Mr. Hurd Character Analysis in Orbiting Jupiter

Mr. Hurd is an organic father who lives in Maine with his wife, Mrs. Hurd, and his 12-year-old son, Jack Hurd. They agree to foster 14-year-old Joseph Brook when social worker Mrs. Stroud approaches them about him. Mr. Hurd is a firm but loving father: he tries to teach Jack and Joseph responsibility, bravery, and kindness. He also models selflessness for them: when Joseph’s father, Mr. Brook, accuses the Hurds of fostering Joseph so they can get a check from the government, Mr. Hurd reveals that they have been putting all the checks they receive into a college fund for Joseph, paying for Joseph’s care out of their own pocket. Though Mr. Hurd believes that Joseph isn’t old enough to parent his baby daughter Jupiter, he and Mrs. Hurd ultimately decide to adopt Jupiter so that Joseph can live in the same household with her. When Joseph’s abusive father Mr. Brook kills Joseph in a car accident, the Hurds go through with the adoption, showing their love for Joseph and feelings of responsibility toward his daughter.

Mr. Hurd Quotes in Orbiting Jupiter

The Orbiting Jupiter quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Hurd or refer to Mr. Hurd. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

They sent Joseph to Stone Mountain, even though he did what he did because the kid gave him something bad and he swallowed it. But that didn’t matter. They sent him to Stone Mountain anyway.

He won’t talk about what happened to him there. But since he left Stone Mountain, he won’t wear anything orange.

He won’t let anyone stand behind him.

He won’t let anyone touch him.

Related Characters: Jack (Jackson) Hurd (speaker), Mrs. Stroud, Mr. Hurd, Mrs. Hurd, Joseph Brook

Page Number and Citation: 2-3

Explanation and Analysis:

In this passage, Orbiting Jupiter’s narrator, 12-year-old Jack Hurd, is summarizing what Maine social worker Mrs. Stroud has told him and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hurd, about Joseph Brook, the 14-year-old boy that the Hurds may foster. According to Mrs. Stroud, Joseph was sent to a high-security juvenile facility because he tried to kill a teacher after another boy gave him “something bad and [Joseph] swallowed it.” When Jack says that the authorities sent Joseph to Stone Mountain “even though he did what he did because the kid gave him something bad,” it isn’t clear whether Jack is summarizing Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint qui qui. Qui similique praesentium. Ex consequatur magnam. Aliquid iste enim. Sequi aut maxime. Adipisci voluptate et. Voluptas suscipit alias. In et eveniet. Eaque et repellend

“I don’t need the milk,” said my father. He pointed at Rosie. “But she needs you to milk her.”

Related Characters: Jack (Jackson) Hurd (speaker), Mr. Hurd (speaker), Joseph Brook

Related Symbols: Cows

Page Number and Citation: 7

Explanation and Analysis:

Joseph’s second day on the Hurds’ farm, he tries to milk the Hurds’ friendliest cow, Rosie, who has mooed lovingly at Joseph when he’s rubbed her rump. When Joseph initially fails at milking Rosie, he stands up and moves away, indicating that he’s given up. At this point, Mr. Hurd steps in, telling Joseph that while the Hurds don’t need the milk, Rosie “needs you to milk her.” This small scene illustrates both Mr. Hurd’s good parenting and Joseph’s bond with animals, which slowly reveals that the friendly cows judge Joseph more accurately than many of the prejudiced people around Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint qui qui. Qui similique praesentium. Ex consequatur magnam. Aliquid iste enim. Sequi aut maxime

“I respect your parents, I really do. They’re trying to make a difference in the world, bringing kids like Joseph Brook into a normal family. But kids like Joseph Brook aren’t always normal, see? They act the way they do because their brains work differently. They don’t think like you and I think. So they can do things . . .”

