From the Publisher
From hardship, Nick Trout creates beauty, and his warmth and wisdom shine through. The Wonder of Lost Causes is the kind of story that will stay with you for a long, long time.” — Kristin von Kreisler
“Suspenseful, heart-wrenching, and life-affirming, this riveting book is at once great fiction and vividly, urgently true. Science has only begun to reveal the powers of animals; the heart can see deeper yet. These pages open us to those wonders, and teach us that no cause is truly lost.” — Sy Montgomery, New York Times bestselling author of How to Be a Good Creature
“Whistler will not only tug at your heartstrings, but he’ll grab hold like a terrier on a chew toy—and you’ll walk away changed for having met him. If you cried at the end of Marley and Me, you’ll love the wonders found within the pages of this heartwarming story.” — James Rollins, New York Times bestseller of Crucible
“Equal parts heart-wrenching and heartwarming… A true testament to the power of love in its purest and most absolute form.” — Rachael Lippincott, New York Times bestselling author of Five Feet Apart
“If Nick Trout is as good a veterinarian as he is a writer, he is a miracle worker... This is magic.” — Susan Wilson, New York Times bestselling author of One Good Dog
“The heartwarming story of a boy and a dog searching for each other against all odds. Nick Trout’s latest page-turner is a testament to the deep bonds we form with our dogs, and how that bond can change our lives.” — Maria Goodavage, New York Times bestselling author of Top Dog
Kristin von Kreisler
From hardship, Nick Trout creates beauty, and his warmth and wisdom shine through. The Wonder of Lost Causes is the kind of story that will stay with you for a long, long time.
James Rollins
Whistler will not only tug at your heartstrings, but he’ll grab hold like a terrier on a chew toy—and you’ll walk away changed for having met him. If you cried at the end of Marley and Me, you’ll love the wonders found within the pages of this heartwarming story.
Sy Montgomery
Suspenseful, heart-wrenching, and life-affirming, this riveting book is at once great fiction and vividly, urgently true. Science has only begun to reveal the powers of animals; the heart can see deeper yet. These pages open us to those wonders, and teach us that no cause is truly lost.
Maria Goodavage
The heartwarming story of a boy and a dog searching for each other against all odds. Nick Trout’s latest page-turner is a testament to the deep bonds we form with our dogs, and how that bond can change our lives.
Rachael Lippincott
Equal parts heart-wrenching and heartwarming… A true testament to the power of love in its purest and most absolute form.
Susan Wilson
If Nick Trout is as good a veterinarian as he is a writer, he is a miracle worker... This is magic.”
Kirkus Reviews
2019-02-03
A disfigured rescue dog changes the lives of a single mother and her chronically ill son in this inspiring story.
Eleven-year-old Jasper Blunt volunteers at the animal shelter where his mother, Kate, works as a veterinarian. Jasper has cystic fibrosis, and he endures frequent hospital stays as well as marginalized social status at school. One day, Jasper shows up at the shelter as multiple workers wrestle a badly scarred dog who has just arrived. To everyone's surprise, the dog calms instantly when Jasper appears. Jasper declares that the animal's name is Whistler, and when Kate asks how he knows, Jasper responds, "Because he told me." As Jasper insists that he can communicate wordlessly with this dog, Kate grows concerned that her son might be suffering from psychosis in addition to CF. Yet, as Jasper spends more time with Whistler, his health, social skills, and outlook on life all improve. Unfortunately, if Whistler is not adopted within two weeks of arrival, shelter policy mandates he be put down. Kate continually rejects Jasper's pleas to keep the dog, primarily because their housing development forbids pets. Kate finally receives a call from a man who claims he's been searching for Whistler for years. As Kate and Jasper journey from Massachusetts to New Mexico to bring Whistler home, both Jasper and his mother wonder if they can ever return to a life that doesn't include this special animal. This animal-centric narrative gets off to a slow start, but it gradually rises to an exciting crescendo. The author builds suspense by doling out revelations about Whistler's past and posing questions as to how this information should affect the dog's future. Told alternately from the perspectives of Kate and Jasper, the story tugs at the heartstrings by exploring the effects of chronic disease on both the afflicted and their caregivers, touching especially on issues of guilt, grief, and depression. Readers must be willing to suspend a certain amount of disbelief as they get to know Whistler, but the ensuing ride through this engaging tale will be worth the effort.
An artfully crafted story about the connection between a boy and his dog and the deep bond between a son and his mother.
