Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 36
 Inspiring story, especially for dog lovers August 12, 2008
Emily Taylor (Northern Utah)
This may be simply one of those books that moreso appeals to dog lovers. Regardless of that fact, this is still a very touching story with an interesting idea behind it. A young girl loves her dog, named for her favorite Robin Hook character. However, when Tuck begins to have trouble seeing, she does not know what to do... until she hears of the seeing eye dog program. What follows is a very logical and plausible story about a girl's love for her dog and the relationships between animals. Again, this is probably best for dog lovers, but that does not detract from the story's heart.
 A must-have for animal lovers! February 5, 2008
Erika Sorocco (Southern California, USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Whoever said that dogs were man's best friend was sadly mistaken. Sure, men can truly benefit from the friendship of a canine; but canines can also change the life of a female - drastically. Especially when his name is Friar Tuck, and it's up to you to protect him from the cruel world that has suddenly fallen upon him.
Helen was just nine-years-old when her father came home with a chubby, wriggling, golden furball. A Labrador that was just for her, to hopefully help her to come out of her shell a bit. As a child with coke-bottle glasses, braces, and frizzy hair, it was no wonder that Helen suffered from self-esteem issues, and it was her parents belief that a new friend to take care of would help her adjust to the world. Quickly christened Friar Tuck - after a character in Robin Hood - Helen doted on the handsome Lab. He awaited her arrival from school, spent all night standing watch over his precious girl, and even put his own life on the line two different times, just to rescue Helen from daunting, life-threatening situations. He was Helen's knight-in-shining-armor no matter what. Now, however, it is time for Helen to repay the favor, and act as Tuck's knight-in-shining-armor. His personal cheerleader. His guide through the dark shadows. Now 1956, thirteen-year-old Helen is forced to face the greatest challenge of all: coming to terms with Tuck's deteriorating eyesight. No one is quite sure when Tuck began to go blind, but the light likely began to fail for the three-year-old playful canine long before he crashed through the screen door while chasing some howling cats. From then on, Helen and her family are thrust into attempting to cope with Tuck's new handicap, and assisting him in adjusting to the new challenges he will surely be encountering. Helen, however, is affected the most. Tuck brought her out of her private bubble, and made her much more confident, and she is determined in doing the same for him. Together, Helen and Tuck work alongside one another to change Tuck's world forever as they know it, and turn the current tragedy into a triumph for the whole family.
As the proud owner of a blind cat, and a cat with one eye, I always find it fascinating to indulge in stories that discuss characters who are owned by animals with disabilities, which is why THE TROUBLE WITH TUCK instantly appealed to me. Theodore Taylor has done a wonderful job of weaving a story that is simple, and easy to follow, yet unique, and impossible to put down. Helen is a delightful character, whose compassion and determination to assist Tuck in leading a normal life is refreshing, and remarkable; while Tuck's ability to smile in the face of adversity, and face every new challenge head-on, makes the pair awe-inspiring and lovable. A must-have for animal lovers!
Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer
 Virginia 5th graders review The Trouble with Tuck August 4, 2006
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Our summer school class just finished reading this fun book. It is about a thirteen year old girl named Helen and her dog, Tuck. Helen and her family live in California in the 1950s. The trouble mentioned in the title is that Tuck, a Labrador Retriever, is losing his sight. Helen does not want to give Tuck away because he has saved her life twice! Even though he starts to act strange, Helen knows that there is a way to help him. Want to find out how? Read the book!
I would recommend this book to other kids. In the book, Tuck inspires Helen to have more confidence as she tries to save his life. This helps me to remember to never give up! This book reminds me of when my dog saved my cousin when she fell in the pool. A funny part in the book happened when Tuck went through the screen door. This book was a good combination of comedy and adventure with some tragedy mixed in to keep it interesting. In my opinion, Theodore Taylor wrote a great book but the ending was a little boring. I hope you read this memorable novel.
Great book at a great price! March 9, 2006
Tracy Turnage (St. Louis, MO USA)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
My sister recommended this book to me, and, surprisingly, it's difficult to find in our local bookstore. Therefore, I was happy to see that it was available on Amazon.com. I love the story about the little girl and her dog, and, if you're an animal lover, this book is definitely a must-read for all ages!
 'Tuck' shows no sign of imagination August 26, 2005
4 out of 17 found this review helpful
Why do people write books so uninspired and idiotic such as this one? And why do they think kids will like them? "The Trouble With Tuck" tries to be heartwarming but never succeeds. There's a fork, but no meat.
The book is filled with gravity-defying life-saving stunts performed by the blind dog to save his dear Helen, which does absolutely nothing to the story but prove that it's a smart dog. There's another thing: the dog is BLIND. HELLO. Did the author do any research? Dogs have mediocre eyesight as it is. Going blind would not put them at a risk of death.
I read this is in the fifth grade for school. Yes, our teacher was that stoned.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 36
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