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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
Huck is a page-turning, unforgettable true story of the tenacity of one small dog, the unexpected, extraordinary kindness of strangers, and a family's devotion to each other. 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 t
304 pages, Hardcover
First published September 28, 2010
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March 13, 2012
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-from-New-York-City person. It gets irritating at times how amazed she is by the way ordinary people live and act outside the city.
"Huck" might have made a decent short story, but the author has padded it out into a book by adding lots of irrelevant details about characters who make only brief appearances in the story. (Yet somehow despite all that detail, these people never jump off the page at you, nor even seem all that interesting.) Then, she adds boring passages that have nothing to do with the main story such as her trip to buy herself some sunglasses and a long description of Tampa--where the family only spends a few hours. You would think she assumes that none of us readers has ever heard of Tampa before!
Perhaps the biggest problem with the book, though, is its total failure to make you fall in love with the dog that the whole story is centered around. The author seems to miss the fact that in order for a reader to care about a character (including an animal character), you must create a personality for that character in the reader's mind. As much as I love dogs, this dog never felt real to me. And why should he when all I ever learned about him was what he looks like and what he likes to eat? The reader is never given a feeling of genuine relationship between the author and the dog. If I wanted you to know my dog, I would tell you stories about the funny things he has done, the naughty things he has done, his personality quirks that make him special to my family. All of these things are missing from the book. Real dogs (like mine!) are one-of-a-kind characters. Huck, on the other hand felt generic and 2-dimensional.
I hate to say it, but while reading this book I found myself doubting the author's truthfulness at times. For example, she talks about how she and her husband did all this research to decide what kind of dog to buy before purchasing Huck from a breeder in FL and having him shipped up on an airplane. She states that they were not aware of shelter dogs at the time or they certainly would have considered one. But how can you do all that research and NOT EVER hear about animal shelters and the dogs waiting for homes? How can you be a journalist and be so ignorant? I felt that she inserted this "disclaimer" only to avoid offending people and probably because her editor recommended it. I also grew weary of hearing how the author really couldn't afford the expensive new sunglasses she bought, or the hundreds of color flyers she printed, or the $1000 reward she and her husband decided to offer(not to mention the travelling they do and the cost of having a dog flown up from FL!). Does she have any idea how average people live and what it REALLY means to "not be able to afford" something? I doubt it. I felt like these financial concerns were just another thing inserted into the story in an attempt to make the author and her family sound more relatable to the average reader. The attempt fails miserably.
2 stars because there are some good sections in the book --such as the section about the author's bout with cancer. Maybe the book should have been about that!
"Huck" might have made a decent short story, but the author has padded it out into a book by adding lots of irrelevant details about characters who make only brief appearances in the story. (Yet somehow despite all that detail, these people never jump off the page at you, nor even seem all that interesting.) Then, she adds boring passages that have nothing to do with the main story such as her trip to buy herself some sunglasses and a long description of Tampa--where the family only spends a few hours. You would think she assumes that none of us readers has ever heard of Tampa before!
Perhaps the biggest problem with the book, though, is its total failure to make you fall in love with the dog that the whole story is centered around. The author seems to miss the fact that in order for a reader to care about a character (including an animal character), you must create a personality for that character in the reader's mind. As much as I love dogs, this dog never felt real to me. And why should he when all I ever learned about him was what he looks like and what he likes to eat? The reader is never given a feeling of genuine relationship between the author and the dog. If I wanted you to know my dog, I would tell you stories about the funny things he has done, the naughty things he has done, his personality quirks that make him special to my family. All of these things are missing from the book. Real dogs (like mine!) are one-of-a-kind characters. Huck, on the other hand felt generic and 2-dimensional.
I hate to say it, but while reading this book I found myself doubting the author's truthfulness at times. For example, she talks about how she and her husband did all this research to decide what kind of dog to buy before purchasing Huck from a breeder in FL and having him shipped up on an airplane. She states that they were not aware of shelter dogs at the time or they certainly would have considered one. But how can you do all that research and NOT EVER hear about animal shelters and the dogs waiting for homes? How can you be a journalist and be so ignorant? I felt that she inserted this "disclaimer" only to avoid offending people and probably because her editor recommended it. I also grew weary of hearing how the author really couldn't afford the expensive new sunglasses she bought, or the hundreds of color flyers she printed, or the $1000 reward she and her husband decided to offer(not to mention the travelling they do and the cost of having a dog flown up from FL!). Does she have any idea how average people live and what it REALLY means to "not be able to afford" something? I doubt it. I felt like these financial concerns were just another thing inserted into the story in an attempt to make the author and her family sound more relatable to the average reader. The attempt fails miserably.
2 stars because there are some good sections in the book --such as the section about the author's bout with cancer. Maybe the book should have been about that!
