Buddy

Buddy by M.H. Merlong was a difficult book for me to get through. Not because of the difficulty of the text, but because of the content. As a child that went through Hurricane Katrina 14 years later, it is still hard for me to read, or talk about the events that took place. Despite my personal challenges I really enjoyed this story. Merlongs' use of New Orleans dialect was perfect and honest to New Orleans culture, I enjoyed reading about familiar neighborhoods and situations that Lil T, the main character talks about.
Many times while reading Buddy I found myself talking back to the book because I related too soo much of what Lil T and his family were going through.

There was a line in the book that really resonated with me, "We can't show more take Buddy with us", Daddy says. "There ain't room in the car", this line was the beginning of the climax for me. It introduced the problem created by the antagonist which is Hurricane Katrina. Not only was this the turning point in the story, but it's a memory that I share with Lil T. When preparing to evacuate we only had one working vehicle a Jeep Cherokee, and we had 7 members of our family that had to fit in a vehicle that only sat 5. We barely had room for our belongings so Dad said we couldn't take our dog Stitch. Dad arranged for Stitch to leave with a neighbor who had a dog of their own. Like Lil T I also thought I'd be back in 2 days, but ended up being away from home for 1 year and we never saw Stitch again. show less

Buddy is an old three legged dog adopted by a boy, Li'l T, in New Orleans just a few months before Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city. Like everyone in New Orleans, the family only expected to evacuate for a few days, so they left Buddy with plenty of water and food in the second story bathroom. This greatly concerned Li'l T, as he had grown to love Buddy more than just about anything. Of course the devastation from Katrina turned everyone's lives completely upside down and the city was destroyed. It was impossible for the family to return home to rescue Buddy. Months later they are finally able to return to the city only to find their house had been flooded. Buddy was gone, but there were signs that he had perhaps been rescued. show more Eventually the pastor from the families church spots Buddy on a TV show about pets that were rescued from the hurricane. Li'l T is ecstatic with the news and trys everything in his power to find his beloved dog. A letter arrives saying from the shelter saying that Buddy had indeed been rescued and had been adopted by a family in California. Li'l T is crushed but is also hopeful that he can still be reunited if the family agrees. However the trip to California isn't cheap and Li'l T has to work all summer doing odd jobs and gutting flooded houses. For anyone who was here during the hurricane, you know that this is some of the hardest work there is. Everything was covered in black mold, waterlogged, and rotten. There was no respite from the blistering heat and humidity since few had power restored. Nevertheless, Li't T perseveres and manages to put away a substantial amount of money for the plane ticket. Then a family friend who was helping them gets into some trouble and is wrongly put in jail. The community is deeply concerned and wants to help, but nobody has any money. Everyone has already been through so much and another tragedy has pushed them to the edge. Li'l T is inspired to speak out in church and volunteers his savings to go towards bail. Word spreads around the city, and even the whole country, about this remarkable boy who donated all his savings intended for retrieving his dog lost in the storm. A business man hears the story and gifts him two tickets to California. Li'l T is overjoyed and sets out with his father to bring Buddy home. Upon arriving in California, it is clear that Buddy is loved and well cared for by the family that adopted him. Especially by the boy Brian, who is around Li'l T's age. Whats more is that Buddy has become adept at recognizing, and alerting the family, when Brian has seizures. However the family is resolved to do the right thing and return Buddy to Li't T. In yet another incredible display of generosity, Li'l T decides to leave Buddy with the California family.
This book is a classic on so many levels. It's story is gripping, even heart wrenching at times, and can be relatable to even to those who didn't live through Katrina. However the fundamental message is one of finding the light in the darkness. The hurricane took thousands of lives, destroyed homes and belongings, separated families and friends, and left a generation with serious trauma and PTSD. In these dark times it was tempting to give up and turn towards vices, like some characters in the book, and develop severe apathy towards the future. Li'l T is just twelve years old but is forced to deal with more hardships than most people do in their whole lives. In the face of difficulties that would have been unbearable for even the wisest and most experienced, he struggles, yet always manages to make the make the best decision. Not the decision that would have been to his own benefit, even though he would completely justified, but for the greater good. In the end he realizes that this path has given him true happiness. Furthermore he inspires, and brings joy, to community suffering through one of the greatest tragedies in American history. show less

