Strays

Strays tells the poignant story of sixteen-year-old Ted O'Connor, whose life is upended when his parents die in a car crash. Placed with "semi-psycho" foster parents and two foster brothers, Astin and C.W., Ted also navigates a challenging inner-city high school. Initially convinced his life is miserable, Ted slowly begins to form unexpected human connections, drawing on his innate link to animals. This novel explores themes of grief, resilience, and finding family in unexpected places, offering a smart and surprising look at overcoming loss and building a new identity. It's suitable for ages 12 and up, providing a hopeful perspective on difficult circumstances.

Could life as a foster kid lead to unexpected benefits? A teenager’s link to animals gives way to human connection in a smart, incisive new novel. (Age 14 and up) Sixteen-year-old Ted O’Connor’s parents just died in a fiery car crash, and now he’s stuck with a set of semi-psycho foster parents, two foster brothers -- Astin, the cocky gearhead, and C.W., the sometimes gangsta -- and an inner-city high school full of delinquents. He’s having pretty much the worst year of his miserable life. Or so he thinks. Is it possible that becoming an orphan is not the worst thing that could have happened to him? Drawing on his trademark wit and sharp insight, master novelist Ron Koertge takes the lead with this smart, surprising story about a boy learning to run with a new pack.