Related Characters: Mr. Canton (speaker), Mrs. Hurd, Jack (Jackson) Hurd , Joseph Brook, Mr. Hurd

Page Number and Citation: 21

Explanation and Analysis:

Jack has begun walking with Joseph to their shared middle school rather than taking the bus because the bus driver, Mr. Haskell, was loudly rude to Joseph about Joseph being a teen father. One day, the school’s vice principal, Mr. Canton, finds Jack alone by his lockers and essentially warns him not to spend too much time with his foster brother. Mr. Canton’s little speech implicitly criticizes foster parenting, suggesting that it’s largely useless. Mr. Canton claims to “respect” Mr. and Mrs. Hurd fostering Joseph, but he seems to protest too much when he claims, “I really do.” When he Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus h

“I always know where Jupiter is.”

Related Characters: Joseph Brook (speaker), Jack (Jackson) Hurd , Mr. Hurd, Jupiter, Madeleine “Maddie” Joyce

Page Number and Citation: 24

Explanation and Analysis:

One day, walking home from school, Jack asks Joseph what his baby daughter’s name is. Joseph reveals that her name is Jupiter, which was his and the baby’s mother’s (Madeleine Joyce’s) favorite planet. That night, while Jack and Joseph are stacking firewood outside with Mr. Hurd, Jack asks where the planet Jupiter is in the night sky—and Joseph immediately points it out. When Mr. Hurd asks who he knew, Joseph replies, “I always know where Jupiter is.” Joseph’s obsessive tracking of the planet Jupiter through the night sky illustrates both his love for his daughter and his trauma. At this Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est.

“You have him shoveling manure, too? Is that what you get out of this? A bunch of kids who have to shovel manure for you?”

Related Characters: Mr. Brook (speaker), Joseph Brook, Jack (Jackson) Hurd , Mr. Hurd, Mrs. Hurd

Page Number and Citation: 31

Explanation and Analysis:

One day while Joseph is at counseling, his father Mr. Brook shows up at the Hurds’ barn looking for him. He sees Jack cleaning the barn, assumes that Jack is a foster child like Joseph rather than Mr. Hurd’s biological child, and aggressively asks whether Mr. Hurd has Joseph “shoveling manure, too?” He also asks what Mr. Hurd “get[s] out of this,” i.e., out of fostering children who have been removed from their original homes. Mr. Brook’s questions and assumptions create a stark contrast between his parenting style and Mr. Hurd’s. When he asks what Mr. Hurd “get[s] out of” Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspicia

“He came onto the ice for me,” said Joseph.

My father turned his face slowly toward Joseph. “That’s what we’ll be talking about,” he said.

Related Characters: Jack (Jackson) Hurd (speaker), Joseph Brook (speaker), Mr. Hurd (speaker), Mr. Canton, Mr. Brook

Page Number and Citation: 44

Explanation and Analysis:

After Jack rescues Joseph from the Alliance River when Joseph falls through its thin ice, their vice principal Mr. Canton finds them and gives them a ride home. At home, Mr. Hurd verbally disciplines Jack, reminding Jack that each winter Mr. Hurd tells him not to go out onto the ice until Mr. Hurd tells him that it’s safe. Joseph interrupts this Mr. Hurd’s harangue to let Mr. Hurd know that Jack “came onto the ice” to save Joseph. Joseph’s interruption and Mr. Hurd’s response are moments of important development for both characters. When Joseph first arrives in the Hurds’ Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure.

“Being responsible,” Mr. Canton said, “means being ready to do what you’re supposed to be doing, even if no one is watching or making you do it. Do you boys understand that?”

Related Characters: Mr. Canton (speaker), Jack (Jackson) Hurd , Jupiter, Mr. Hurd

Page Number and Citation: 59

Explanation and Analysis:

Jack and Joseph have fifth-period “Office Duty,” which involves running errands for vice principal Mr. Canton. One day, Mr. Canton hasn’t given them any work, so after a while Joseph takes out a book and begins to read. When Mr. Canton sees Joseph reading, he lectures Joseph and Jack about responsibility. On the one hand, Mr. Canton’s lecture has some truth to it, but on the other hand, the context of his lecture undercuts his message. Mr. Canton argues that responsibility “means being ready to do what you’re supposed to be doing.” Much of the novel’s plot turns on 14-year-old Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti ni

He was going to be a father, he said.