"Buddy" by M.H. Herlong might seem like a story about a boy and his dog and that that might be true for the first 100 pages, but the story is much more than that. It about a boy learning to grow into a man. The story start with a family that lives in New Orleans driving to church on a Sunday morning. They suddenly hit a dog in the road and injure him quite badly. The family takes the dog in as a pet and the main character in the story Lil T also known as Tyrone names him Buddy, because he always wanted a dog and he says the dog will be his buddy. Lil T takes care of this dog. He mows lawns so he can feed him, he brushes him, and even talks to him. Six months after Buddy and Lil T meet, a hurricane hits New Orleans and Lil T and his show more family have to leave New Orleans, head for Mississippi, and leave Buddy behind. Lil T is devastated, but is determined to see Buddy again. Lil T does find Buddy, but he is convinced that he does not need Buddy anymore. He loves Buddy, but Buddy is needed somewhere else. Lil T grows by loving someone and knowing when to let that someone go. This story is more than just a boy and his dog; it is a story of a boy who is growing up. I really like how "Buddy" involves so many things that have to do with my hometown New Orleans. They talk about hurricane Katrina,pralines, and even use terms that only people from New Orleans would understand. Like when Lil T is talking to his mom she says " I guess you're old enough to watch Baby Terrell while I make groceries"(p.183). I thought that was so clever that Herlong put that in the book, because most people wouldn't understand that. People don't make groceries, they get them. In New Orleans we make groceries. I really like how the author did her research. Anyone who has the time should read "Buddy". It is a great book for all ages. It made me drive 15 miles just to see my dogs. Five out of five stars. show less

I loved this book in the seventh grade and I loved this book just as much as the second time around. For the entirety of Lil T's life he has always longed for a dog of his own. Unfortunately, financial reasons held him back from having the dog of his dreams. When his father hits a dog driving to church one morning, Lil T feels it has to be fate that this dog came in to his life. He is on a mission to make this dog his and he succeeds. They instantly form a strong bond and Lil T is happier than ever. His happiness comes to an abrupt stop when he learns Hurricane Katrina is on its way. Evacuation becomes a problem when they are forced to leave poor buddy at home because they have no room for him in the car. They leave Buddy in the show more bathroom with plenty enough food and water for three days because surely they cannot be gone longer than three days. Wrong. As all of us know, we stayed away from New Orleans three months longer than we ever expected. While they were gone, the thought of his best friend not surviving the storm and being left to die eats him up inside. While I was reading this book I truly hurt for him. As much as I love my dogs I cannot imagine the pain of thinking they had to die that way. When their family returns home they are panicked when they find that the dog is not there. What they do notice is that their house had been searched so they know they probably took Buddy with them. The search is on and Lil T is determined to find his beloved dog. When Lil T finds out that Buddy has been adopted to a family in California he is relieved that he is alive but panicked to get him back. His family and community give it their best efforts to bring him back home and they almost succeed until Lil T has a change of heart; another family has already happily fallen in love with Buddy. Buddy found a home that truly needed him. As much a Lil T wanted Buddy, he did not need him like his new family did. I am a firm believer that everything happens to us for a reason, and there was a reason why Buddy was Lil T's dog first. If it was not for the initial car accident and Lil T keeping Buddy, Buddy would have never found his way to his family in California. As I am trying to put myself in Lil T's shoes, I am certain that he handled this situation a lot better than I would have. I would have been the selfish person to get my dogs back no matter who they were making happy. It takes a strong, unselfish person to let the thing you love most in the world go to someone else. This was truly a sad but inspiring book that I will always remember. show less

