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Kylie's Ark: The Making of a Veterinarian
KIRKUS' INDIE BOOKS OF THE MONTH SELECTION — A horse scheduled to be euthanized is given a respite. An illiterate man learns to read so he can better care for his puppy. A neurologically-impaired kitten might provide a key to understanding storage diseases in humans. These are some of the successes that make the practice of veterinary medicine a joy, and sometimes a heartbreak. For Kylie Wheeler, they are why she’s chosen a career in veterinary medicine, and why she struggles every day of her professional life.
The stories follow a young woman from her job as a Park Ranger on a New Jersey barrier island, to a position as a research assistant in Montana’s Bitterroot Mountains, to Texas A&M Veterinary School, to an externship at a Kentucky equine hospital, to a rotation in a Texas women’s prison, to job interviews in Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
In the world of veterinary medicine, personalities clash, research is hindered by politics, egos spin out of control. Kylie Wheeler experiences firsthand the cruelty to which animals are subjected. In her professional life there are unexpected successes and heartbreaking failures. But always it’s the animals, the horses, cattle, dogs and cats, that have a hold on her heart.
The stories follow a young woman from her job as a Park Ranger on a New Jersey barrier island, to a position as a research assistant in Montana’s Bitterroot Mountains, to Texas A&M Veterinary School, to an externship at a Kentucky equine hospital, to a rotation in a Texas women’s prison, to job interviews in Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
In the world of veterinary medicine, personalities clash, research is hindered by politics, egos spin out of control. Kylie Wheeler experiences firsthand the cruelty to which animals are subjected. In her professional life there are unexpected successes and heartbreaking failures. But always it’s the animals, the horses, cattle, dogs and cats, that have a hold on her heart.
216 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2016
4 people are currently reading
669 people want to read
About the author
Rita Welty Bourke
4 books37 followersRita Welty Bourke is the author of Islomanes of Cumberland Island and Kylie’s Ark: The Making of a Veterinarian, a Kirkus’ Best Indie Book of the Year Selection. She has published over forty works of fiction and non-fiction in literary magazines including The North American Review, Cimarron Review, Louisiana Literature, Shenandoah, Witness, and the Black Warrior Review. Learn more at www.ritaweltybourke.com.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 1, 2016
If you like the story of Temple Grandin, KYLIE’S ARK is the book for you.
This deeply moving collection of stories shows Kylie Wheeler’s journey through vet school and life as a veterinarian. We face the obstacles in her path and feel her passion for animals. This book is a must for anyone who is a vet, is going to vet school, and all of us who just plain love animals.
Even more, this book stands alone as literature, outside of the veterinarian niche. Kylie’s world is alive. The human animals (selfish and heroic) are as vivid as the wild, agricultural and domestic animals who populate the stories. The situations are diverse and filled with gritty conflict.
We see Kylie in the park service protecting beach plovers, (where she struggles with unruly fishermen); spending a winter isolated in the Bitterroot Mountains (where she survives the elements and meets her future husband);
navigating inflated egos and turf fights in an Equine Hospital (where she witnesses reckless ‘old timers’ who seem to endanger the animals); working in a prison (where she breaks a vial exposing herself to live brucellosis vaccine); frustrated by the disconnect in Amish country (where the owner refuses any paliative care for a suffering animal); missing connections and turbulent flights searching for the right job, and finally establishing her practice in the clinic with Gwynne, her priceless assistant.
As a professional Kylie shares the common procedures, calamities, and rare diseases she faces. The owners, ranging from careless to deeply committed, present a special set of problems. The mistakes she has made haunt her as do the heartbreaking decisions involving unaffordable costs, research and euthanasia.
Kylie must find a balance between caring and letting go, which is not easy for someone as passionate about her calling, someone who deeply believes that what she does matters. But Dr. Kylie Wheeler does mature and adjust without losing her ideals. By the final story she is stronger than ever. “What occurs to me is that if I ever stop hurting, if I ever get to the point where it’s just a job, if I begin to think the lives of these creatures are worthless, their pain of no consequence, I’ll give it up. I won’t be a vet anymore. I’ll look for some other line of work.”
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review of this book.
CorabelShofner.com
This deeply moving collection of stories shows Kylie Wheeler’s journey through vet school and life as a veterinarian. We face the obstacles in her path and feel her passion for animals. This book is a must for anyone who is a vet, is going to vet school, and all of us who just plain love animals.
Even more, this book stands alone as literature, outside of the veterinarian niche. Kylie’s world is alive. The human animals (selfish and heroic) are as vivid as the wild, agricultural and domestic animals who populate the stories. The situations are diverse and filled with gritty conflict.
We see Kylie in the park service protecting beach plovers, (where she struggles with unruly fishermen); spending a winter isolated in the Bitterroot Mountains (where she survives the elements and meets her future husband);
navigating inflated egos and turf fights in an Equine Hospital (where she witnesses reckless ‘old timers’ who seem to endanger the animals); working in a prison (where she breaks a vial exposing herself to live brucellosis vaccine); frustrated by the disconnect in Amish country (where the owner refuses any paliative care for a suffering animal); missing connections and turbulent flights searching for the right job, and finally establishing her practice in the clinic with Gwynne, her priceless assistant.
As a professional Kylie shares the common procedures, calamities, and rare diseases she faces. The owners, ranging from careless to deeply committed, present a special set of problems. The mistakes she has made haunt her as do the heartbreaking decisions involving unaffordable costs, research and euthanasia.