He was only thirteen, she said again.

Related Characters: Jack (Jackson) Hurd (speaker), Joseph Brook, Mrs. Stroud, Madeleine “Maddie” Joyce, Mr. Hurd, Mrs. Hurd, Jupiter, Mr. Brook

Page Number and Citation: 78

Explanation and Analysis:

Jack is retelling in his own words Joseph’s account of how he ended up a young teenage father in foster care. In this section of Joseph’s story, Joseph is explaining how his social worker, Mrs. Stroud, came to tell him that his 13-year-old girlfriend, Madeleine, was pregnant and that she was removing him from his abusive father Mr. Brook’s household to a group home. On the ride from Mr. Brook’s house, when Joseph expresses a desire to be with Madeleine, Mrs. Stroud tells him that he can’t see Madeleine (her parents have taken out an injunction against him). When Joseph Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint q

“Would you have left a guy being beat up to go find a teacher?” I asked.

My father, he wiped his hand across his face, and what was left behind was a smile.

Really, a smile.

“Not in a million years,” he said.

Related Characters: Jack (Jackson) Hurd (speaker), Mr. Hurd (speaker), Joseph Brook, Jay Perkins, Mrs. Hurd, Mr. Canton

Page Number and Citation: 98

Explanation and Analysis:

Earlier in school, sixth-grader Jack entered a locker room fight to protect Joseph after some other eighth graders, Jay Perkins and his friends, jumped Joseph. Back at home, when Mr. and Mrs. Hurd attempt to admonish him for entering the fight rather than finding a teacher, he asks them, “Would you have left a guy being beat up to go find a teacher?” This question shows Jack’s growing independence and maturity. He doesn’t simply take his parents’ word for it that he did something wrong in entering a fight to defend Joseph. Rather—having thought through the problem himself and concluded Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque p

When my father put his hand on Joseph’s back, Joseph didn’t even flinch.

Related Characters: Jack (Jackson) Hurd (speaker), Mrs. Stroud, Mrs. Hurd, Joseph Brook, Jupiter, Mr. Hurd

Page Number and Citation: 115

Explanation and Analysis:

On Christmas Day, Mr. and Mrs. Hurd reveal to Joseph that they have decided to help him establish contact with his baby daughter, Jupiter. Mrs. Hurd and Joseph hug, and Mr. Hurd puts a fatherly hand on Joseph’s back—as he often does with his biological son Jack. Jack notices with surprise that Joseph doesn’t “even flinch” in response to the touch. One of the first things Joseph’s social worker Mrs. Stroud told the Hurds about Joseph was that—following a traumatic stint in a high-security juvenile facility called Stone Mountain—he wouldn’t let anyone touch him or stand behind him. Early in Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti so

You know what happened when Mr. Brook put his hand on Joseph’s back?

Joseph flinched.

But he went into the living room with his father anyway.

Related Characters: Jack (Jackson) Hurd (speaker), Mr. Brook, Mrs. Stroud, Mrs. Hurd, Mr. Hurd, Joseph Brook

Page Number and Citation: 124-125

Explanation and Analysis:

Joseph’s abusive father Mr. Brook has secured visitation rights to see Joseph while the Hurds are fostering him. When Mr. Brook puts a hand on Joseph’s back to lead him into the Hurds’ empty living room so that they can talk privately, Joseph visibly flinches but keeps going. Early in the novel, Joseph’s social worker Mrs. Stroud explained to the Hurds that due to a traumatic stay in a high-security juvenile facility, Joseph won’t let people touch him or get behind him. Yet in the previous chapter, after several months with the Hurds, Joseph hugged Mrs. Hurd and didn’t flinch Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum a

“And who do you think you’re kidding? You know you’ve got a sweet deal going. You get your check from the state every month to keep my kid. You’re in this for the money.” He pointed to Joseph. “You know you’re just a job for them? You are nothing but income.”

