Christmas with Tucker by Greg Kincaid

Christmas with Tucker by Greg Kincaid
Publisher/Year: Doubleday, 2010
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 180
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
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Synopsis

The sleeper hit of 2008, A Dog Named Christmas became a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie a year later, seen by more than twelve million people in the United States alone. Now, in Christmas with Tucker, Greg Kincaid brings back one of that book’s most endearing characters, sharing the moving story of George, a young boy dealing with the loss of his father, and the dog that comes into his life to offer him hope and a touch of courage.

It is the winter of 1962, and Kansas is hit with one of the worst blizzards in its history. It is during this cruel season that twelve-year-old George is called upon to endure more than even most grown men could withstand–the death of his father and the upkeep of the family farm that is his legacy.

When his mother and sisters leave for Minnesota, George has only his grandparents and the companionship of Tucker, an Irish setter, to help him persevere through these most difficult challenges. Can he find the strength to walk the road that leads to healing, find his true self, and ultimately become a man? A coming-of-age story for readers of all ages, Christmas with Tucker is a classic Christmas tale about a young man’s love for his dog, his family, and his farm.

What I thought

I’m a sucker for heartwarming, Hallmark-esque stories and especially those that take place during Christmastime. Christmas with Tucker fit that bill. Not only that, but I also love coming-of-age stories set during the ’60s/’70s, so this book was right up my alley. All in all, I really enjoyed this. Kincaid’s writing wasn’t anything fantastic, but I thought the story is what shone here. I actually teared up at the end. One of the things I particularly enjoyed was that this story wasn’t fluff entirely, it did have substance to it. I can definitely see myself revisiting this around Christmas, and I want to continue with the series. Sometimes predictable, sometimes sappy, and sometimes simply nostalgic, Christmas with Tucker is everything a good comfort read should be.