Upward Bound, Hardcover/Woody Brown

A READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK. A vibrant, profoundly moving novel about the interlocking lives at an adult daycare centre in southern California. " Wonderfully inspirational ." ( Paul Beatty ) " Moving and funny and ringing with life. " ( Guardian ) " A complicated joy ." ( Roddy Doyle ) Among the clients and staff are Carlos, a charismatic aide who lost his mother as a boy, and Jorge, who is gentle, nonspeaking and prone to escape despite Carlos s best efforts. Tom, a beautiful young man with cerebral palsy, pines for Ann, the lifeguard for the summer who feels out of her depth. Then there s Dave, the centre s director. He wanted to be an actor, but finds himself on a very different path. At the heart of Upward Bound is Walter, a recent college student returning to the company of his peers after a family tragedy. Around him, a story unfolds of friendships forged, connections missed and the dreams some new, others almost forgotten that shape us. With his wit, empathy and astonishing gifts as a storyteller, Woody Brown immerses us in life as we have never experienced it before. " Deeply funny and eye-opening. " ( Maria Semple ) " It will open hearts and change minds. " ( Jenna Bush Hager ) " A singular debut ." ( New York Times ) " A luminous novel of human connection and hope ." ( Cecile Pin ) " It will change the way you look at the world ." ( Angie Kim ) " A story of friendship, dreams and rich inner worlds ." ( Se n Hewitt ) " A tender and important novel ." ( Service95 ) " A moving, illuminating glimpse into a world we rarely have access to ." ( Good Housekeeping ) A BOOK FOR THE YEAR IN THE NEW YORK TIMES, TIME, HARPER S BAZAAR, GOOD HOUSEKEEPING AND LITERARY HUB.