Related Characters: Jack (Jackson) Hurd (speaker), Mr. Brook (speaker), Mr. Hurd, Mrs. Hurd, Joseph Brook

Page Number and Citation: 128

Explanation and Analysis:

State foster care systems give foster parents a monthly stipend to help with the cost of housing, feeding, and care for a foster child or children. In general, this monthly stipend is not particularly large. Nevertheless, toward the end of his first visit with Joseph, Joseph’s abusive father, Mr. Brook, explodes at Joseph’s foster father, Mr. Hurd, accuses Mr. Hurd of foster parenting “for the money,” and makes the improbable claim that the monthly foster-care stipend constitutes a “sweet deal.” Mr. Brook’s outburst characterizes his damaging parenting style in two ways. First, he cannot conceive of a father—biological, foster, or Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis.

Mr. Canton had already come by, so full of himself, my mother said, all about how he knew something like this would happen, and kids who come from Stone Mountain are bound to run off, and it’s not our fault, it’s just that’s who Joseph Brook is.

Related Characters: Jack (Jackson) Hurd (speaker), Mr. Canton, Mrs. Halloway, Mrs. Stroud, Mr. Hurd, Mrs. Hurd, Joseph Brook, Jupiter

Page Number and Citation: 141

Explanation and Analysis:

After a meeting with social worker Mrs. Stroud in which she reveals that Joseph’s daughter Jupiter is being fostered in Brunswick, Maine, Joseph runs away to try to find her. When they realize what has happened, Mr. Hurd and Jack drive out in search of Joseph, but a serious snowstorm drives them back. When they return, Mrs. Hurd informs them that Jack and Joseph’s middle school vice principal, Mr. Canton, came by and told her it “wasn’t [their] fault” that Joseph ran away because it’s “who Joseph Brook is.” Two adults at Jack and Joseph’s middle school, Mr. Canton and Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut.

“The boy isn’t your brother?” he said.

“I have his back,” I said

Related Characters: Jack (Jackson) Hurd (speaker), Joseph Brook, Jupiter, Mr. Hurd, Mrs. Hurd

Page Number and Citation: 148

Explanation and Analysis:

Mr. Hurd, Mrs. Hurd, and Jack Hurd are searching for Joseph, who has run away to Brunswick because his baby daughter Jupiter is being fostered there. They’ve stopped at a Baptist church where the pastor has implied that Joseph and Jack are biological brothers. Here, Jack corrects him by saying simply that he “ha[s] [Joseph’s] back.” Jack’s reply, “I have his back,” doesn’t explicitly deny that he is Joseph’s brother. It leaves Jack’s biological, legal, and social relationship to Joseph undefined, not saying whether they are biological brothers, foster brothers, or friends. Instead, Jack describes his relationship to Joseph by Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Expl

“But he can’t love her just for himself. He has to love her for her, too.”

Related Characters: The Librarian (speaker), Joseph Brook, Jupiter, Mrs. Hurd, Mr. Hurd, Madeleine “Maddie” Joyce, Jack (Jackson) Hurd

Page Number and Citation: 154

Explanation and Analysis:

Joseph has run away to Brunswick in search of his baby daughter Jupiter. While searching for Joseph in Brunswick with his parents Mr. and Mrs. Hurd, Jack shows Joseph’s photo to a librarian in a public library—and, by coincidence, discovers that the librarian is Jupiter’s foster mother. When the librarian tells Jack that Joseph can’t raise Jupiter because he can’t take care of her, Jack retorts that Joseph can love her. The librarian replies that he “can’t love her just for himself” but “for her, too.” The distinction between loving her “for himself” and “for her” suggests that Joseph’s desire Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaq

“Jackie,” said Jupiter.

“That’s right,” I said. “Jackie.”