June 15, 2020
As the “dog mama” of four toy poodles, I enjoyed reading this book about Huck and his family. It was just wonderful how helpful everyone was to the Elder family during Huck’s disappearance!
I would recommend this to all dog-lovers!
I would recommend this to all dog-lovers!
January 31, 2011
I won this book in a drawing here at Good Reads. When I won, they asked me to make sure to review the book on Good Reads but they may change their mind.
I hate to say it had to be one of the worst books I have ever read. I hated the condescending attitude of the author to all things not in New York City - as if the rest of the country was just set up as a theme park for New Yorkers to visit where everything is wonderful, time goes slowly and no one has any cares. Believe me - non-New Yorkers do not live in idealized communities without any problems where time stands still.
In addition, why should I care about this dog so much? Don't get me wrong - I like to think of myself as the biggest dog lover around and would never be long without a dog in my life. But she does nothing in this book to make me even like her dog. They just run around in hysterics trying to find this dog they lost. I am very glad they found their dog, and I hope they went home and played and played with him so they could form a closer bond with it as well as giving it a few lessons in coming when called.
Hopefully next time I will win a good book...
I hate to say it had to be one of the worst books I have ever read. I hated the condescending attitude of the author to all things not in New York City - as if the rest of the country was just set up as a theme park for New Yorkers to visit where everything is wonderful, time goes slowly and no one has any cares. Believe me - non-New Yorkers do not live in idealized communities without any problems where time stands still.
In addition, why should I care about this dog so much? Don't get me wrong - I like to think of myself as the biggest dog lover around and would never be long without a dog in my life. But she does nothing in this book to make me even like her dog. They just run around in hysterics trying to find this dog they lost. I am very glad they found their dog, and I hope they went home and played and played with him so they could form a closer bond with it as well as giving it a few lessons in coming when called.
Hopefully next time I will win a good book...
August 4, 2011
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 good "reporter" but writer, no. I found the writing tedious. Very laborious. Really do I need to know every whine your son makes and every back story of how each couple who offered to help you met. Plus, just a nagging question on my part....why the continual referral to your sister's house as "the Clarks" instead of Aunt Barbara (if that was her name). I can honestly say I never refer to my sibling's houses or sisters/brothers in law houses by last name. I guess the biggest issue I had was their caraciture of the NJ suburbs (Ramsey) compared to NY, how quaint she made it seem compared to the worldly (and obviously better in her view) urban life of NY. And maybe, just maybe if you had taught your dog the simple command "come" this whole situation could have been avoided. I am glad (spoiler alert) that alls well that ends well and the dog is found and they all leave happily ever after, hopefully with some help of a trainer.
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November 13, 2024This is a total feel good book. I got it as a Christmas gift when the giver could not find the book I'd asked for at the local bookstore. She bought it because I have a grandson named Huck AND because she knows I like dog books. Typically a slow reader, I gobbled this up in 24 hours. Here is a quote from the book that is kind of the bottom line message. The speaker is one of the many people enlisted in the small town of Ramsey, New Jersey to help Elder and her family search for their lost dog: "I have always felt that if everyone bends their minds and hearts to a task, then good things come." While this is certainly a message we always need to recall, it seems particularly fitting in today's political climate.
There are a couple of other things that I liked about this book. Elder, a New York Times writer, is a skillful writer which is what made the book a fast read. There were some aspects of style that gave me pause--some of her POV choices and the way she inserts backstory about the townspeople--but ultimately I decided that, for the purpose of this tale, she chose correctly. I also found it interesting that she skimmed over the part of the story that was truly hers--a cancer diagnosis and treatment-- to focus on the saving grace in her and her family's life: Huck. This worked rather well to focus the book on hope and community. Finally, I think she offers a wonderfully objective view into parenting, especially parenting an only child. There is much to learn from her honest, reflective look at her own and others' parenting.
Mostly though, I simply enjoyed flying through the pages of this book with my heart wide open to receive its goodness.
Read this a second time to my grandson after he underwent major back surgery. This 10 year old adores dogs and so we surrounded him with dog items following surgery. It was fun to read Huck aloud to him. When there were words he didn't know, like mammogram or insatiable, we talked about what they meant and then I used them in sentences over the next few days. We both cried when Huck was found. Happy tears! I hope the idea of resilience and getting to the other side of a hard place penetrated my grandson's awareness as he continues to recover from his ordeal.
