46 pages • 1 hour read
Catherine Ryan HydeHave You Seen Luis Velez?
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2019A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Further Reading & Resources
Further Reading: Literature
The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger (2001)
Set in the mid-20th century, a white teenager named Holden Caulfield moves through many of the emotional transitions experienced by Raymond. Holden comes at them from the position of white privilege. His great desire is to prevent children from falling off the cliff of innocence into adulthood.
- The Catcher in the Rye on SuperSummary
Monster, by Walter Dean Myers (1999)
This novel also centers around a murder trial. One of the defendants is a Black teenager whose backstory shares much in common with Raymond’s. Like Hyde’s book, racial prejudices and biased assumptions figure into criminal justice.
- Monster on SuperSummary
Video & Podcast Resources
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Sony Pictures, 2018)
Like Hyde’s novel, the main character of this animated movie is Miles Morales, a biracial New York City teenager. He must grapple with the powers he possesses.
Crash (Lions Gate, 2004)
Set in Los Angeles, this film, like Hyde’s book, highlights how humans innately carry biases. Note that this film is rated R.
This interview is not specifically about Have You Seen Luis Velez but offers insight into Hyde’s approach to writing.