Related Characters: Jupiter (speaker), Jack (Jackson) Hurd (speaker), Joseph Brook, Mr. Hurd, Mrs. Hurd

Page Number and Citation: 182

Explanation and Analysis:

Prior to Joseph’s death, it is implied that Mr. and Mrs. Hurd had begun the process of legally adopting Jupiter so that Joseph could have a relationship with his beloved daughter without trying to take on full, adult parental responsibility for her. After Joseph’s death, the Hurds go through with the adoption—implicitly out of love for Joseph and a desire to honor his memory. When Jupiter first meets Jack, she calls him “Jackie,” a nickname that Joseph sometimes sarcastically used on Jack. Whereas Jack would always defensively correct Joseph, saying his name was not “Jackie” but “Jack,” Jack tells Jupiter Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut.

Mr. Hurd Character Timeline in Orbiting Jupiter

The timeline below shows where the character Mr. Hurd appears in Orbiting Jupiter. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Social worker Mrs. Stroud tells Jack Hurd, Mr. Hurd , and Mrs. Hurd that they need certain facts before they agree to foster Joseph.... (full context)

...skinny—except that he has a daughter, barely talks, and won’t let the Hurds touch him. Mr. Hurd calls Jack and Joseph into the barn and tells Joseph to watch how they milk... (full context)

Joseph turns down Mr. Hurd ’s invitation to milk the friendliest cow, Rosie, but after Mr. Hurd milks her, Joseph... (full context)

Joseph tries to milk the cow Rosie. At first, he fails. Mr. Hurd tells him that he should finish. When Joseph retorts that the Hurds could buy milk,... (full context)

...that night, Jack announces that he and Joseph will walk to school from now on. Mr. Hurd looks at Joseph and then says that the boys will need warmer clothes. By the... (full context)

...whether Jack walked with Joseph. After Jack nods, Mr. Canton says that while he admires Mr. Hurd and Mrs. Hurd for fostering Joseph, the brains of children like Joseph “work differently,” which... (full context)

That night, while stacking firewood outside with Mr. Hurd and Joseph, Jack asks which celestial body is Jupiter. Joseph immediately points it out in... (full context)

...“Joe” is there. When Jack says no, Mr. Brook asks what Jack is “here for.” Mr. Hurd checks that the man is Joseph’s father and tells him that he shouldn’t have come.... (full context)

...the wood stove. Then she wraps them in blankets and gives them hot chocolate. When Mr. Hurd gets home, he scolds Jack, reminding him that he’s not supposed to go out on... (full context)

...scar all down Joseph’s side. Joseph tells Jack not to worry about Mr. Canton because Mr. Hurd will call him—and to never say “Maddie” again. He also says that he’s the only... (full context)

The next morning, Mr. Hurd tells Jack and Joseph that they have to take the bus to school until winter... (full context)

One Friday, Mr. Hurd and Jack shovel the snow off their frozen pond while Joseph is at counseling. Then... (full context)

In the present, on the Hurds’ farm, Mr. Hurd , Mrs. Hurd, and Jack listen to Joseph’s story carefully. When Joseph finishes, he flees... (full context)

...leave someone being attacked to find a teacher. Mr. Canton sends Jack away and calls Mr. Hurd and Mrs. Hurd. (full context)

After school, Mr. Hurd and Mrs. Hurd scold Jack, but when Jack asks whether they would leave someone getting... (full context)

On Christmas Eve, Mr. Hurd , Jack, and Joseph find a fir tree on their property, cut it down, and... (full context)

...Mrs. Stroud. Joseph hugs Mrs. Hurd as trustingly as he hugs Rosie the cow. When Mr. Hurd puts a hand on Joseph’s back, Joseph is fine with it. (full context)

...Brook. After a testy conversation, Mrs. Hurd gives the phone to Joseph and explains to Mr. Hurd and Jack that Mr. Brook has hired a lawyer and secured visitation rights—and plans to... (full context)

...and a DHHS car are parked out front. The boys enter the house and see Mr. Hurd , Mrs. Hurd, Mrs. Stroud, and Mr. Brook. Mr. Brook announces that he’s going to... (full context)

...saying that she recommended against Mr. Brook getting visitation, but his lawyer finagled it. When Mr. Hurd asks what Mr. Brook wants, Mrs. Stroud says he wants money: his lawyer is claiming... (full context)

