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    The Wonder of Lost Causes: A Novel
    The Wonder of Lost Causes: A Novel
    The Wonder of Lost Causes: A Novel
    Audiobook12 hours

    The Wonder of Lost Causes: A Novel

    Written by Nick Trout

    Narrated by Christina Delaine

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    In this heartwarming story, perfect for fans of An Unexpected Grace and A Dog’s Way Home, a single mom learns that her chronically ill son can communicate with a very special dog—and the lessons this dog teaches can shape the future and transform their lives. And what Whistler inspires in Kate and Jasper may be his most important lesson of all.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateApr 30, 2019
    ISBN9780062934208
    Author

    Nick Trout

    Dr. Nick Trout works full-time as a staff surgeon at the prestigious Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston. He is the author of five previous books, including the New York Times bestseller Tell Me Where It Hurts, and his writing has been translated into sixteen different languages. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife, Kathy; their daughter, Emily; their adopted labradoodle, Thai; and Emily’s service dog, a black Labrador named Bella.

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    Reviews for The Wonder of Lost Causes

    4/5

    56 ratings20 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Great characters and heartwarming story of what it is like having a child with a serious illness and learning to let go of trying to control their life.
    • 5/5
      Excellent! If you love dogs, you will definitely love this book. So wonderful and insightful!!!! Could listen to it again and again. Every time there would be the most insightful thoughts. Absolutely excellent!!!!!!!!
    • 4/5
      As an animal lover, I felt drawn to the subject matter of the book. Initially, the mother’s character seemed too polarized- the author depicted her personality too harshly. However, the progression of the story line improved, and the main character, a little boy with cystic fibrosis, and the dog, Whistler, captured my heart.
    • 5/5
      Synopsis: Jasper is a boy with Cystic Fibrosis is being raised by a single mother. He has never been allowed to have a dog before even though he has desperately wanted one. One day Whistler, an older dog with scars and who has obviously been through a lot, comes into the shelter where Jasper's mother works and the ha and Whistler form an instant, perhaps supernatural, connection. My Rating: 5/5Before I begin my review I did want to mention that I won this book through a library things giveaway. That in no way influenced this review and all the thoughts herein are my own honest opinions.I absolutely loved this book. It was sweet and heartwarming. It gave me ALL the feels. I loved seeing Jasper's Cystic Fibrosis journey and the effects it had on his life and the life of his mom. I don't know enough about the disorder to say the representation was good but it felt authentic.I enjoyed the character development both of Jasper and I felt sympathy for his mother and the difficulties she faced caring for a sick child.Despite overall loving the story I did have a few negatives to mention. The book is told in alternating perspectives between Jasper and his mother so there are times when one chapter backtracks a bit to cover things already covered in the last chapter but from the opposite perspective. Sometimes this added to the story. Sometimes I found it unnecessary. I also had some struggles with the mother. She made some choices in the book that I just wasn't onboard with and they were ones I had trouble sympathizing with though overall I did think she was a sympathetic character. I think I wanted more character development from her. She has a perspective in the book but I felt like even her chapters focused heavily on Jasper even though there were things we could have explored about her as well that just were not bothered with. I felt like the only part of her we saw was in relation to her son and her care giving duties but she didn't have much development as an individual.Another complaint I had was the books epilogue. I didn't find it necessary and didn't like it. This book isn't flawless but I truly loved it. I had a great time reading it. I cried. It touched my heart. I would highly recommend it to dog lovers. I thought this book was an amazing story of the bond between a boy and a very special dog. *Minor spoiler (but only because I know that people are often wary about picking up a book about a sick child and their dog) this book is not an Old Yeller type of book. It is not a Where the Red Fern Grows Type Book. So, if you were worried about heart break, you won't find that sort of heart break in this book. Lots of other tears. But not for the typical kind of ending these dog and their boy stories have.
    • 3/5
      I learned a lot about Cystic Fibrosis from this book.Kate is a veterinarian in an animal shelter, her son Jasper is an eleven year old with Cystic Fibrosis. Jasper falls hard for an old beat up stray dog with a mysterious past, and Kate has to decide whether their family can handle the addition of a dog with the turmoil of being a single parent with a very sickly child.This was a quick, enjoyable, if somewhat predictable read. I received a copy from the publisher through Library Thing's Early Reviewer's Program.Thank you Library Thing and William Morrow Books.
    • 4/5
