Book Club Questions for "Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him" [Sent by a Reader]


1. Were you surprised to learn that a dog could make such a difference in such a wounded human being? Why or why not? The author describes this transformation very well in speaking of Mary who lost her arms and had so much trauma in Iraq. He obviously admires people and dogs who don't give up. pg. 115

2. What was your reaction as you read this book - did you find it uplifting or distressing?

3. Do you feel we are not being given accurate coverage of the war by the media as the author stated? pg. 88

4. How might Capt. Montalv‡n's experience been different if his parents had shown more understanding and support in the beginning? pg. 90

5. Why did they react so negatively? The author felt so betrayed by his parents and by the Army. Why did he see the face of his assassin in his father's face? pg. 92

6. What changed Luis' attitude about being a broken soldier from one of shame to one of pride? pg. 93

7. What caused the profound loneliness that he expressed saying he felt "terminally alone?" Why couldn't he reach out to others instead of isolating himself? Doesn't that seem odd as he was so lonely?

8. Do you feel that loneliness and sense of betrayal was the first vital link between he and Tuesday? What first drew his attention to Tuesday?

9. Why does he say that the email he received about the Puppies Behind Bars changed his life? pg. 96

10. Upon meeting Tuesday, Luis instantly understands that he will have to earn the dog's affection and he is determined to do so. Does that seem odd considering that he felt the same way about his parents and the Army? He had worked so hard and suffered so much to earn their respect and, in the case of his parents, their love, and failed? pg. 109 Do you think his parents truly did finally begin to understand as the author states?

11. The correspondence between Capt. Montalv‡n and his father is very honest and interesting. As much as he was wounded by his father's statement that he "wasn't going to be another broken soldier," he seemed to see behind it. Do you agree with his interpretation of the comment? pp. 139 - 141 (That it was coming from fear).

12. Were you surprised by the reason Capt. Montalv‡n gave for why so many soldiers return for second and third tours of duty? pg. 85

13. It is quite a commentary on our society when Traumatic Brain Injury did not get our attention until football players began to be affected. Why didn't we know more about our service people? pp. 199 & 212 How did you first learn about PTSD? Were you aware of the incredible horror of it prior to reading this book? Do you know any veterans who suffer from it?

14. Do you think Montalv‡n is an exception or more the norm in seeing his PTSD and other wounds as a "new way to serve." pg. 193

15. What does the editorial attack on our veterans, by Allen Breed, say about the media as a whole today? pg. 227

16. Why do less than half of the veterans suffering from PTSD and TBI seek treatment? Did you understand that no one recovers fully from PTSD before reading this book? Can you understand why this is true?