaching. I read books for enjoyment and having political views throughout the book just made this very hard to finish. Would not recommend.
May 5, 2023
3.5 stars. This is a good story and I gobbled it up but the style of writing borders on cheesy. It had strong whiffs of after school special. Lots of people saying just the right meaningful thing including a highly traumatized formerly mute kid. Still very readable and of course not every book needs to be Booker material.
February 8, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Remy was five when his mother died, leaving him and his father behind. His father - a survivalist - decides to leave the town where Remy grew up and takes him to the woods, where they'll live in the middle of the forest with no electricity or any connection to the outside world.
At a young age, Remy had learned survival skills to sustain his life in the midst of the hell his father placed him in. He was also taught by his father not to trust any human being and was early on brainwashed into thinking that everyone in the world is evil and wants him dead. What will it take to make him trust people again after his father's death?
This book was a pleasant surprise for me, having never read a book by Catherine Ryan Hyde before. I like books that are engaging and thought-provoking. This book was both for me. I particularly identified with Anne and loved the compactness of her speech. The relationships in this book are unusual and deep. I loved how both Anne and Remy helped each other in their own ways. The characters are believable and strong in their own right. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. One of my all-time favorites.
Remy was five when his mother died, leaving him and his father behind. His father - a survivalist - decides to leave the town where Remy grew up and takes him to the woods, where they'll live in the middle of the forest with no electricity or any connection to the outside world.
At a young age, Remy had learned survival skills to sustain his life in the midst of the hell his father placed him in. He was also taught by his father not to trust any human being and was early on brainwashed into thinking that everyone in the world is evil and wants him dead. What will it take to make him trust people again after his father's death?
This book was a pleasant surprise for me, having never read a book by Catherine Ryan Hyde before. I like books that are engaging and thought-provoking. This book was both for me. I particularly identified with Anne and loved the compactness of her speech. The relationships in this book are unusual and deep. I loved how both Anne and Remy helped each other in their own ways. The characters are believable and strong in their own right. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. One of my all-time favorites.
January 4, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I have read and loved several of Catherine Ryan Hyde's books and this one was no different. I devoured this book! I felt so bad for Remy, a 5 year old boy who was forced by his survivalist father to live off the grid in the middle of nowhere. A year or so after they arrived, his father (Roy) died and Remy was all alone miles from any sort of civilization. That is a lot for an adult to deal with, much less a small child! Remy did the best he could on his own, but eventually he had to surrender himself to the authorities (whom he was convinced by his father would kill him). Remy's story is one of trauma, survival, healing, and hope. He is very fortunate to be given a chance at a normal life by Anne, a foster parent that does not shy away from the "wild" child. This story will pull on your heartstrings and possibly shed a few tears. Absolutely recommend!
May 31, 2023
This story did not ring true to me. Remy is now nine, and 4 of those years have been in the wild with his somewhat crazy father or by himself. Yet he comes across as insightful and wise. And his foster mother is portrayed similarly. The other two foster kids are "Dick and Jane-like" in that they always say just the right thing. The "disconnected " dad plays a minimal role in the story. I was not sure why he was there. It just didn't work for me. I had to push myself through it.
June 23, 2023
I was BLESSED to receive this book in a Goodreads Give-Away. I really MEAN it. It was that good and that well written and that so full of hope and thoughtful messages about life.
Remy Blake when we meet him is 5. His mother has died and his father, Roy, is his only living parent. IMHO, Roy has at least three things wrong with him: a heart condition that he is aware of but does not care for (he smokes); a negative attitude about the world: he is a survivalist and takes his son to the wilds of southern Canada, away from people and comfort; AND he doesn't know how to be a father, he thinks he needs to be Remy's friend.
Contrast to that all of the people he meets after he 'wends his way into' the peopled world.
Anne-who has fostered two other children and pursues Remy until he is found. She KNOWS no one else will take him in (he is considered to be inhuman and wild) so commits herself to taking care of him.
Chris - her husband, who completely warms up to the boy.
Janie and Peter-the two other children now adopted by Anne and Chris. They help acclimate Remy to the real world.
Catherine Ryan Hyde - you have really hit it out of the park with this book. I have a few friends who really appreciate books with hopeful messages and I plan to let them know about this very worthy example.
