Ocular albinism defined Sam Hill’s life, earning him the nickname “Devil Boy” in his private catholic school and his mother’s consistent reassurance that it was “God’s will.” He believed God sent his best friends Ernie, the only black child in the school, and Mickey, a girl who chose to not fit into the school. A tragedy lifts him out of his pragmatic life as an ophthalmologist wearing brown contacts into one of atonement in a developing country. He removes the contacts in an epiphany of self-acceptance.

This story lays out the life of a boy who cannot embrace his difference, despite the support of family and friends. It’s clear to the reader that he has better options than the ones he chooses, but often that’s true of anyone. Challenges complicate life, and not everyone rises to the challenge, and that’s okay. Self-acceptance is a struggle for most, and especially for those with a unique appearance and a quiet demeanor. I’m fortunate to have received an ARC through NetGalley of this wonderful story.

I posted this review to my Goodreads and my website laelbraday.com, and shared the blog post on Facebook and Twitter. I will post it to B&N upon launch. Amazon thwarts my attempts to post reviews. The blog post is at http://laelbraday.com/2018/02/02/the-extraordinary-life-of-sam-hell-by-robert-dugoni-pub-date-april-24-2018/.

A fine book, a good story well-told, but relied on a trend that I've found far too prevalent lately: telling two stories in alternating chapters. 5-10% of the book is spent in Sam's past, then another 5-10% is spent when he's an adult. The result is that the reader never feels settled in either narrative because neither version of Sam is given a chance to exist on his own.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I am so used to reading Dugoni's thrillers. I was not expecting this. This is an incredibly well written and powerful book. I despised bullying of any kind, and I love this story sheds light on the subject. It also shows how someone can overcome all obstacles to become extraordinary. Sam Hill is one remarkable character that you must get to know. Unputdownable!

I love reading diverse books and this has motivated me to more books such as these

3.75 stars Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a chance to read and review this ARC. Publication is in April 2018.

Sam Hill was nicknamed 'Hell' for his ocular albinism, red eyes. He was 'the Devil from Hell'. He was bullied by both children and adults. His religious mother called him 'special, extraordinary'. She was always by his side, standing behind him, protecting him, advancing him. Finally when a black boy moved to town he had a friend in Eddie Cantwell. Then they both befriended Mickie, a tomboy. All three were misfits.

Their friendship lasted well into adulthood, as did the bullying. Eventually, after a bad relationship ended, Sam, a small town eye doctor, left it all behind. It was then that Sam finally opened his eyes to what life was all about.

I felt that the character development was very good in this novel. The plot moved along nicely. There were times that I was angry, times that I was pained, and times that I felt worked amazingly. This is the type novel that you can actually relate to and see unraveling in real time.

I think I’ve read almost all of Robert Dugoni’s books. I’ve loved them all, but this may be my favorite. Completely different from anything he has written before, he was able to beautifully tell this story of Samuel, the boy with the red eyes. I loved him and I loved all of the people in his life that loved him. From his parents who completely win at relationship goals to his ballsy friend Mickie and his sidekick Ernie I didn’t want this book to end. I read most of it with a knot in my throat or a smile on my face. Thank you to Netgalley for letting me read an early copy of this book. It’s one I’ll remember.

"Now, as an adult with that healthy dose of perspective we call experience, I realize my mother was right, as she was so often when it came to my life. We think we have control over our lives, especially when we’re young and seemingly invulnerable. We’re told we can do anything we set our minds to, that the world is our oyster, that all we have to do is shuck the hard shell and pluck the rich, nourishing meat inside. I realize now, however, that the shell is a lot harder than I appreciated, and that I never could have predicted the things that would happen in my life."