There are a couple of other things that I liked about this book. Elder, a New York Times writer, is a skillful writer which is what made the book a fast read. There were some aspects of style that gave me pause--some of her POV choices and the way she inserts backstory about the townspeople--but ultimately I decided that, for the purpose of this tale, she chose correctly. I also found it interesting that she skimmed over the part of the story that was truly hers--a cancer diagnosis and treatment-- to focus on the saving grace in her and her family's life: Huck. This worked rather well to focus the book on hope and community. Finally, I think she offers a wonderfully objective view into parenting, especially parenting an only child. There is much to learn from her honest, reflective look at her own and others' parenting.
Mostly though, I simply enjoyed flying through the pages of this book with my heart wide open to receive its goodness.
Read this a second time to my grandson after he underwent major back surgery. This 10 year old adores dogs and so we surrounded him with dog items following surgery. It was fun to read Huck aloud to him. When there were words he didn't know, like mammogram or insatiable, we talked about what they meant and then I used them in sentences over the next few days. We both cried when Huck was found. Happy tears! I hope the idea of resilience and getting to the other side of a hard place penetrated my grandson's awareness as he continues to recover from his ordeal.
November 21, 2010
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 life, they leave "Huck" with relatives in New Jersey while they take a vacation. Sadly, the dog runs away, and the family cuts short their trip to mount a full-scale search campaign for the missing dog. I think the appeal of the story is supposed to lie in the amazing way a small, somewhat rural community comes to aid this family of strangers in their search. Maybe if you're from Manhatten this is an amazing story, but truthfully as a midwesterner in a small town, I saw, written as if it was a miracle, just a whole lot of people doing exactly what you would expect them to do. And naturally, anyone would appreciate the help and support, but it's not actually remarkable in most people's world. Not worth a whole book and a ringing endorsement by Letterman.
March 1, 2012
I put off reading this book for a long-time because I wasn't sure my heart could take a bad ending for a family and their pet. I wish I hadn't waited - this book was wonderful and not quite what I expected.
The story begins as a family's young son lobbies heavily to have a dog for a pet. Eventually his parents relent. They make the decision to get a dog in the wake of the mother's breast cancer diagnosis, reasoning that if she does not survive then her son will have someone around to comfort him.
I don't want to write too much, but the dog goes missing and the family learns about love and compassion and the caring of total strangers. A wonderful memoir!
The story begins as a family's young son lobbies heavily to have a dog for a pet. Eventually his parents relent. They make the decision to get a dog in the wake of the mother's breast cancer diagnosis, reasoning that if she does not survive then her son will have someone around to comfort him.
I don't want to write too much, but the dog goes missing and the family learns about love and compassion and the caring of total strangers. A wonderful memoir!
February 6, 2016
Jane Elder is Married to Richard Pinsky and they have a Son named Michael. Michael loves animals and has always wanted a dog but his parents were reluctant to let him have one for various reasons. When Jane was diagnosed with lobular breast cancer she decided Michael needed a dog to help with dealing with her illness. Michael decides he wants a poodle and on Thanksgiving weekend Huck a red haired toy poodle comes into their lives and changes them forever.
Story will send you on a roller coaster of emotions. Highly recommend.
Story will send you on a roller coaster of emotions. Highly recommend.
July 20, 2010
I wrote HUCK to share with readers a remarkable true story about a lost puppy, a family's devotion to each other, and the unexpected kindness of strangers. The advance praise from Jon Katz, Caroline Kennedy, and others has been wonderful. So too have been the reviwes from people like Jen,a mother in Pennsylvania who read an advance copy of HUCK. She had long grown cynnical about people but said that reading HUCK had restored her faith. I felt happy, sad, excited, and scared reading this book, often in one sitting. " She added: "In a world where we hear such grim news every day, your book is going to be a guiding light, leading us all in the direction of generosity and goodwill." HUCK has been called a page-turning story that will likely make you cry some happy tears.
I hope you enjoy it. HUCK will be in bookstores September 28, 2010 or you can order it today.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/aQlAzl
I hope you enjoy it. HUCK will be in bookstores September 28, 2010 or you can order it today.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/aQlAzl
March 16, 2012
I really enjoyed this tale and finished it quickly.
Upon reading what others thought I began to agree with many reviewer's criticisms. There was a lot of time spent describing people, events etc that hadn't much importance. I suppose that may have seemed like padding. Some reviewr's didn't appreciate the whole story revolving around a dog hunt.
But upon giving it some thought I am sticking with my rating. It is a true story and it read like one. I don't think the aurhor, Janet Elder, padded the story because life isn't all action packed. I liked the simplicity. I would much rather read repetition after repetition of the kindness' of strangers. How is that boring?
Upon reading what others thought I began to agree with many reviewer's criticisms. There was a lot of time spent describing people, events etc that hadn't much importance. I suppose that may have seemed like padding. Some reviewr's didn't appreciate the whole story revolving around a dog hunt.
