In Sara Levine’s novel 'The Hitch,' a corgi’s soul enters a little boy’s body
NPR's Book of the Day examines Sara Levine's novel "The Hitch," which tells the story of six-year-old Nathan, who becomes possessed by a corgi's spirit, and his aunt Rose, who must care for him during this unusual situation. The summary explores Rose's character as she grapples with her nephew's transformation while confronting her own tendencies toward judgment and control.
The discussion delves into the novel's broader themes about the nature of unconditional love and the challenges of parenting. Through the metaphor of Nathan's possession, Levine addresses how caregivers balance nurturing children's growth while preserving their individuality, and examines the conditions people often place on their love for others.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Feb 3, 2026 episode of the NPR's Book of the Day
Sign up for Shortform to access the whole episode summary along with additional materials like counterarguments and context.
1-Page Summary
"The Hitch": A Tale of Supernatural Possession
In Sara Levine's novel "The Hitch," a unique story unfolds about six-year-old Nathan, who becomes possessed by a corgi's spirit after an encounter in a park. The story is narrated by Rose, Nathan's aunt and an artisanal yogurt maker, who takes on the responsibility of caring for Nathan for a week.
Rose's Character and Internal Struggles
Rose emerges as a complex protagonist whose judgmental nature often manifests in her attempt to shape Nathan according to her ideals. Despite her strong love for her nephew, she struggles to accept him as he is, particularly his corgi-possessed state. According to Levine and critic Indira Lakshmanan, Rose's prickly exterior and self-righteous commentary mask deeper issues of loneliness and a midlife crisis, though her wit brings welcome humor to the narrative.
Themes of Unconditional Love and Parenting
Levine explores the delicate balance between nurturing a child's growth and preserving their individuality. Through the metaphor of Nathan's corgi possession, she examines how parents navigate their children's untamed energies without suppressing their essential nature. The novel delves into the challenge of loving unconditionally while resisting the urge to impose one's own expectations on others. Levine uses Rose and Nathan's relationship to illustrate broader themes about judgment, acceptance, and what she calls 'hitchiness'—the conditions we place on our love for others.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can start a daily reflection journal to explore your own judgments and expectations of others, especially family members. Write down instances where you find yourself being critical or imposing your ideals on someone else. Reflect on why you feel this way and how you can approach the situation with more acceptance and less judgment. For example, if you catch yourself criticizing a relative's career choice, write about it and then challenge yourself to find positive aspects or understand their perspective.
- Create a "Hitchiness" jar where you note down moments you've placed conditions on your love or acceptance of someone. Each time you realize you're setting conditions, write it down on a piece of paper and put it in the jar. At the end of the week, review the notes to identify patterns and think of ways to offer more unconditional support. For instance, if you're disappointed in a friend's decision that doesn't align with your expectations, acknowledge it on paper and later consider how you can support their choice regardless.
- Engage in role-reversal exercises with a friend or family member where you each take turns expressing and listening to each other's untamed energies or unique traits without judgment. This can be done through a playful activity, such as improvisational role-playing, where one person acts out a trait or energy they feel is often misunderstood or judged, and the other practices responding with acceptance and curiosity. This could help you practice embracing individuality in a fun and empathetic way.
Get access to the context and additional materials
Premise and Plot of "The Hitch": Boy Possessed by a Corgi
"The Hitch" is a novel that weaves the unusual tale of a young boy's life turned topsy-turvy when he crosses paths with the spirit of a corgi, entangling reality with the supernatural realm.
Enigma of Boy Possessed by Corgi Spirit
A Six-year-Old Boy, Nathan, Is Possessed by a Corgi's Soul He Met In a Park, Blurring Reality and the Supernatural
At the heart of the novel lies six-year-old Nathan, whose encounter with a corgi in a dog park leads to him becoming possessed by the animal's spirit. This uncanny possession blurs the lines between the real and the otherworldly, launching the reader into a surreal narrative.
Narrative of Rose, Protagonist, Recounting Events
Rose, Yogurt Artisan, Narrates Nathan's Possession by ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Premise and Plot of "The Hitch": Boy Possessed by a Corgi
Additional Materials
Actionables
- Explore the impact of pets on your life by journaling about past or current animals you've encountered and the emotions or changes they've brought about. This can help you reflect on the human-animal bond and its influence on your personal growth, similar to Nathan's transformation in the story.
- Create a piece of art or craft inspired by the theme of blurred realities, like a collage mixing photographs and fantastical elements, to express how the intersection of the ordinary and the extraordinary can manifest in everyday life.
- Write a short story from the pers ...