      This was a very good book for dog lovers and happy endings. It is the story of Jasper an 11 year old boy who has cystic fibrosis and Whistler a dog he met in his mother's shelter. The dog was pretty much un-placeable due to his mangled and scarred body and the fact that he ran away from every home he was placed in. When Jasper and Whistler meet they have an instant connection. Jasper's mom is against him having a dog and they both try to convince her they were made for each other. When a call comes telling them he is a valuable service dog Jasper knows it would be selfish to keep him. They start off on the journey to return him even though his mom has softened towards him by now. They meet some good and bad people along the way. No spoilers so I'll stop here. Read it! You won't be sorry.
    • 5/5
      Dr Kate Blunt is strong, willful and determined to do whatever it takes to make her son survive. Jasper has cystic fibrosis so this is no small task. But it takes the entry of Whistler to show her how to let Jasper live. To show her how to live with an open heart. To let the joy of life in.
    • 5/5
      A boy with cystic fibrosis, a single mother who is stressed and wants only to keep her son alive, and a dog who clearly went through some kind of hell. Mix them together and you get the Wonder of Lost Causes. This is a lovely story about the power of love--the love of a boy for a dog, the love of a mother for her son, and the love of a dog for his boy. All of this love makes what seem to be lost causes perhaps not so lost after all. This book is more character than plot driven, and the author, a vet in real life, clearly has a unique perspective on animals and the value of their relationships with their humans. This book, while tackling some tragic events, in the end is a hopeful and inspiring tale. I do recommend it, especially if you are a dog lover!
    • 4/5
      I was worried that I wouldn't be able to handle reading a book about an abused rescue dog who winds up at a kill shelter, but the author managed this difficult subject matter very well. Not by glossing over it, but by offering hope of a special bond between a dog and a boy who both are in need of unconditional love. Though, the way the author referenced the rescue dog at the heart of this book was, at times, far too cruelly focused on the scars and beaten appearance of the dog, Whistler.Kate is a veterinarian at a kill shelter who dreams of the day they can put to rest their 14-day adoption-or-euthanize deadline for the dogs. A single mom to a son with cystic fibrosis, Kate barely gets by financially and emotionally.Kate's son Jasper gets dropped off after school at the shelter, where he frequently helps, and bonds, with the dogs. But when Whistler shows up at the shelter, the only human he responds to is young Jasper. And, even more cool for Jasper, Jasper believes he and Whistler can communicate by reading each others' mind. And, in fact, it seems that may be true because Jasper immediately somehow knows that Whistler's name is Whistler.But, there's no way Kate and Jasper can adopt a dog, no matter how closely they've bonded. Their apartment doesn't allow pets, and they can't afford to move; plus, Jasper's breathing is already very limited - there's no way they can introduce something that potentially would cause allergies.Yet, as Whistler nears his 14-day deadline, and Jasper becomes so sick he has to be admitted to the hospital, Kate wonders why she is resisting this relationship so much. And just when she decides to give in to Jasper, Whistler's past life comes back to haunt them all.This was a surprisingly quick read, pretty simple and without crippling sadness. I won a copy of this book from LibraryThing.
    • 5/5
      The Wonder of Lost Causes is a five-star tearjerker. It is a dual storyline of incurable diseases and abused and abandoned animals. My first inclination was to quit reading early on because of the heartbreaking subject matter. In persevering I was rewarded to the uplifting and courageous character of Jasper Blunt, the boy battling cystic fibrosis, and his equally determined mother, veterinarian Doctor Kate Blunt. In charge of an animal shelter, Kate is as determined to save as many animals within an impossible time frame. Enter an abandoned mutt named Whistler who develops an extraordinary connection with Jasper. Both Kate and Jasper fight valiantly to find a home for the dog, while they are fighting an horrendous disease. A very heartwarming and at times, heartbreaking tale with remarkable characters. Highly recommended.
    • 5/5
      Kate Blunt is a veterinarian at a non-profit animal shelter. Unfortunately this shelter has limited resources so after 14 days non-adopted dogs are put down. Jasper her 11 year-old son has cystic fibrosis a deadly lung disease. Enter Whistler, a mangy mutt with horrible signs of abuse. Jasper falls in love with Whistler and begs his mom to keep him. The story goes back and forth between Kate and Jasper letting the reader know exactly what is going on in each of their minds. I could hardly put this book down, the story is riveting and well written.
    • 4/5
      The Pound, an Animal Shelter, Animal Services; unless it specifies “No Kill” then every animal has a precious little time to find a home or else they will be put down. As a veterinarian, Kate knows at her animal shelter its only two weeks. There just isn’t enough money, or space to save them all. When an older ugly scarred dog comes into the shelter she tries to harden her heart because she knows he’s a lost cause and his time is up. Kate knows something about lost causes, because her son Jasper has an incurable lung disease called Cystic Fibrous and his life time is limited too. Kate and Jasper spend most of their time between hospital visits giving Jasper medication and breathing treatments, there is no time for pets, but when Jasper meets this particular dog, they form a mysterious bond. Jasper wants to save him, or even convince his mom to adopt him, but either way it will take a miracle. Dogs, kids, mysteries, and looking for miracles this book is for you. I loved it. This is Dr. Nick Trout’s 2nd book and I’m giving it 4 stars. The Wonder of Lost Causes needs to be a movie adaptation.
