STRAYS

When a girl sees someone dump a puppy from a van, she makes it her mission to save the little dog, who runs away before she can catch it.

The pup’s situation hits hard for sixth grader Campbell Cole, who feels abandoned by her mother; she lives with her dad, a former firefighter and current director of animal control, who has to euthanize more animals than either of them would like. Campbell believes her best friend, Luz, has a perfect life—“Two parents. Two sisters. Two-story house. Zero drama”—but she starts to see the cracks in the Bernal family, who are cued Latine. Both families have a no-pets policy, but white-presenting Campbell works to earn the trust of Tater Tot, as she names the stray, hoping to lure him in using food and love. She also turns to the school librarian for help finding solutions that will prevent the puppy from being taken to the shelter and euthanized. Gordon writes with deep empathy for each character, and as Campbell recognizes “the way two people can experience the same thing but see it so differently,” she develops greater compassion for the relationship struggles of her parents, Luz’s parents, and even herself and Luz. When Campbell and Luz eventually do catch Tater Tot, the pup becomes a catalyst for honest, open conversations within and between their families; what’s hard doesn’t become easy, but there’s more hope.

An insightful, well-characterized exploration of love and trust.