Strays

Gordon (My So-Called Family) artfully balances weighty themes with gentle humor in this heartwarming story about a white-cued tween resolving to rescue a stray dog. While walking home from school, Campbell Cole witnesses a puppy being tossed from a moving van. The daughter of an animal control director, Campbell knows that many unclaimed strays are euthanized. With this in mind—and with help from her best friend Luz—she secretly saves the pup. As the besties work to help the frightened pooch, Campbell also struggles to navigate her fraught relationship with her father. Still reeling from the sudden death of her estranged mother, he remains emotionally distant, leaving Campbell resentful of both his job and his silence. She escapes the tension of home by spending time with Luz’s bustling, joyful family—though Campbell begins to sense that all is not well there either, as Luz’s father, recently returned from an extended military deployment, struggles to settle back into family life. Affable, accessible prose deftly addresses difficult realities surrounding peoples’ handling of unhoused animals and challenges faced by families coping with grief and mental health. It’s a compassionate narrative about responsibility, friendship, and empathy. Ages 8–12. Agent: Erin Murphy, Aevitas Creative Management. (June)