But upon giving it some thought I am sticking with my rating. It is a true story and it read like one. I don't think the aurhor, Janet Elder, padded the story because life isn't all action packed. I liked the simplicity. I would much rather read repetition after repetition of the kindness' of strangers. How is that boring?
March 1, 2015
Obviously, I read every dog or cat memoir book I find. This one has been on my to-read list for years, it was sitting in number 34 for a long time. Finally, I found a copy for $10 in QBD, and got to reading it as soon as I could.
I enjoyed the kindness of the people in this book, but I really didn't need to know the back story of each and every one. I just wanted them to find Huck, not tell me how two randoms met. It was a weird part of an otherwise good book.
A nice story with a happy ending, which is what most animal lovers look for in a dog book. Four stars.
I enjoyed the kindness of the people in this book, but I really didn't need to know the back story of each and every one. I just wanted them to find Huck, not tell me how two randoms met. It was a weird part of an otherwise good book.
A nice story with a happy ending, which is what most animal lovers look for in a dog book. Four stars.
February 11, 2017
This actually gets 3.5 stars from me. It is a heartwarming story and you really want them to find Huck. It just seemed to be a bit clumsily written to me. All of the street names and turns made me dizzy. Even with the map in the front and back of the book, it was difficult to follow. I also found it odd that for some people she met in Ramsey you got a back story, but not for others. Seemed a bit random.
This is a great book for doglovers, especially those who have survived cancer or love someone who has. It is also a testament to the kindness of strangers in small-town America.
This is a great book for doglovers, especially those who have survived cancer or love someone who has. It is also a testament to the kindness of strangers in small-town America.
October 12, 2010
David Letterman did two segments with this author so I got the book expecting something more of an Edgar Sawteel story but this very short vanity book was a little disappointing. Reading the credits made me realize that Janet Elder and Regina Lasko Letterman are friends, thus the good plug on national television. It was quick, cute renewal of faith in the kindness of strangers but not much more.
April 22, 2017
Just look at that cute little puppy face. Oh, Huck.
The first thing that Huck taught me is that toy poodles don't have to have that hideous hair style exposing their shaved body. No, the same animal can be covered in woolly fuzz and be as cute as a button! Lesson learned. I can like poodles now.
To jump right into it, one issue that some people may stumble over when reading the book is that the author's writing style is just a bit different than other non-fiction stories, somewhat jarring. To clarify, you should understand that Janet Elder is a journalist for a newspaper, and her husband is in a similar line of work too. Thus, it's very simple to see that her wheelhouse is in writing facts, giving credit to people where it is due, by mentioning people's name, their jobs, or a bit about their life, etc. So in Huck, I feel that she didn't so much paint a tale for you, but constructed it from the bones of the story. There's a difference, and it certainly can be felt by the reader. For me, this was in no way off-putting. It was just her style, many times like reading an elongated newspaper article that just kept going. I felt like Janet's writing style helped me to understand her better as person. And so, I was perfectly okay with how she chose to write it.
There's two big elements in the plot, two stories being told together. One, Janet Elder discovers she has cancer, will be going through treatments, and knows it will be tough on the whole family. Two, after years of listening to the begging of her son, she and her husband are finally giving in to getting a dog. However, they lose their new furry treasure not long afterward. There's loss, but hope; sadness, but glee. Combined, these plots twist together into a tale that can bring on the tears -- especially for the dog-lovers.
Still, I think my favorite moment is when Janet talks of how her young son loved the McDuff books by Rosemary Wells. Those books fueled his passion for getting a dog, perhaps even a Westie, just like McDuff. I can remember my mom reading those books to my brother and me. We wanted a Westie too, just like Janet's son, and, yes, we got one for our childhood pet. So, on a personal note, I was overjoyed to find mention of McDuff, here in Huck.
What would you do if your pet ran away? What lengths could you go to, in order to get your furry family member back?
The first thing that Huck taught me is that toy poodles don't have to have that hideous hair style exposing their shaved body. No, the same animal can be covered in woolly fuzz and be as cute as a button! Lesson learned. I can like poodles now.
To jump right into it, one issue that some people may stumble over when reading the book is that the author's writing style is just a bit different than other non-fiction stories, somewhat jarring. To clarify, you should understand that Janet Elder is a journalist for a newspaper, and her husband is in a similar line of work too. Thus, it's very simple to see that her wheelhouse is in writing facts, giving credit to people where it is due, by mentioning people's name, their jobs, or a bit about their life, etc. So in Huck, I feel that she didn't so much paint a tale for you, but constructed it from the bones of the story. There's a difference, and it certainly can be felt by the reader. For me, this was in no way off-putting. It was just her style, many times like reading an elongated newspaper article that just kept going. I felt like Janet's writing style helped me to understand her better as person. And so, I was perfectly okay with how she chose to write it.