Kylie must find a balance between caring and letting go, which is not easy for someone as passionate about her calling, someone who deeply believes that what she does matters. But Dr. Kylie Wheeler does mature and adjust without losing her ideals. By the final story she is stronger than ever. “What occurs to me is that if I ever stop hurting, if I ever get to the point where it’s just a job, if I begin to think the lives of these creatures are worthless, their pain of no consequence, I’ll give it up. I won’t be a vet anymore. I’ll look for some other line of work.”
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review of this book.
CorabelShofner.com
April 2, 2016
This marvelous and beautifully written book gives deep insight into the heart of a young women, as through non-sequential stories, the author deftly peels off the layers of experience that shape Kylie’s emergence as a practicing vet. It is fascinating to observe animal and human behavior in the highly visual descriptions and diverse locations where Kylie is presented with situations and conflicts that challenge her compassion and idealism.
I was fascinated and drawn into Kylie’s struggles to do her very best for the animals in her care while having to reconcile this with so many other factors that must be considered in real life practice. But, Kylie is not alone and the author sparingly reveals through some very touching moments how her husband and colleagues provide a backbone of support. The stories have a universality that is surely mirrored in many other fields where professionals find themselves balancing their desire for best practice with a myriad of other emotional, financial, political and business concerns.
Every vet practice should have a Kylie! Mine does and now I have a deeper understanding of what lies beneath his skill, decision making and compassion.
I was fascinated and drawn into Kylie’s struggles to do her very best for the animals in her care while having to reconcile this with so many other factors that must be considered in real life practice. But, Kylie is not alone and the author sparingly reveals through some very touching moments how her husband and colleagues provide a backbone of support. The stories have a universality that is surely mirrored in many other fields where professionals find themselves balancing their desire for best practice with a myriad of other emotional, financial, political and business concerns.
Every vet practice should have a Kylie! Mine does and now I have a deeper understanding of what lies beneath his skill, decision making and compassion.
April 2, 2016
A friend suggested this book to me. I wasn't sure I was going to be interested in reading about someone becoming a vet, but I got hooked on the stories right away. I liked the characters, and the situations Kylie encounters along her way. What most intrigued me were the decisions Kylie needed to make, and the ethics involved. I hope to read more by Rita Welty Bourke soon - her writing held my interest and I learned a great deal about animals and their habits and care in this book.
April 5, 2016
Rita Welty Bourke’s book “Kylie’s Ark” is a lovely story, a series of episodes describing Kylie’s passage from headstrong student to compassionate and empathetic veterinarian. Her encounters with her teachers, her patients and their owners, her fellow students and co-workers, and her personal relationships chronicle her journey in her own words. Her highs and lows, her successes and failures are recounted with searing honesty.
Now that I have met Kylie, there is so much more I want to know about her. Where is she now? What is she doing? Does she have her own practice? Has she thought more about going into research? I want to know more about some of the personalities she introduced in her stories, Javier in particular.
This is a compelling story, beautifully written and I recommend it without reservation.
Now that I have met Kylie, there is so much more I want to know about her. Where is she now? What is she doing? Does she have her own practice? Has she thought more about going into research? I want to know more about some of the personalities she introduced in her stories, Javier in particular.
This is a compelling story, beautifully written and I recommend it without reservation.
April 3, 2016
A modern day "All Creatures Great and Small" with a female protagonist who deals with the conflicting priorities of science, politics, and the well-being of helpless animals. Thought provoking and beautiful, this is the story of Kylie a vet who has a true passion for her work. The struggles that Kylie faces and her courage make this book fascinating from the start. The writing is crisp, clear, and melodic without being pretentious and the situations Kylie faces keep one engaged. I cannot wait to read Ms. Bourke's next book!
December 20, 2017
What genre is this book? Labeled a memoir but states all characters are fictional. Reads like a memoir. Author states she knows the main character and this is her story. You can’t have a memoir that isn’t written by the person who has the life. You can’t have a memoir in which all people are fictitious. So which is it????
January 3, 2019
Upon seeing my name and the word veterinarian attached, I knew I had to read this. It was always a dream of mine, but had chemistry trades and fear of being in debt forever blew that dream away. But enough about that.
The book was well written and I could see myself in every part due to the description.
If you've ever considered being in the animal field, this is definitely a quick, good read.
The book was well written and I could see myself in every part due to the description.
If you've ever considered being in the animal field, this is definitely a quick, good read.
April 25, 2018
Depressing read, but quite an accurate account of being a veterinarian. Don't read if you want "happy stories"
July 9, 2018
Seriously depressing book
One of the most depressing books I've ever read. A real "Debbie Downer". Makes me hope for everyone's sake that she left vet med.
One of the most depressing books I've ever read. A real "Debbie Downer". Makes me hope for everyone's sake that she left vet med.
April 3, 2016
Kylie's Ark is a little treasure of a book. The writing is spare yet descriptive and the main character is someone you would love to have as a friend. Reading it, you learn a lot about the life of a veterinarian, particularly a vet who is a woman. She's uncomplicated and forthright and loves her patients. It ended too soon! Now I'm anxious for another.
August 30, 2022
Actually, kind of a downer. Every story leaves you with a "the whole world is hopeless" kind of feeling.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews