Huck, Janet Elder
Huck, Janet Elder
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Huck
The Remarkable True Story of How One Lost Puppy Taught a Family---and a Whole Town---about Hope and Happy Endings

Author: Janet Elder

Narrator: Karen White

Unabridged: 7 hr 4 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 09/28/2010


Synopsis

Michael was four when his relentless campaign for a dog began. At seven, he made a PowerPoint presentation, "My Dog," with headings like "A Childhood Without a Dog Is a Sad Thing." His parents, Janet and Rich, were steadfast; bringing a dog into their fast-paced New York City lives was utterly impractical.

However, on a trip to Italy, a chance happening leads Janet to reconsider, a decision then hastened by a diagnosis of breast cancer. Janet decides the excitement of a new puppy would be the perfect antidote to the strain on the family of months of arduous treatments for her illness. The prospect of a new puppy would be an affirmation of life, a powerful talisman for them all.

On Thanksgiving weekend, soon after the grueling months of treatments are over, Huck, a sweet, mischievous, red-haired toy poodle, joins the family and wins everyone's hearts.

A few months later, the family ventures to baseball's spring training, leaving Huck with Janet's sister in Ramsey, New Jersey. Barely twenty-four hours into the trip, Janet receives the dreaded phone call: Huck has slipped through the backyard fence and run away.

Broken-hearted and frantic, the family catches the first plane to New Jersey to begin a search for their lost puppy. It is a race against time, for little Huck is now lost in an area entirely unfamiliar to him, facing the threat of bears and coyotes, swamps and freezing temperatures, rain and fast cars.

Moved by the family's plight, strangers—from schoolchildren to townspeople to the police lieutenant—join the search, one that proves to be an unyielding test of determination and faith.

Touching and warm-hearted, Huck is a spirit-lifting story about resilience, the generosity of strangers, and hope.

About Janet Elder

Janet Elder is a senior editor at the New York Times. She lives in Manhattan with her husband, Richard Pinsky, their son, Michael, and the family dog.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Vonette

I love dogs, and I have previously enjoyed books about animals -- especially true stories like this one. So, I was expecting an enjoyable read. However, the book was only OK at best--and at times even a little annoying. The author clearly does not see life from the perspective of the average, not-fr......more

Goodreads review by Julia

I wanted to like this book, if for no other reason, then I loved the cover picture which so reminded me of Dublin. But unfortunately, I couldn't. So many reasons why. First, the author Janet Elder is writes for the NY Times. Which would lead you to believe that she is a good writer. She may be a goo......more

Goodreads review by Judywi

Somewhat disappointing. The dog on the cover is adorable, and if you are any kind of animal person at all it is a hard book to resist reading, based on that alone. However, the writing and story were so-so at best. After the author and her family completely give their hearts to a new puppy in their......more