Gather

Gather is a powerful and poignant debut novel for young adults, following Ian Gray, a resourceful teenager in rural Vermont. Ian's life is upended when his mother struggles with opioid addiction, forcing him to take on adult responsibilities like finding a job and caring for her. With his loyal dog, Gather, by his side, Ian is determined to keep his family afloat and hold onto their home. An unforeseen tragedy leads Ian and Gather to go on the run, trying to evade a future that would mean losing everything. This ultimately hopeful story explores themes of resilience, family love, community support, and the harsh realities of addiction, offering a deeply emotional and immersive reading experience for ages 12 and up.

Winner of The Kirkus Prize A 2023 National Book Award Finalist A Michael L. Printz Honor Book 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 that meanders like a dog circling to be sure it’s safe to lie down, Kenneth M. Cadow’s resonant debut brings an emotional and ultimately hopeful story of one teen’s resilience in the face of unthinkable hardships.