‘Orphans of Race Point’ Explores the Outer Limits of Friendship

Posted by Allison Hiltz on May 6, 2014 at 1:00 am

Oh, how I loved this book! When I first requested it, I didn’t realize how long it was so when it came in the mail I was nervous about reading a 500+ page book by an author I had never read before. Not only was the book sensational, but I am definitely going to pick up up one of her other works in the near future.

The Orphans of Race Point by Patry Francis follows the lives of Hallie and Gus, who became friends after a violent act left Gus an orphan. Their friendship did not take the traditional route (they didn’t meet on the playground), but from the beginning it’s evident that there are deeper ties that bind the two together than one would expect from two nine-year olds. As their friendship blossoms into something more in high school, another violent act leaves their lives shattered and their futures uncertain. As the two head in opposite directions in life, a third and final violent act brings their zig-zagging lives back together. Only this time, Gus is in prison and Hallie has to decide whether Gus is the man the law says he is or the man she thinks he is.

: Author Site Twitter

Told over the course of three decades, The Orphans of Race Point explores the outer limits of friendships and the ties that bind. Each character is rich, flawed, and absolutely perfect. At no point during this book did I feel that the author could have done more or less, for each word and action was carefully crafted to catapult the reader toward a shocking end. Beyond the lives of Gus and Hallie, Francis uses secondary characters and a seaside backdrop to tell a story so stunning it will leave you staggering with emotion. With a story that transcends time, The Orphans of Race Point is the perfect book to cozy up.

P.S. – It’d make a great Book Club pick, too! (I actually learned after I posted this review that there is, indeed, a reading guide for the book. You can grab it here).

Released: May 6, 2014 • Pages: 544 • Publisher: Harper Perennial

Allison Hiltz

Allison is a voracious reader, Law & Order aficionado, serial napper, shark conservationist, and crazy coffee drinker. She is currently pursuing her graduate degree in Public Policy and lives in Denver, CO with her husband and two rescue dogs. She can be contacted at allison(at)thebookwheelblog(dot)com.

http://doingdeweydecimal.com/ Katie @ Doing Dewey

Staggering with emotion is right! I was completely blown away by how emotional this book made me. Really fantastic book! Because there are always so many new, shiny books to read as a blogger, I always forget about getting to the backlist of authors I love, so I’m so glad that you pointed out Patry’s previous book. I’ve requested it on paperback book swap already and will have to remember to use that site to get books from author’s backlists more often!
- The Book Wheel
  
  Let me know what you think about her other book! I plan to pick it up, too. You’re right – I get so caught up with the newer stuff that it’s easy to overlook or forget about the others.
http://baystatera.com/ Laurie C

I’m not on the tour and haven’t posted my review yet, but I loved this book, too!
- The Book Wheel
  
  I’ll keep an eye out for yours!
  - http://baystatera.com/ Laurie C
    
    Finally got it posted yesterday, and linked to yours!
    - The Book Wheel
      
      Thank you!
HeatherTLC

Don’t you just love it when a book is so good that you don’t even realize how long it is?! I’m so happy to see that this was that kind of book for you.

Thanks for being on the tour!
- The Book Wheel
  
  That’s a great way to put it! Thanks for having me – I loved it!
Pingback: Patry Francis, author of The Orphans of Race Point, on tour May 2014 | TLC Book Tours
Words for Worms

This sounds really great, I always like watching friendships grow and evolve.
- The Book Wheel
  
  If thats’s the case, this is definitely a book for you to read!
Jennine G.

Sounds good, I’ll add it! I love stories that wind through the years and show relationships in full.
http://fromisi.wordpress.com/ Isi

Sounds great, Allison, I’ll look for it for sure.