The story "Buddy" by M.H. Herlong follows Lil' T, a 12 year old black boy growing up in a lower class family in New Orleans. He lives with his mom, dad, little sister, little brother, and grandpa; however, when his dad hits a dog while driving one day, Lil' T bonds with the injured dog and ends up adopting it. The dog had one of its legs amputated after being injured, but it ends up healthy thanks to Lil' T. Life in Lil' T's house is busy, as his dad is working, his mom is watching his little sister and brother, as well as cooking lunches and making pralines to make extra money, and Lil' T is going to school as well as mowing lawns to help pay for food for his dog- who he named Buddy. His family's life gets even more hectic when show more Hurricane Katrina hits New Orleans, flooding the city and forcing the family to evacuate, leaving Buddy behind. Lil' T falls into a deep depression, thinking that Buddy died in the flood. As time moves on, Lil' T goes through many trials and tribulations, from failing school to dealing with the death of his grandfather. Eventually, he finds out Buddy is alive and in California with new owners, and he gets in contact with them and manages to travel to California to retrieve Buddy (thanks to a generous donation of plane tickets). When he meets Buddy's new owners- a boy named Brian and his mom- Lil' T is glad they took care of Buddy, but is determined to bring Buddy home. It isn't until Lil' T discovers that Brian- who was very unhappy that he had to give Buddy to Lil' T- has seizures and that Buddy acts as his service dog, alerting Brian's mom whenever he has a seizure. Lil' T, after a night of reflection, decides that Buddy is truly Brian's dog, and that Lil' T was just a way for Buddy to get to Brian. Lil' T is heartbroken, but he knows he did the right thing, and his family and community is proud of him as well. It's hard for me to describe how much I enjoyed this book, since there's so many aspects that I love about it. While reading, I was trying to figure out why we were reading this book during a week where we talked about social justice in class, and I figured it was due to Lil' T's class level, as well as the discrimination Buddy faces for only having three legs. I was pleasantly surprised when Buddy was revealed to be Brian's service dog, as it shows that disabled dogs (and therefore disabled people) have purposes in their life and are capable of being just as functional as anyone else. The section of the story where Lil' T and his family live in Mississippi really stayed with me, as this was the section of the book where (in my eyes) Lil' T suffered from depression. I heavily related to some of his experiences with depression, like when he was failing school or withdrawing from social situations. As someone who suffered from severe depression (and still has bouts with it occasionally), I know what it feels like when you have no energy to do school work or care about failing grades, as well as to be numb to what's happening around you. When Lil' T's parents discovered he was failing and confronted him about it, Lil' T felt hot shame creep down his neck, and ran to his room and sobbed- when I read this, I sobbed too! I couldn't help but think of myself back in high school, as I experienced this same situation. I think the author did an excellent job of writing not only the entire book, but especially Lil' T's character. His emotions and reactions are so true to life that I saw a reflection of myself in Lil' T, despite our differences. I seriously loved this book, and there's many other things that I loved I want to mention in this review but I'm sure this is already way too long! show less

There is a lot going on in this book. It is two different stories mixed into one. One is a about a boy who seeks companionship in the form of a dog, who later becomes his beacon of hope. The other story is about a boy who is forced to grow up at the age of thirteen due to the tragedy of Katrina. Tyrone Elijah Roberts, also known as Li’I T, is like any typical kid and longs for a companion. For as long as he could remember, he always wanted a pet dog. Due to his parent’s lack of finances, he is unable to get a dog. That all changes one day when his father, on their way to church, hits a dog in the middle of the street. The dog loses a leg and later becomes Li’l T’s companion, Buddy. All is good until Hurricane Katrina hits and show more they have to leave Buddy behind. Their home becomes submerged under the black Katrina water. His family is forced to stay in Mississippi but his father does everything he can to get their home back with Li’l T’s help. All the while this is going on, Li’l T comes in to contact with things normal thirteen year-olds don’t experience. He sees his home is gone, his city is destroyed, his dog is gone, his grandfather died and drug addicts are squatting in his house. His is forced to be a man. As Granpa T said, “It’s time for you to pick up your load, son.” (p. 167). He picks up his load and helps his father rebuild their home. As he rebuilds their home, he slowly lets go of Buddy and in the end he realizes that he didn’t save Buddy for himself but for someone else.

If we get in to reader’s response theory about this book, I connected well with the main character. I was a little bet older than Li’l T when Katrina hit but some of the imagery Li’l T describes hits home. It was emotional to read those parts of the story. This line in particular got to me:
“We pass by a house where one side just fell into the street and all the furniture is sitting there like a dollhouse.” (p. 171)

I’ve actually seen what he is describing with the apartment complexes near my home. I remember seeing on the top floor of someone’s apartment with the wall caved in but everything, from the posters and shelves on the wall, were untouched. That is my “when it me what happened” Katrina moment. As a reader, I connected with the main character with regards to what he experiencing because of the hurricane. To tell the truth, I was so focused on the Katrina aspect of the story that it was hard to pick up what Buddy represented for Li’l T. If I had to choose what Buddy represented, he represented Li’l T’s hope, strength and motivation to keep going. Whenever he was down, the fact that he would be with Buddy is what kept him going. show less

With this book being based in New Orleans during Katrina, I found it very relatable. I was only eight when it hit but I still remember a lot of details. I have a dog Rowdy and we have never had to evacuate while having him. My parents have told me we wouldn't be able to take him if the time came and that broke my heart. I think if I threw a big enough tantrum, they would give in. But we never had to face that, thankfully. Seeing what Lil' T had to do for Buddy is inspiring to any child and the responsibilities it involves and how it isn't always easy. Taking care of another living thing is costly and takes a lot of time. You can see how they're relationship develops and just how much love they have for each other. No doubt in my mind I show more would go through just as much and more to find my dog again. show less