Get access to the context and additional materials
Rose: The Protagonist's Internal Struggles and Personality Traits
Rose, the protagonist in Sara Levine’s narrative, is a complex character whose internal struggles and personality traits are at the heart of her story’s conflict.
Rose's Judgmental Nature and Imposing Views
Rose Struggles to Accept Nathan, Trying to Shape Him to Fit Her Ideals
Rose is portrayed as judgmental, particularly by her actions when Nathan comes to stay. She projects her own tastes onto others, as seen when she decorates a room for Nathan based on what she prefers, failing to consider his own desires. Her love for her nephew is strong, yet conditional, as it is challenged by her belief that she needs to “get the dog out of him.” This is a metaphor for her struggle to accept aspects of Nathan that do not align with her ideals, indicating an underlying desire to shape him to fit her image of what is acceptable.
Rose's Internal Conflicts and Desire For Connection
Rose's Prickly Exterior Masks Loneliness and Midlife Crisis, Hinders Family Connection
Rose's critical and judgmental demeanor hides a deeper loneliness and a desire for connection. Levine describes Rose as undergoing not only a prickly exterior but also a midlife crisis that predates the story. This combination of internal conflict and external challenges suggest that Rose’s life is fraught with emotional distress. In survival mode since an early age, Rose’s focus on external achievements has come at the expense of her internal life, obstructing her ability to forge deeper familial bonds.
Rose's Humorous and Sat ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Rose: The Protagonist's Internal Struggles and Personality Traits
Additional Materials
Actionables
- Reflect on your relationships by journaling about the ways you interact with loved ones, noting any tendencies to impose your own ideals on them. This self-reflection can help you become aware of patterns where you might be projecting your desires onto others, similar to how Rose decorates Nathan's room without considering his tastes. For example, write down instances when you've made decisions for others and explore your motivations behind those choices.
- Create a "conditional love" checklist to evaluate moments when your affection might be contingent on someone meeting certain criteria. This can help you identify and work on instances where your love might come with strings attached, as Rose's does for Nathan. On your checklist, include questions like "Do I withdraw affection when someone disagrees with me?" or "Do I expect others to change to earn my love?" Use your answers to guide personal growth in offering unconditional support.
- Start a humor diary where you record daily instances where you used humor to cope with st ...
Get access to the context and additional materials
Unconditional Love, Challenges of Parenting, and Imposing Views
Author Sarah Levine dives into the intricate dynamics of unconditional love and the challenges that come with parenting in her novel "The Hitch," examining the fine line between nurturing individuality and imposing one's own views.
Guiding Children to Be Themselves
Sarah Levine speaks about parenting challenges, particularly the struggle between shaping a child and stepping back to allow the child's true self to flourish. She delves into her personal reflection on parental love, aspiring not to mold a child in her own image. This conflict mirrors the character Rose's behavior towards Nathan in "The Hitch," as she learns to navigate her parental role.
Hitch Explores how Parents Balance Nurturing a Child's Growth While Preserving Their Individuality
In her novel, Levine uses the metaphor of a corgi to represent the untamed or inconvenient energies children often exhibit. She discusses the endeavors of parents—and specifically of Rose—to redirect these energies without erasing the child's innate characteristics.
Parallels Between Parenting and Novel Themes
Levine’s narrative draws connections between the unconditional love involved in parenting and the imperative to avoid enforcing preconceived notions on others, a theme embodied through the characters of Rose and Nathan.
Reflections on the Struggle to Love Unconditionally Without Imposing Preconceptions, as Shown Through Rose and Nathan
Through her characters, Levine reflects on the tension between loving unconditionally and the impulse to project one’s own expectations and experiences onto others. This is illustrated through Rose's interactions with Nathan and her journey towards accepting him.
Societal Impac ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Unconditional Love, Challenges of Parenting, and Imposing Views
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can start a "Non-Judgment Journal" where you write down instances when you catch yourself being judgmental or imposing your views on others. This self-awareness exercise will help you identify patterns in your behavior and work towards being more accepting of individuality. For example, if you notice you're often critical of how others handle their finances, you might challenge yourself to consider the unique circumstances that influence their choices.
- Create a "Corgi Energy" family activity where each member expresses a trait or interest that's unique to them, and the rest of the family engages in that activity without judgment or attempts to change it. This could be as simple as one person choosing a game for everyone to play, or sharing a piece of music they love, while the others genuinely participate and appreciate the individual's choice. This practice encourages embracing each person's individuality within the family unit.
- Develop a "Hitchiness" reflection ritual w ...
Get access to the context and additional materials
Create Summaries for anything on the web
Download the Shortform Chrome extension for your browser