There's two big elements in the plot, two stories being told together. One, Janet Elder discovers she has cancer, will be going through treatments, and knows it will be tough on the whole family. Two, after years of listening to the begging of her son, she and her husband are finally giving in to getting a dog. However, they lose their new furry treasure not long afterward. There's loss, but hope; sadness, but glee. Combined, these plots twist together into a tale that can bring on the tears -- especially for the dog-lovers.
Still, I think my favorite moment is when Janet talks of how her young son loved the McDuff books by Rosemary Wells. Those books fueled his passion for getting a dog, perhaps even a Westie, just like McDuff. I can remember my mom reading those books to my brother and me. We wanted a Westie too, just like Janet's son, and, yes, we got one for our childhood pet. So, on a personal note, I was overjoyed to find mention of McDuff, here in Huck.
What would you do if your pet ran away? What lengths could you go to, in order to get your furry family member back?
June 24, 2019
The writing was outstanding, but how many books can you read about dog found, dog lost, dog found?
Want to read
September 22, 2019Awesome I loved It!
June 22, 2023
A nail biter and true story. A family goes on vacation and their poodle puppy runs away.
December 26, 2024
Not a bad book, but it could have been an article.
September 4, 2025
Easy to read book and tells of the kindness of strangers as much as it explains the bond between humans and their dogs.
July 7, 2015
3.5/5
Janet and Rich Elder’s son, Micheal, had been begging for a dog since he was four. Their busy jobs and hectic New York City lifestyle prevented them from caving for years. When Janet discovers she has breast cancer, though, she decides that 11 year old Michael should finally have his dog to help cope with the illness and the stresses it would bring. Huck, a toy poodle puppy comes home and steals their hearts away.Shortly after his arrival, the family goes on a vacation to Florida and they, apprehensively, leave Huck with Janet’s sister in Ramsey, New Jersey. Just a few days into the trip, the Elder’s receive a phone call… Huck has escaped through the fence. The devastated family returns to Ramsey immediately and begin an intense and all-consuming search for days in the freezing weather with help from many strangers in the small town.
When I saw this ARC on the tour site, I knew I had to read it. I LOVE animals and I love memoirs, so it seemed like a great fit. I did like the book, but I do have a couple of issues that kept me from loving it. First, the story focuses and talks mostly about the family rather than Huck. I think it’s really important that in non-fiction stories such as this one that we do get to know the family behind the animal, but I wanted a lot more of Huck than I actually ever got. I’m thinking Marley and Me, where we see all of Marley’s crazy antics and fall in love with him. We never really get the chance to fall in love with Huck, though he does seem cute.
Second, the writing was extremely formal, even the dialogue, and by this I mean, it would say things like… “it is cold” or “they are searching.” Now, I don’t have the book so these are not direct quotes, but just an example of the kind of formal writing you’ll see when reading this… lots of spots where contractions should/could have been used but weren’t. It almost causes the dialogue to feel unrealistic at times. Perhaps the formal writing is because the author is a journalist? I dunno.
Aside from those grievances, this was an enjoyable story. I really enjoyed reading about her son, Michael, and all the things he did in order to try and get a dog, such as creating Powerpoint presentations for his parents. The beginning of the book does a nice job setting up the desperation and desire for the dog and makes it that much sweeter when he finally arrives.
I’d say the second half or so of the book is dedicated to the search. The family did everything they could to find Huck, plastering the town and nearby areas with posters offering rewards, going door to door inquiring about a lost dog, and approaching many random strangers. While some of this section of the book got tedious at times to read, it was so touching and heartwrenching to see the kindness of so many strangers… it was crazy how many people in the town offered their help… some even going so far as to search for Huck themselves. The family was devastated when Huck was gone, showing how important and life-changing animals can be.
While this book has its faults (for me at least), it does give me a bit of hope about humanity and the kindness of others. Sometimes it’s hard to find kindness in the world around us, but if we look hard enough, it’s there, in the smile of a stranger or in the eyes of a cuddly puppy.
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Janet and Rich Elder’s son, Micheal, had been begging for a dog since he was four. Their busy jobs and hectic New York City lifestyle prevented them from caving for years. When Janet discovers she has breast cancer, though, she decides that 11 year old Michael should finally have his dog to help cope with the illness and the stresses it would bring. Huck, a toy poodle puppy comes home and steals their hearts away.Shortly after his arrival, the family goes on a vacation to Florida and they, apprehensively, leave Huck with Janet’s sister in Ramsey, New Jersey. Just a few days into the trip, the Elder’s receive a phone call… Huck has escaped through the fence. The devastated family returns to Ramsey immediately and begin an intense and all-consuming search for days in the freezing weather with help from many strangers in the small town.
