What do you think?
Rate this book
The Last Huck
"The Last Huck stands out as one of the most impressive debut novels of this decade." --Joseph D. Haske, author of North Dixie Highway
Jakob, Niklas and Peter Kinnunen grew up playing together on their family's berry farm on the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan's U.P. The three of them inherit the land when their beloved uncle passes away, but Jakob goes to prison and Peter, who goes broke during the 2008 financial crash, calls Niklas and suggests they sell the land for fast cash. Niklas fights back against Peter, but Peter convinces Niklas to take a trip up north, from their homes in Milwaukee, to visit the place and get closure. Haunted by their childhoods and the absence of their beloved Jakob, they spend the weekend drinking, fighting, reminiscing and trying to figure out whether or not to sell. Woven together with moments going back four generations, The Last Huck is the saga of a family ravaged by time and modernity, yet holding on to one another for dear life.
"In his first novel, J.D. Austin vividly captures the painful conflicts among the young men as they spend one last weekend in a place that were the scenes of their happiest childhood memories." --Jon C. Stott, author, Summers at the Upper Michigan Moments and Memories
"We are a large country with many regional literatures. I find the analogy between the 19th-century regional novel and J.D. Austin's The Last Huck provocative and literate." -Donald M. Hassler, Professor Emeritus of English, Kent State University
"The adventure that ensues not only immediately draws the reader in, but does so in a fashion that makes it virtually impossible to put the book down. It is always a joy for seasoned sojourners to witness young talent, such as J. D. Austin, blossom and flourish as we pass through this life." --Michael Carrier (MA NYU), author, Jack Handler Murder Mysteries / Hardboiled Thrillers
"The Last Huck stands out as one of the most impressive debut novels of this decade. The characters, sardonic, clever, and intensely authentic, efficaciously propel Austin's masterful narrative through the backdrop of Michigan's Upper Peninsula like skate blades cutting Lake Superior ice in late winter. With this splendid, unforgettable, first effort, J.D. Austin proves himself a name to watch out for in American letters." --Joseph D. Haske, author of North Dixie Highway
J.D. AUSTIN has resided in the Keweenaw since 2019. He has worked as a kayak guide, ski technician and stage carpenter, among other vocations. Austin's fiction has appeared in The Incandescent Review and U.P. Reader Vol. 7. The Last Huck is his first novel.
Jakob, Niklas and Peter Kinnunen grew up playing together on their family's berry farm on the Keweenaw Peninsula in Michigan's U.P. The three of them inherit the land when their beloved uncle passes away, but Jakob goes to prison and Peter, who goes broke during the 2008 financial crash, calls Niklas and suggests they sell the land for fast cash. Niklas fights back against Peter, but Peter convinces Niklas to take a trip up north, from their homes in Milwaukee, to visit the place and get closure. Haunted by their childhoods and the absence of their beloved Jakob, they spend the weekend drinking, fighting, reminiscing and trying to figure out whether or not to sell. Woven together with moments going back four generations, The Last Huck is the saga of a family ravaged by time and modernity, yet holding on to one another for dear life.
"In his first novel, J.D. Austin vividly captures the painful conflicts among the young men as they spend one last weekend in a place that were the scenes of their happiest childhood memories." --Jon C. Stott, author, Summers at the Upper Michigan Moments and Memories
"We are a large country with many regional literatures. I find the analogy between the 19th-century regional novel and J.D. Austin's The Last Huck provocative and literate." -Donald M. Hassler, Professor Emeritus of English, Kent State University
"The adventure that ensues not only immediately draws the reader in, but does so in a fashion that makes it virtually impossible to put the book down. It is always a joy for seasoned sojourners to witness young talent, such as J. D. Austin, blossom and flourish as we pass through this life." --Michael Carrier (MA NYU), author, Jack Handler Murder Mysteries / Hardboiled Thrillers
"The Last Huck stands out as one of the most impressive debut novels of this decade. The characters, sardonic, clever, and intensely authentic, efficaciously propel Austin's masterful narrative through the backdrop of Michigan's Upper Peninsula like skate blades cutting Lake Superior ice in late winter. With this splendid, unforgettable, first effort, J.D. Austin proves himself a name to watch out for in American letters." --Joseph D. Haske, author of North Dixie Highway
J.D. AUSTIN has resided in the Keweenaw since 2019. He has worked as a kayak guide, ski technician and stage carpenter, among other vocations. Austin's fiction has appeared in The Incandescent Review and U.P. Reader Vol. 7. The Last Huck is his first novel.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 16, 2024
2 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Read
April 4, 2025I did not fully know what to expect when I began reading “The Last Huck” by J.D. Austin. The story follows three boys, two brothers and their cousin, and their uncle’s land that they grew up on. All three boys inherit the land when their uncle dies. One of the brothers ends up in prison and the other two have to make the hard decision on whether or not to sell the land as they have come on hard times and need the money. In this story we get to go back to their great grandfather’s story all the way through to the current day and learn about the different generations as they worked through the years.
“The Last Huck” by J.D. Austin had some good bones for a very emotional, powerful story of generations overcoming and making a place for themselves. Genre would be contemporary with a bit of historical fiction mixed in. There are no intimate scenes. However, there is a lot of cursing and adult content in the forms of drugs and alcohol. With a good bit of editing and adding in more connection with the reader, this book could be really powerful.
For a more detailed review, go to the link below:
https://readerviews.com/reviews/the-l...
“The Last Huck” by J.D. Austin had some good bones for a very emotional, powerful story of generations overcoming and making a place for themselves. Genre would be contemporary with a bit of historical fiction mixed in. There are no intimate scenes. However, there is a lot of cursing and adult content in the forms of drugs and alcohol. With a good bit of editing and adding in more connection with the reader, this book could be really powerful.
For a more detailed review, go to the link below:
https://readerviews.com/reviews/the-l...
April 18, 2024
This book is vivid and biting, witty and real, an invitation to the world of True Sincerity for the avid reader. In this crushing and heartwarming tale, two brothers and their cousin navigate harrowing financial straits and the tough decision to sell land that belonged to their beloved uncle Jussi. The characters in short time grew close to me, and I commend the author J.D. Austin on his first novel on the merits of excellent storytelling and prose.
April 27, 2025
Incredibly well written, a little sadder for my personal taste in casual reading but an amazing representation and personification of the UP and people in my age group that I know from the area. I look forward to this authors follow up.
August 10, 2024
“Remember when we hucked it out here on my 16th birthday and it got down to 25 and we almost froze to death? “ This book full of great stories - some heartbreaking - boys growing up at their family cottage in pure Michigan.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews