A National Book Award FinalistA Michael L. Printz Honor Book "Arguably one of the finest novels of the year."--
Booklist (starred review)
A resourceful teenager in rural Vermont struggles to hold on to the family home while his mom recovers from addiction in this striking debut novel.
Ian Gray isn't supposed to have a dog, but a lot of things that shouldn't happen end up happening anyway. And Gather, Ian's adopted pup, is good company now that Ian has to quit the basketball team, find a job, and take care of his mom as she tries to overcome her opioid addiction. Despite the obstacles thrown their way, Ian is determined to keep his family afloat no matter what it takes. And for a little while, things are looking up: Ian makes friends, and his fondness for the outdoors and for fixing things lands him work helping neighbors. But an unforeseen tragedy results in Ian and his dog taking off on the run, trying to evade a future that would mean leaving their house and their land. Even if the community comes together to help him, would Ian and Gather have a home to return to? Told in a wry, cautious first-person voice, Kenneth M. Cadow's resonant novel, a 2023 National Book Award Finalist, brings an emotional and ultimately hopeful story of one teen's resilience in the face of unthinkable hardships.
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Candlewick Press (MA)
Published: 09/03/2024
ISBN: 9781536239911
Pages: 336
Weight: 0.81lbs
Award: Michael L. Printz Award - Honor Book
Accelerated Reader Quiz #/Name: 522249 / Gather
Reading Level: 5.4 /
Interest Level: Upper Grade /
Point Value: 13