When I saw this ARC on the tour site, I knew I had to read it. I LOVE animals and I love memoirs, so it seemed like a great fit. I did like the book, but I do have a couple of issues that kept me from loving it. First, the story focuses and talks mostly about the family rather than Huck. I think it’s really important that in non-fiction stories such as this one that we do get to know the family behind the animal, but I wanted a lot more of Huck than I actually ever got. I’m thinking Marley and Me, where we see all of Marley’s crazy antics and fall in love with him. We never really get the chance to fall in love with Huck, though he does seem cute.
Second, the writing was extremely formal, even the dialogue, and by this I mean, it would say things like… “it is cold” or “they are searching.” Now, I don’t have the book so these are not direct quotes, but just an example of the kind of formal writing you’ll see when reading this… lots of spots where contractions should/could have been used but weren’t. It almost causes the dialogue to feel unrealistic at times. Perhaps the formal writing is because the author is a journalist? I dunno.
Aside from those grievances, this was an enjoyable story. I really enjoyed reading about her son, Michael, and all the things he did in order to try and get a dog, such as creating Powerpoint presentations for his parents. The beginning of the book does a nice job setting up the desperation and desire for the dog and makes it that much sweeter when he finally arrives.
I’d say the second half or so of the book is dedicated to the search. The family did everything they could to find Huck, plastering the town and nearby areas with posters offering rewards, going door to door inquiring about a lost dog, and approaching many random strangers. While some of this section of the book got tedious at times to read, it was so touching and heartwrenching to see the kindness of so many strangers… it was crazy how many people in the town offered their help… some even going so far as to search for Huck themselves. The family was devastated when Huck was gone, showing how important and life-changing animals can be.
While this book has its faults (for me at least), it does give me a bit of hope about humanity and the kindness of others. Sometimes it’s hard to find kindness in the world around us, but if we look hard enough, it’s there, in the smile of a stranger or in the eyes of a cuddly puppy.
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2018
Listened to on CD.
Heart warming story of a lost dog, a family and kind strangers that come together to find the dog. Was well written, however it did slow down in some spots, but the payoff at the end was worth it.
Heart warming story of a lost dog, a family and kind strangers that come together to find the dog. Was well written, however it did slow down in some spots, but the payoff at the end was worth it.
January 16, 2011
When Janet Elder was diagnosed with breast cancer, she and her husband promised their twelve-year-old son Michael that they would get him a puppy as soon as she was better. They realized that life is too short to deny their son something he so desperately wanted, but they also knew that she would be in no condition to care for a puppy for a while.
True to their word, they got Michael a red toy poodle, whom he named Huck and whom they all immediately fell in love with. They couldn't imagine a life without Huck in it. Then, while they were on a much-needed vacation and Huck was staying with Janet's sister in New Jersey, the unthinkable happened. Huck ran away. The family immediately returned to start looking for their dog, and they found unexpected help throughout the small town of Ramsey, New Jersey.
This was a heart-warming story, but, being honest, I didn't find it very unexpected. I think being from a small town (it's not even technically a town) and living my whole life in a couple of small towns within half an hour of home skewed my perspective a little. I would have been more surprised if the people they came across didn't offer to help. Pretty much every business in the small towns I know have a community board to post lost dog signs and business cards. That said, this was a reminder not to take that for granted. Huck and his family live in New York, and they were amazed that perfect strangers spoke to them, helped them look, and let them post Lost Dog signs.
That's really about all I have to say. Huck sounds like a very sweet dog, and animal lovers of all kinds will enjoy this tale of "hope and happy endings."
True to their word, they got Michael a red toy poodle, whom he named Huck and whom they all immediately fell in love with. They couldn't imagine a life without Huck in it. Then, while they were on a much-needed vacation and Huck was staying with Janet's sister in New Jersey, the unthinkable happened. Huck ran away. The family immediately returned to start looking for their dog, and they found unexpected help throughout the small town of Ramsey, New Jersey.
This was a heart-warming story, but, being honest, I didn't find it very unexpected. I think being from a small town (it's not even technically a town) and living my whole life in a couple of small towns within half an hour of home skewed my perspective a little. I would have been more surprised if the people they came across didn't offer to help. Pretty much every business in the small towns I know have a community board to post lost dog signs and business cards. That said, this was a reminder not to take that for granted. Huck and his family live in New York, and they were amazed that perfect strangers spoke to them, helped them look, and let them post Lost Dog signs.
That's really about all I have to say. Huck sounds like a very sweet dog, and animal lovers of all kinds will enjoy this tale of "hope and happy endings."
