A tender,
affirming story of how an abused rescue dog helps an 11-year-old with cystic
fibrosis and his hardworking mother to heal.
Nick Trout (Dog
Gone, Back Soon; The Patron Saint of Lost Dogs) delivers a
beautifully written, poignant story infused with
gentle humor and compassion. Jasper Blunt is a precocious, very lovable
11-year-old battling cystic fibrosis and its complications. Kate, Jasper's
hardworking single mother, is struggling to keep her son healthy and make ends
meet while working hard as a rescue shelter veterinarian on Cape Cod in
Massachusetts.
When a
mysterious and badly abused dog arrives at the shelter with health problems of
his own, Jasper and the dog form an instant bond--the dog looks out for the
boy, who intuitively knows what the dog is feeling. Jasper claims he can
communicate with the mutt and even believes the dog told him his name,
Whistler. This intrigues, yet worries, Kate. Might Jasper, plagued with
breathing problems, hearing loss and a host of other ailments, also be growing
delusional? When Jasper lobbies Kate to adopt Whistler, she resists. After all,
their apartment building does not permit pets. But when Whistler's background
and his true origin are ultimately discovered, Jasper and Kate face a big
decision that takes them on an adventurous journey. Might the Blunts need
Whistler as much as he needs them?
Trout's well-paced narrative is filled
with big, resonant scenes that render the story surprisingly suspenseful. As
Whistler's history unfolds via the points-of-view of Jasper and Kate, revealing
their innermost thoughts and fears, the mother-son bond deepens. This tender,
inspirational story--forged with themes of deliverance and hope--overflows with
profound meaning.
The Wonder of Lost Causes: A Novel by Nick Trout
William Morrow Paperbacks, $16.99 Paperback, 9780062747945, 464 pages
Publication Date: July 9, 2019
To order this book on INDIEBOUND, link HERE
NOTE: This review is a reprint and is being posted
with the permission of Shelf Awareness. To read this review on Shelf Awareness: Reader's Edition (April 30, 2019), link HERE