num_pages: 213
description: No One Makes It Alone, by author Andrew Valdez, is the true story of how a poor, fatherless, westside Latino paperboy - destined to be a respected judge - is plucked off a cold, wintery Salt Lake City street corner by an Anglo business owner who mentors and fathers him. Jack Keller, affectionately known as "Jack Mormon," shows streetwise Andy Valdez how to face adversity and take responsibility. Most importantly, Jack sets Andy on the right path to grow into manhood. No One Makes It Alone starts in the present when Judge Andrew Valdez discovers his mentor, Jack, confused and disheveled at a local grocery store. Over the years they lost track and now Jack is penniless and suffering the first symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. The once strong and able-bodied World War Two veteran is desperate and alone. This chance meeting sets in motion reflections and memories of those days long ago when Andy and Jack spent their time under the cooling canopy of century-old trees at the tennis courts in Liberty Park. It was Jack's guidance and the game of tennis that taught Andy about honesty, competition, honor and fair play. Tennis opened the door to a new world of possibilities - and Andy walked through. No One Makes It Alone is an important book. It is a poignant story of how a boy grows into manhood - and great accomplishment - with the help and love of an older, unrelated man. But it is also a reminder to each of us of where we came from and who helped us along the way. No matter who we are, what color our skin, what side of the tracks we call home or what our country of origin is, there are far more similarities than differences between us. With the debate about immigration continuing, the lessons and values author Andrew Valdez serves up through the wisdom of his own experiences are welcome and needed.
language: English
title: No One Makes It Alone
titlecomplete: No One Makes It Alone
ratings_count: 45
publisher: Juniper Press & Oxide Books