The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell, Robert Dugoni

This book. Just wow.

Samuel Hill has ocular albinism, a rare disorder wherein his eyes are red. His devoted, faithful Catholic mother insisted that Sam attend OLM grammar school, Our Lady of Mercy. And so begins a lifelong struggle of bullying, discrimination, loneliness, and difference.

From a young age, Sam meets and befriends his best friends, Ernie Cantwell, who will become a professional NFL player, and Mickey Kennedy, the fierce girl who would ultimately become Sam's business partner.

The first-person prose is beautifully written, poignant for anyone who has ever struggled with their difference (which we all have in one way or another), wanted to be "normal," and questioned their faith (not necessarily religious).

While the entire book is surrounded by, intertwined with, and related to religion, the Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell is far from an in-your-face church/God book. Sam Hell is an extraordinary novel about love, belief, forgiveness, and finding your way.

I highly recommend this book.

NOTE: I listened to this book, narrated by the author, and I am so glad I did - he did an extraordinary job.