This is such a lovely coming of age novel but it isn’t all gooey softness. Terrible mean things occur, how can they not to a little boy attending Catholic school who the other children call “Devil Boy” because of his red eyes, caused by ocular albinism. His mother knows it’s a special gift given to him by God, one he will come to understand as he grows up. It was hard enough getting the school to accept Sam, but his mother took on the fight. That he be a discomfort to the other godly children simply because of his appearance isn’t enough to make his mother give up. With the school at first rejecting her son, his mother sees the ‘hollowness’ of the ‘christian ideas’ being taught. The champion of Sam, his mother refuses to back down until her beloved child gets in to Our Lady Mercy, despite the cruelty of Sister Beatrice, her son deserves to be treated the same as any other child! His mother has faith in God but more, in her son’s future, one she knows has purpose. Another’s faith isn’t enough to save a child from the taunts of his peers, nor the terrible loneliness he suffers. Sadly, it isn’t just children who wear hatred, adults aren’t immune to ugliness. When Ernie Cantwell (the only African American kid in his school) befriends him, he knows Ernie is his salvation. When Bully David Freemon hits Sam in the face with a rubber ball, it’s a moment that changes the future, when he turns his hatred on Ernie, it’s a moment for Sam to fight for what’s right! When he is caught, Ernie takes a brave step, in Sam’s defense. It sounds like a simple story, typical of school antics, but it’s anything but. A beautiful friendship is born that day.

He lies about his school days to save his parents from worry, Freemon’s actions change that. The reality of his ‘outcast’ status comes to light. He is smart, a gifted young man but terrible when it comes to making friends. Freemon certainly isn’t done with him, and commits a brutal act. With it, good things happen and a girl named Mickie enters Sam’s life, and remains there into adulthood. The novel flows between past and present effortlessly, and the future is just as engaging as Sam’s childhood. I went through a range of emotions, because there are moments that inspire compassion, outrage, love, and shock. There will be times when you rally behind a character and others when you hope to see them ‘get theirs’. Even the characters you feel so much animosity towards you may later understand, while not excusing the choices they’ve made.

Mickie is a pleasure, she is the fire needed! She is enrolled, a former public school student rumored to be sent to Our Lady of Mercy to be reformed. Naturally that’s not going to happen, she is intelligent and much more mature than Sam and Ernie. As the years pass, their relationship dynamics change and Sam meets an older girl named Donna who has a lot to teach him about love and lust. Donna is also the reason he lashes out at Mickie, passing judgements.

As an adult, Sam works as an eye doctor and he is about to learn the purpose of his condition through another child. His life has gone in a direction led by another, and it’s time he uses his eyes to see what he has become and maybe make big changes. I devoured this novel a month ago and couldn’t wait to review it. It isn’t just about the friendship between boys of different skin color, nor a little boy’s red eyes, nor the girl who has become so important to him.. it is about a mother’s passion for her unusual special boy, all the people who inhabit his world and how we sometimes allow others to steer our lives, handing our choices off to others without bothering to question everything we let happen. I even enjoyed reading the author’s acknowledgments at the end, please do as well. I think about all the people who have their own cross to bear, how different it could be if they too had someone their corner to champion them. Our life is about the cards we draw, lucky for Sam he has parents who saw a challenge as a gift, not a curse and what a difference support can make, rather than a fatalistic doom and gloom approach. In the end what makes us different, or an outcast, really can be the meat of our story!

Publication Date: April 24, 2018

Lake Union Publishing

tw: racial slurs, slurs towards those with intellectual disabilities, LGBTQIA+ slurs, child abuse, domestic abuse

Our skin, our hair and our eyes are simply the shell that surrounds are soul and our soul is who we are.


What an absolutely beautiful tale of an extraordinary man. I am seriously blown away and so shocked that this came from Robert Dugoni. I knew he wrote crime fiction well (The Tracy Crosswhite series proves that) but I never thought he could write with such depth and such feeling. I almost shed tears at the end of this book because I didn't want it to end. That's how much it touched me.

This isn't a memoir but it sure is written like one, which makes all the more special. We follow the life of Sam Hill, who has red eyes due to ocular albinism. The book switches back and forth from his childhood to his adult life. We get a tongue in cheek story of how Sam grew up and how he became the man he is today.

I was completely sucked in. I wanted to know everything about this individual. Sam was incredibly likeable. He struggled with being "different" and my heart just bled for him. He was lucky to have such an amazing support system with super awesome friends that helped him navigate this rough road called life. He was thoughtful and brought up a lot of interesting points about religion and life.

If I could give this book a theme, I would give it the theme of forgiveness. Sam had to learn to forgive himself for having ocular ablisminm. He had to learn to forgive those that harmed him, especially his bully. He had to learn to forgive people that caused him harm. It took a lot for him to do that and he often struggled with it but it's something we all have to learn in life. I liked that this book felt real. This book could be about anyone at any point in time.