    • 5/5
      I loved this book from page one. The book combines what I already know as a dog parent and that is that animals are special. I believe that animals have feelings and if you are paying attention you can channel into what they are trying to tell you. In this very special book the author combines two things that tug at your heart, a child with health issues and an animal that has been treated badly. Put these two together and it is hard to go wrong. Kate is a single mother of a son, Jasper, born with cystic fibrosis. She is also a veterinarian at a 14 day turn around animal shelter. Jasper has always wanted his own dog but due to his illness Kate has always heard it not advisable to have pets. This is until "Whistler" shows up at their shelter. No one knew his name but Jasper. He says the dog told him and the love affair began. Whistler and Jasper have a connection that Kate can't deny. Whistler has been through the wringer (and this will turn out to be more that true as you continue to read this wonderful story) and when you would think he wouldn't want to even be near humans he attaches to Jasper. You will smile, laugh and cry at this wonderful book about a boy and his best friend.I received a copy of this book for the purpose of my honest review.
    • 3/5
      If you are a dog person, you know what magic dogs are. They are love wrapped in fur. They make bad things more bearable and good things simply joyous. Finding the right dog for you is completely wondrous and will change your life forever. But if you're a dog person you already know this and probably already have a dog (or several). But what would you do if you couldn't have a dog? If your child had a life threatening disease that made a dog a bad idea? If your apartment didn't allow for dogs? If you were a single mother so overwhelmed by the thought of caring for a dog that having one was just a bridge too far? What if all of this was true and then your terminally ill child meets the dog of his heart, the ugliest dog ever, one that was clearly abused and battered, and you watch as they become a vital piece of each other. What do you do then? In Nick Trout's heartwarming new novel, The Wonder of Lost Causes, this is exactly the case.Kate Blunt is a veterinarian at a financially struggling dog shelter. But unlike most vets, she doesn't have a menagerie at home, despite the shelter being a limited, aka kill shelter, because her eleven year old son Jasper has cystic fibrosis, a terminal, genetic lung disease. Kate's a single mom, Jasper's dad has never been in the picture, and she can't risk her boy's health nor can she take on one more responsibility no matter how much Jasper has always wanted a dog. And then the ugliest, most unadoptable mutt ever lands at the shelter and Jasper falls in love. Whistler has been terribly abused and has run off from several previous "forever homes" but he clearly has a connection with Jasper, who claims that he can understand what Whistler is feeling because Whistler is telling him. Kate can't quite bring herself to believe in telepathy between her son and this dog but as Whistler's fourteen days at the shelter start counting down, she can see the tight bond they've formed. And she sees the way that Whistler has changed Jasper, making him more willing to embrace and enjoy life in the moment. But there are so many hurdles to keeping Whistler, their no pets allowed apartment, Jasper's illness and frequent hospitalizations, and finally something big, something from outside of their control.The story is told by both Kate and Jasper in alternating chapters so the reader sees each perspective, the innocent and hopeful child as well as the pragmatic and overwhelmed adult. The first half of the novel is a slow negotiation between mother and son, building the backstory, and showing the distance and loneliness both Kate and Jasper feel without close friends and emotionally closed off from family, the second half turns into a tear jerking roller coaster ride followed by an epilogue that feels a little too much like Trout needs to reassure the reader this isn't a tragedy so the narrative tension is somewhat uneven. There are certain plot lines that start and then are dropped (Kate's boss needing to speak with her urgently, Kate taking Jasper's Adderall to cope with this stressful life) and some that are too easily resolved (Kate's family issues, Whistler's ownership) but it's generally a sweet, heartwarming story with the beautiful message to live life without regrets, to recognize and hold onto love in whatever form it comes, and to always be open to possibility. This is a dog story; this is an adoption story; this is a love story. Readers looking for a sweet tale of a boy and his (potential) dog, of a mom learning to let go a little, and of the wisdom of animals and children will want to grab their Kleenex before they open this one but they'll likely find it quite satisfying.
    • 5/5
      I absolutely LOVED this book! If you are an animal lover (or a kid lover), you will love it too. Kate, the mother is a vet who cannot adopt animals because of her son Jasper who has cystic fibrosis. Meanwhile, Jasper wishes for a pet more than anything. Until the day that Whistler shows up. Whistler is an unadoptable dog and he changes Jasper's life. I loved how the author showed how a pet can change someone's life and the joy that can come from that. This book is heartwarming and reminds you to live your life to the fullest.Reader received a complimentary copy from LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
    • 3/5