August 13, 2013
Huck, The Remarkable True Story of How One Lost Puppy Taught a Family – and a Whole Town – About Hope and Happy Endings, by Janet Elder, 2010, Random House, 295 pages, $21
Huck has a short title and one looong subtitle that says it all. Although nearly 300 pages, Huck is a quick read by an excellent writer. Of course, we all know how it ends (or probably does, because who would write a book about a dog that is never found?) and because we know how it ends, there is less of a tendency to turn to the last few pages (which would spoil the story and let us off the hook about reading the entire story).
Michael has wanted a dog all his life. A dog tops his Christmas wish list for years, along with a dog bed, a leash, food and water bowls, and dog toys, of course. But Michael and his parents live in New York City. Finally, to assuage his mother’s sudden and serious illness, he gets exactly the puppy he wants – a cute little toy poodle with a puppy cut. A couple of months later, the family takes a well-deserved vacation and Huck stays with cousins he knows in the New Jersey countryside.
Huck is one lucky dog – an entire town out looking for him. Michael has the most sensitive, caring, concerned, involved parents in the world (I just can’t imagine my parents going to the lengths his parents did, searching for Huck) and Michael is truly one 12- year-old who understands dogs: how he finally gets Huck back is worth all 295 pages and makes Michael inspiration even to adults!
Huck has a short title and one looong subtitle that says it all. Although nearly 300 pages, Huck is a quick read by an excellent writer. Of course, we all know how it ends (or probably does, because who would write a book about a dog that is never found?) and because we know how it ends, there is less of a tendency to turn to the last few pages (which would spoil the story and let us off the hook about reading the entire story).
Michael has wanted a dog all his life. A dog tops his Christmas wish list for years, along with a dog bed, a leash, food and water bowls, and dog toys, of course. But Michael and his parents live in New York City. Finally, to assuage his mother’s sudden and serious illness, he gets exactly the puppy he wants – a cute little toy poodle with a puppy cut. A couple of months later, the family takes a well-deserved vacation and Huck stays with cousins he knows in the New Jersey countryside.
Huck is one lucky dog – an entire town out looking for him. Michael has the most sensitive, caring, concerned, involved parents in the world (I just can’t imagine my parents going to the lengths his parents did, searching for Huck) and Michael is truly one 12- year-old who understands dogs: how he finally gets Huck back is worth all 295 pages and makes Michael inspiration even to adults!
January 21, 2013
Ok, I'll admit it...I totally bought this book because of the cute puppy on the cover. Huck's scruffy little face and the words "remarkable true story" had me falling hook, line and sinker. But the front cover is probably the best part of this book, and I was really disappointed by the time I finished Huck.
It's a simple story about a dog that gets out the fence and the days after in which the family puts up lost dog signs. The author includes a lot of unnecessary detail about every person she talks to when her dog goes missing. I'm really glad some girl at the local high school wanted to help you find your dog, but do I really need to know about her position on the cheerleading squad and which instruments she plays in the band? These characters are insignificant and the gratuitous descriptions get old fast.
I also feel like Janet Elder uses her cancer diagnosis and treatment to over sentimentalize the book (is that horrible to say??). It just felt pretty irrelevant to the story but she spends a lot of time talking about it. While she never specifically says God saved her life or found her dog she does mention prayer a lot which I found annoying.
Ultimately, it's a quick read but nothing about Huck is very memorable or extraordinary. Mostly I think this book was written as a way for Janet Elder to thank a bunch of people at once. Next time I'll try to remember the old adage "Don't judge a book by its cover" and pick up something more interesting.
It's a simple story about a dog that gets out the fence and the days after in which the family puts up lost dog signs. The author includes a lot of unnecessary detail about every person she talks to when her dog goes missing. I'm really glad some girl at the local high school wanted to help you find your dog, but do I really need to know about her position on the cheerleading squad and which instruments she plays in the band? These characters are insignificant and the gratuitous descriptions get old fast.
I also feel like Janet Elder uses her cancer diagnosis and treatment to over sentimentalize the book (is that horrible to say??). It just felt pretty irrelevant to the story but she spends a lot of time talking about it. While she never specifically says God saved her life or found her dog she does mention prayer a lot which I found annoying.
Ultimately, it's a quick read but nothing about Huck is very memorable or extraordinary. Mostly I think this book was written as a way for Janet Elder to thank a bunch of people at once. Next time I'll try to remember the old adage "Don't judge a book by its cover" and pick up something more interesting.
September 1, 2010
Janet Elder's memoir, "Huck," is a delightful story of love and courage.
Elder's son, Michael, lobbies heavily to have a dog for a pet for several years until his parents relent. They make the decision to get a dog in the wake of Elder's breast cancer diagnosis, reasoning that if she does not survive then her son will have someone around to comfort him.