The one tiny negative was that at time this book did drag a little. I found that I enjoyed the childhood aspect of the book than the adult life. Not a lot happened in the adult part until the last 30% or so. That is bound to happen with memoir type books. Hence the 4 (four) star rating.

Regardless. This was an incredible book. It really makes me think about how cruel people can be. Even those that are in the faith. We all need to be kind to one another and celebrate our differences. The are what makes us extraordinary. I really want everyone to read this book because it's truly that amazing.

There comes a time in every man's life where he stops looking forward and starts looking back.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me the privilege to read an early copy of The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni. The following review contains thoughts and opinions that are entirely my own.

We meet Sam Hell as a young boy who is born with red pupils. Often tormented by his classmates and called “Devil Boy”, Sam finds what everyone wants - a friend - in Ernie Cantwell, a black classmate new to town, and Mickie - the no nonsense friend everyone should have. Their differences unite them, and their adventures and trials define their lifelong friendship in many very interesting ways. We learn how faith, threatened by experiences in Sam’s life, stands the test of time.

Robert Dugoni masterfully presents this story. It’s so good that you don’t want it to end. It’s touching and truthful about abnormalities, faith, and life. The writing brilliantly envelopes you into Sam’s life like you’re sitting there beside them, and the characters deliver that quintessential small town experience we find so comforting.

After reading this, you just feel good about it!

I loved this book! I just wish we were able to include it in a future box. There weren't a lot of descriptive objects that we could include. We will recommend it on our Instagram page!

I have read all the books by this author. I am a reader of mystery and suspense. I was not fond of his recent more historical novels. I started reading this book and thought of not continuing since it was not a Dugoni cops and robbers book. I am glad I decided to keep on reading. The only complaint I have of this book is that I could not give it six stars instead of five. This book kept me more involved, more looking forward to the next page than any of his other novels. Certainly a book I would recommend to all.

The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni was an unforgettable and unique story to read. I could not put the book down until I had read the last page. It´s so hard to describe why I could not put the book down. Was it remarkable, exceptional or was it just such a captivating story that was so well written that I just had to read it.
This was my very first story by Robert Dugoni but not my last. A story about a boy’s life that you just must read for yourself.

I loved this book. It gave me the same feels as when I watch the film Stand by me: warm, fuzzy, and a melancholy for childhood friends I wished I’d had like Ernie and Mickie. I laughed, cried and raced through the pages pretty much in one sitting. Sam has red eyes from ocular albinoism, he’s bullied and picked on but is surrounded by such love from his parents and two best friends that you know everything is going to be ok. Not always, but most of the time. The story takes us from his birth right the way through to his mid 40’s. We learn about his hopes, his dreams and the obstacles he overcomes. One of my favourite books of 2017.

This is going to be a Book Club favourite in 2018.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review.

This is one book that YOU MUST READ! Sam is born with Ocular Albinism, his eyes are red! As a child, he is called the red eyed devil at the Catholic school he attends. He is bullied and physically beat by his bully. He has two friends and a desire to do good. Throughout his life, he always tried to remain good and just. Yet his bully finds him in adulthood and beats on him.
Throughout the book, you cheer for Sam. You cry for him. Yet you remain constantly confidant that he will be ok.
I loved this book and I think everyone should read it!

When I heard that Robert Dugoni, one of my favorite thriller authors, had a different sort of book coming out, I had to have a look at it, too. The rich characterizations in his plot-driven thrillers have kept me enthralled for many an hour. I figured he could pull off a more character-driven story. He does.

I give this story four stars, which on Goodreads.com is supposed to mean "I really liked it" (on my personal scale it means "I would recommend it"). I ultimately did like it. As expected, the characters and settings are richly drawn. The prose is crisp and clear. The dialog and action are realistic. On the other hand, Mr. Dugoni is never kind to his characters and in this character-driven story he's positively brutal. Saying too much about that would ruin the story. Suffice to say that anyone who had to deal with elementary school bullying will be squirming during the early chapters.

As the saying goes, it gets better. Sam and his few friends grow up and cope. Life continues to throw hardship at them and they deal with it. They don't always make the best choices. But they keep going. They wrestle with meaning and faith and love. They have extraordinarily ordinary lives. I do recommend this book.

Spoilers ahead! I really loved this book! While there may be many books on the victim's side of bullying, I feel that this book has a unique perspective, dealing with a physical deformity as well as seeing how Sam's friends may also be bullied but work to find themselves over time. Most of the characters in this book are well developed (though I may say, the women could do for a little more complexity and depth.) My only complaint would be the direction the book went in at the end. I felt that it got a little cliche. However, this is not always a bad thing as it can be tough to end a story wrapped in a bow. I just fear that this specific ending may push away readers who are not the most religious (as earlier parts in the book may specifically pull them in.) I found it hard to believe that Sam and MIckie would not have ended up together until such a late age. With how close they were and how outspoken Mickey is, I am surprised this didn't come up sooner. Either way, this is a book and not real life and I fully enjoyed the ride. I also LOVE short chapters in a book, allowing me to read until the absolute last minute before I have to go to bed or go somewhere. When chapters are too long, I find myself staying up too late or ending prematurely as I want to put the book down at the end of a chapter. I really enjoyed the writing style and would definitely recommend this book.

A feel good book. Some times life throws curve balls and it takes strong people to deal with them. Sam Hill and his family and friends dealt with the many challenges that came their way in a realistic way. Life is hard at times but with faith and determination good things can happen. This book is an example of that . It deals with looking different , discrimination, dysfunctional families, abuse on many levels, strong faith , hard work , humor and love . Thanks Netgalley. Recommend it.

"Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth." (Mike Tyson)

Action steps on the toes of re-action. You never fully realize what you're capable of until backed into that corner or running out of rungs on the ladder of life.

Samuel Hill is the only son of an only son. While that may be rare in itself, Sam has been born with ocular albinism. While the lyrics of "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" seem strange, stranger still is the fact that Sam's eyes have a pink/red tone. Kids will find the tiniest thing in one's physicality to make fun of........but this was a field day for the little darlings at Our Lady of Mercy elementary school in Burlingame, California in the 1960's. "Show No Mercy" was their marching song.

Robert Dugoni opens the ornate door on the hellish beginnings of Sam's early childhood. "Devil Boy" rolled off the lips of all the kids and Sam Hill took on the new moniker of Sam Hell. This dungeon life on the playground was monitored by fellow classmate, David Freemon, who held court in the bathrooms and under the bleechers to dole out physical punishment on a daily basis. Sam's excuses of falling off his bike were beginning to wear thin. Sam was no squealer.

Ernie Cantwell comes into Sam's life at a time when Sam can barely pick himself up off the ground. Ernie, the only African American child at OLM, becomes Sam's best friend and his truly lifelong one at that. Their families become close and stay that way over the years.

But it is Sam's mother, Madeline, who holds this storyline rigid and in control. "She wasn't interested in just rocking this boat. She intended to capsize it." And she certainly does behind the wheel of that sleek Falcon convertible.

Dugoni fast-forwards in alternating chapters to the present time of 1989 in Burlingame as Sam reaches adulthood and becomes an ophthalmologist in his private practice. But it is in this profession that Sam will meet up with the ghosts of his past. You can't outrun the phantoms that lurk in the dark shadows........phantoms that have the capability to suffocate the very spirit that dwells inside of you. And these phantoms now have the long bony reach that may grip others in a deadlock.

Robert Dugoni has a special gift for lighting the candle of the human spirit. We've seen it in his other offerings as well. But this one has a unique touch of slowly unwinding the thread of childhood secured deftly by the spool of motherhood. You'll see it portrayed by the women in this story. And, to be sure, read Dugoni's Acknowledgements at the end. 'Tis a tinge of sweetness to be savored.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Lake Union and to the very talented Robert Dugoni for the opportunity.

Same Hill touched my heart. His "condition" was something he latched on through out his childhood to adolescence and also to him adult hood. Being raised into a religion family, Sam kept wanting to believe what his mom said that its God's will to have him be extraordinary. He had obstacles to overcome and it led him to question his faith.
    I felt everything he Felt. Sam Hill became real to me and I ended up crying from the story. It also made me reflect about my beliefs of God. For me, this book captivated the realism of how people suffer but still maintain a good heart. Sam Hill questioned his belief of God for all the hardships he has to endure because of his eyes. He has a way to explain what he experienced. I would definitely recommend this novel to everyone. It was heart warming and heart breaking.

This book was well thought out, well written and wonderful! Great cover art too! Good book for older kids.