Hooper Finds a Family
A Hurricane Katrina Dog's Survival Tale
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
Winner of the Christopher Award and Florida's Sunshine State Young Readers Award
He's endearing. He's funny. He's a survivor.
In this moving tale of adventure and triumph based on a true story, meet Hooper, the tenacious puppy who makes an incredible journey in search of home.
Here comes Hooper, one plucky, spunky dog whose warm spirit and goofy personality are irresistible. Hooper tells his own dramatic rescue tale after being left homeless in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and taking a daring trip from New Orleans to New York to meet his new family.
He tells of the terrifying force of Katrina, his trials in the shelter, and being the new dog on the block in a city far from home. As Hooper struggles to find his place, he learns to overcome his fear of water and faces down feisty squirrels as well as the resident bully and top dog in his new neighborhood.
“A heartwarming story about moving forward after trauma and loss by making space for new loved ones and new possibilities.” —Kirkus
“Paley fills her gentle first novel with engaging animal characters. Readers may be similarly moved to stand up to their fears.” —Publishers Weekly
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Jimmy, a one year-old yellow lab based on the author's dog, offers a harrowing first-person perspective on Hurricane Katrina. When his family doesn't return home, Jimmy nearly drowns and the trauma makes him lose his bark. Finally rescued from the roof of a floating shed, Jimmy is taken to an animal shelter, then sent to live with a family in New York City, where he is renamed Hooper. Paley fills her gentle first novel with engaging animal characters, including an otter that helps Hooper brave the hurricane and a hard-knocks mutt with one eye. Hooper's voice is humorous and good-natured ("Garbage? Are you kidding? This is a banquet hall. I can smell the hot dog from here"), but Paley balances her anthropomorphizations with genuine descriptions of his and other dogs' behaviors. When Hooper recovers his bark during a New York lightning storm ("No storm has the right to do this to me.... Hey! I don't have to be hiding anymore. Hear me?") readers may be similarly moved to stand up to their fears. Appended photos feature the real-life Hooper with Paley's family. Ages 8 12.