5 stars
ATY Prompt Completed: 15. Three books, each of which is set in a different century; 21st Century Events: Covid 19
Remy Blake when we meet him is 5. His mother has died and his father, Roy, is his only living parent. IMHO, Roy has at least three things wrong with him: a heart condition that he is aware of but does not care for (he smokes); a negative attitude about the world: he is a survivalist and takes his son to the wilds of southern Canada, away from people and comfort; AND he doesn't know how to be a father, he thinks he needs to be Remy's friend.
Contrast to that all of the people he meets after he 'wends his way into' the peopled world.
Anne-who has fostered two other children and pursues Remy until he is found. She KNOWS no one else will take him in (he is considered to be inhuman and wild) so commits herself to taking care of him.
Chris - her husband, who completely warms up to the boy.
Janie and Peter-the two other children now adopted by Anne and Chris. They help acclimate Remy to the real world.
Catherine Ryan Hyde - you have really hit it out of the park with this book. I have a few friends who really appreciate books with hopeful messages and I plan to let them know about this very worthy example.
5 stars
ATY Prompt Completed: 15. Three books, each of which is set in a different century; 21st Century Events: Covid 19
July 19, 2023
The story line was good and I got very attached to Remy.
But
The biggest let downs for me were speech and thoughts of a ‘feral child’ being relatively eloquent despite his upbringing and situation, and this ‘feral traumatized’ child’s reintegration into society being simple and without incident. He screamed a bit at first, and had one meltdown after returning to the cabin, but all good otherwise…
He was supposed to be the huge challenge but we glaze other the other two, trying to burn down the garage and self mutilation with a suicide attempt. Also, the not affair affair? Weird addition.
But
The biggest let downs for me were speech and thoughts of a ‘feral child’ being relatively eloquent despite his upbringing and situation, and this ‘feral traumatized’ child’s reintegration into society being simple and without incident. He screamed a bit at first, and had one meltdown after returning to the cabin, but all good otherwise…
He was supposed to be the huge challenge but we glaze other the other two, trying to burn down the garage and self mutilation with a suicide attempt. Also, the not affair affair? Weird addition.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2023
Enough with the covid talk.
I read for enjoyment and to be removed from the world for a few moment's. I usually love MS Hydes books, but not this one. We have lived three horrible years with covid and the terrible vaccines they
forced people to
take.
This is the four book I've read this year with references to mask wearing, vaccination and social distances. And I'm tired of it. Authors we have had ENOUGH ! Stick to telling a good story and let us move on.
I read for enjoyment and to be removed from the world for a few moment's. I usually love MS Hydes books, but not this one. We have lived three horrible years with covid and the terrible vaccines they
forced people to
take.
This is the four book I've read this year with references to mask wearing, vaccination and social distances. And I'm tired of it. Authors we have had ENOUGH ! Stick to telling a good story and let us move on.
November 29, 2023
Both heartbreaking and heartwarming, this is a well-written story. I will be choosing more books by Catherine Ryan Hyde!
April 18, 2024
This was so good. I've read a few of Hyde's books now and think this is my favorite so far.
We have two perspectives in this book. The first is from Remy, the five year old boy who spent years in the woods with his father, and the second is from Anne, the wife and mother to two adopted children. Anne is determined to help Remy from the moment she hears about him. I enjoyed both perspectives equally.
I loved how everyone in the book played a part. They all had some issues that they had to deal with at some point and they all helped each other move beyond those issues. Remy was not the only character to have growth.
I will admit that the significant issues this young boy had seemed to resolve pretty quickly, but I choose to believe that he had such a loving, caring, and trusting life with his mother prior to all the events of this book that he had a good basis for beginning to trust again.
Overall, this was an excellent read that touches the heart.
We have two perspectives in this book. The first is from Remy, the five year old boy who spent years in the woods with his father, and the second is from Anne, the wife and mother to two adopted children. Anne is determined to help Remy from the moment she hears about him. I enjoyed both perspectives equally.
I loved how everyone in the book played a part. They all had some issues that they had to deal with at some point and they all helped each other move beyond those issues. Remy was not the only character to have growth.
I will admit that the significant issues this young boy had seemed to resolve pretty quickly, but I choose to believe that he had such a loving, caring, and trusting life with his mother prior to all the events of this book that he had a good basis for beginning to trust again.
Overall, this was an excellent read that touches the heart.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,182 reviews