Elder, of course, survives. However, in the meanwhile she and her family have fallen madly in love with Huck, the red toy poodle they purchase for Michael. When Huck escapes from Aunt Barbara's New Jersey back yard while Elder's family is on vacation, Michael is devastated. The family cuts their vacation short to go back and look for the puppy. Michael never gives up hope, and the entire little New Jersey town seems to be involved in finding the puppy.
The main message of the book is about compassion and love, of course, as total strangers gather to assist in finding a little boy's beloved puppy. There is much we can all learn from this true-life story.
Elder's son, Michael, lobbies heavily to have a dog for a pet for several years until his parents relent. They make the decision to get a dog in the wake of Elder's breast cancer diagnosis, reasoning that if she does not survive then her son will have someone around to comfort him.
Elder, of course, survives. However, in the meanwhile she and her family have fallen madly in love with Huck, the red toy poodle they purchase for Michael. When Huck escapes from Aunt Barbara's New Jersey back yard while Elder's family is on vacation, Michael is devastated. The family cuts their vacation short to go back and look for the puppy. Michael never gives up hope, and the entire little New Jersey town seems to be involved in finding the puppy.
The main message of the book is about compassion and love, of course, as total strangers gather to assist in finding a little boy's beloved puppy. There is much we can all learn from this true-life story.
March 8, 2011
This is the very cute story of a poodle puppy named Huck. Michael Elder always wanted a dog, he even put together a Powerpoint presentation making his case when he was 10. But, since his family lived in New York City his parents felt like a dog would be too stressful. However, when his mom Janet was diagnosed with breast cancer, they decided having a dog might help Michael cope with his mom's illness. So, they got Huck, a red-haired toy poodle that everyone in the family came to love. When the family decides to take a much-needed vacation to Florida Janet's sister offers to watch Huck. But, only 2 days into their vacation they get a call that Huck escaped from the yard. The family immediately rushes home and begins a frantic search. Thankfully Huck escaped in a small town and many of the residents are more than happy to join in the search. Not to give away too much, but there is definitely a happy ending! A very cute book and a quick read.
July 11, 2011
I feel the better story here would've been focusing on a woman and her family overcoming cancer, not the short loss of their dog. Huck is a cute little dog who gets lost while his family is on vacation, and while it's great how many people come out of a small town to help this family find their dog, it doesn't seem any kind of overwhelmingly new or out-of-the-ordinary to me. As my mom said, what she found extraordinary was not how people came to help this family, but how odd this NY family found it to be that neighbors would help them in their time of need. My family lives in a small town, so this is nothing new...and even me living in MInneapolis, found it hard to believe that New Yorkers would find this so extraordinary. I know my neighbors would be just as helpful to me as the people in this book were to the family in need. Not a great read from my perspective, but I suppose I might recommend it to people in big areas who don't feel connected to those around them.
September 10, 2010
After she gets diagnosed with breast cancer, Janet and her husband decide that it's finally time to give their son, Michael, a dog. They won't actually get the dog until she's done with chemo and radiation, but they figure it'd be a good way to keep his spirits up.
They get Huck, a very cute poodle. Unfortunately, while Janet, Rich and Michael are on vacation, Huck escapes.
This is the story of how a town comes together to help bring Huck home.
(Spoiler: Huck is reunited with his family. I have to tell you that, because if there were a sad ending, I would have hated this book.)
Instead, it's a sweet, heartwarming story about how people really are basically good.
I don't trust people who don't like dogs, and this is pretty much about a whole town of dog lovers. :)
They get Huck, a very cute poodle. Unfortunately, while Janet, Rich and Michael are on vacation, Huck escapes.
This is the story of how a town comes together to help bring Huck home.
(Spoiler: Huck is reunited with his family. I have to tell you that, because if there were a sad ending, I would have hated this book.)
Instead, it's a sweet, heartwarming story about how people really are basically good.
I don't trust people who don't like dogs, and this is pretty much about a whole town of dog lovers. :)
June 29, 2010
Huck is not just a story about a lost dog. It is a book about surmounting the odds, winning in the face of adversity, and not giving up. It's about finding strength in yourself and those around you. A boy who won't give up on his dream to find his dog. A mother who won't give in after being diagnosed with breast cancer. A man who will not give up on his love and faith in both his son and his wife, no matter the tragedies they face. It's about tears, pain, and great joy. It's about the love a family finds in a dog, a town of strangers, and most of all in themselves.
March 3, 2011
It was a very short book, a quick read, charming as might be expected about any book about an adorable little dog that's lost. However, as short as the book was, it could have been even shorter without some of the details added in to "plush" it out. For instance, the explanation of hanging up flyers was something to the effect "I held the flyer with my left hand, took a nail and hammered it in with my right hand." She could have said "I hung up the flyers" and we all could have pictured how it was done. But a pleasant book nevertheless.
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