      I received an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.This book had a lot of potential, but it just didn't quite hold together as well as it could have.Dr. Kate Blunt is a single mom, a veterinarian running an animal shelter in Massachusetts. Her 11-year-old son Jasper has cystic fibrosis. When jasper falls in love with one of the shelter's newly arrived mutts, it's not just a case of a boy's feeling attached to a dog. Jasper and the dog he names Whistler seem to be able to communicate wordlessly and form a special connection. Whistler ends up teaching both Jasper and Kate about the true meaning of life and love.The book is told in the first person, alternating between Kate and Jasper. Author Nick Trout makes a valiant attempt at writing from the perspectives of an adult woman and an 11-year-old boy. He actually does fine writing from Kate's point of view. It's Jasper's voice that bothers me because of its inconsistency from chapter to chapter. In one chapter he comes across as very childish, almost like an 8-year-old, and in another chapter he comes across as far older, say 16 or 17. The inconsistency in Jasper's voice actually had me turning back to the beginning of the book after a while to confirm how old he's supposed to be because I simply couldn't figure it out. You can write about a precociously wise child without having him come across sounding like a teenager; it's in the choice of vocabulary and tone, and this is where Trout falters.Also, the book's pace could have been better managed. The first half of the book was a nice, leisurely pace, as Kate and Jasper started to learn about Whistler's past. I liked this pace because it gave Trout time to give us a peek into Kate's relationships with her sister and mother. The book was developing solidly as characters were fleshed out. The last half of the book seemed to rush to reach resolutions -- what was going to happen to Whistler, changes in Kate's family relationships. The changes felt too sudden. Although I understand that Kate had an awakening of sorts, a sudden change in her own behavior is believable, but a sudden change in relationship dynamics? Not so much.Kate is, unfortunately, too much of a cliche -- single working mom who is bitter about her ex and trying to manage work and a child with a chronic illness; a woman who holds all relationships (family, friends, male, female) at a distance in order to avoid revealing too much emotion; a woman barely holding it together and filching her sons pills to get through the day while denying an addiction; etc., etc. Even the sudden change in her attitude on life envelops numerous cliches, like a Hollywood movie desperate to resolve everything to a happily ever after as quickly as possible.I didn't dislike the book. I was just disappointed that it wasn't better.
    • 4/5
      The chapters alternate between Jasper's voice (an 11 yr old boy w/cystic fibrosis) and his mother - Kate (single mother / veterinary). Sometimes their stories overlap, making for a drawn out read, but there is a purpose. We need to see their lives before and after Whistler, the dog; the difference between existing and living. The Wonder of Lost Causes is an enjoyable and enlightening read. This would make a great gift for a middle schooler and up.
    • 4/5
      Many thanks to Librarything for sending an advanced copy of The Wonder ofList Causes by Nick Trout in return for an honest review.The Wonder of Lost Causes was a touching story about a mother’s love for her child, and a boy’s love for a dog. Jasper suffers with cystic fibrosis which prevents him from having a dog, but Whistler, an old, scruffy, neglected dog has other plans when he finds his person in Jasper.
    • 5/5
      This book is a quick and engaging read. Hmm, I think I read it so quickly simply because as soon as I read the first page, I found myself riveted. Throughout the book, the chapters alternate between the voice of Jasper (a boy with Cystic Fibrosis) and Kate (his single parent who happens to be a veterinarian at an animal shelter). However, it is the dog Whistler who is the central character of the story – and it was he who stole my heart.The dialogue is written in a most believable way. There were moments where I was so annoyed with Kate, and other times when I was grief-stricken for Jasper. And yet at all times, I was totally mesmerized by the amazing Whistler.The Wonder of Lost Causes is a wonderful book!
    • 4/5
      This heartwarming story is perfect for people who love small boys and dogs. Actually it's a fantastic book for anyone. I usually avoid books with dogs on the cover but I won this book and wanted to give it a try. Wow -- I couldn't put it down once I started.Jasper is an 11 year old boy with cystic fibrosis. He doesn't get to do all of the things other boys his age can do and has few friends. He is aware that he is getting sicker and really wants a dog for a companion. His mother, Kate, is a veterinarian who runs an animal shelter. She it totally overwhelmed in taking care of Jasper and feels that having a dog at home would be. Then a scarred, mistreated wreck of a dog shows up at the shelter and Kate knows that he doesn't have a chance of being adopted by a family. Named Whistler, he’s too old, too ugly. But the dog forms an instantaneous bond with Jasper. Whistler never makes a sound, yet he speaks to Jasper in a myriad of mysterious ways and Jasper falls in love with Whistler and Whistler picks Jasper to be his owner. But how is he going to convince his mom that he communicates with Whistler and that he needs him for his own?'Dogs choose us, not the other way around. 'This is a beautiful uplifting story about love and family and learning to live with disabilities. It's also a testament to how our lives can change if we have the unconditional love of an animal on a daily basis.Thanks to librarything for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.