After a pause, Mr. Hurd sends Jack out to do the afternoon milking. Hearing yells, Jack reenters the house and... (full context)

Mr. Hurd walks to a desk in the hallway, pulls out some papers, returns, and shows them... (full context)

...to Jack and grabs his shoulder. Joseph tells Mr. Brook not to touch Jack, and Mr. Hurd begins walking quickly toward them. Then Mr. Brook, laughing, suggests he’s proved his point. He... (full context)

...Hurds petition Joseph’s counselor and Mrs. Stroud. One afternoon, Mrs. Stroud has a meeting with Mr. Hurd , Mrs. Hurd, and Joseph in the kitchen while Jack is out milking. (full context)

...home. Jack assumes Joseph decided to walk, but when Jack gets home, Joseph isn’t there. Mr. Hurd and Mrs. Hurd search Joseph and Jack’s room and discover that Walden, the Second Octavian... (full context)

As Mr. Hurd and Jack drive out of Eastham, it begins to snow hard. They don’t see Joseph... (full context)

Mr. Hurd , Mrs. Hurd, and Jack wait for a call and worry about Joseph. Late in... (full context)

...at home for news. The day after that, Mrs. Stroud calls again with no news. Mr. Hurd asks Mrs. Hurd, who is holding the phone, to tell Mrs. Stroud that they are... (full context)

On the drive to Brunswick, Mr. Hurd stops everywhere Joseph might have sought shelter, and Mrs. Hurd shows people a photo of... (full context)

...Joseph on the way to Brunswick. When they reach Brunswick, Jack suggests they split up. Mr. Hurd agrees, giving Jack Joseph’s photo. After 90 minutes of searching, Jack is freezing. He spies... (full context)

...photo of Jupiter. The librarian drives the boys to where Jack parted from his parents: Mr. Hurd and Mrs. Hurd are still there, searching. When Joseph gets out of the librarian’s car,... (full context)

...and Mr. Canton sternly lecture him. Joseph decides to start walking to school again, with Mr. Hurd ’s permission, rather than hear what Mr. Haskell is likely to say about him. Yet... (full context)

In February, Mr. Hurd takes Joseph and Jack out to tap trees for maple syrup. When Joseph mentions that... (full context)

...orders Jack to go into the barn. Jack goes in there and waits—until he hears Mr. Hurd yell, “No!” Jack runs into the kitchen and sees Mrs. Hurd standing with Joseph. Mr.... (full context)

...(Jupiter) and that “we needed a new truck.” Joseph tries to rush Mr. Brook, but Mr. Hurd grabs him. Joseph sobs. When he finally stops, Mr. Brook orders him into the truck.... (full context)

...with Mr. Brook but tells him to let Jack go. He walks out from behind Mr. Hurd . Mr. Brook takes the gun from Jack’s side. Joseph tugs Jack away from Mr.... (full context)

...which broke under the car. Two days later, the pickup is found in the river. Mr. Hurd goes, though he won’t let Jack accompany him. Mr. Hurd is the one to free... (full context)

...of First Congregational, Jack counts Mr. D’Ulney, Mr. Canton, Mrs. Halloway, a weeping Coach Swieteck, Mr. Hurd , Mrs. Hurd, the librarian, the Baptist pastor from near Lewiston, Mrs. Stroud, and three... (full context)

...out, and Jupiter, dark-haired and dark-eyed, smiles as she examines her surroundings. Jupiter looks at Mr. Hurd and Mrs. Hurd—her new parents. They kneel. Mrs. Stroud introduces Jack to Jupiter as her... (full context)

Mr. Hurd Character Analysis

Mr. Hurd Quotes in Orbiting Jupiter

Chapter 1 Quotes

Chapter 2 Quotes

Chapter 3 Quotes

Chapter 4 Quotes

Chapter 5 Quotes

Chapter 6 Quotes

Chapter 7 Quotes

Chapter 9 Quotes

Mr. Hurd Character Timeline in Orbiting Jupiter