Gather by Kenneth M. Cadow

A 2023 National Book Award Finalist!

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 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.

My Verdict

This was not your typical YA read. The characters were compelling and they all had depth. The book is a first person account of a year in Ian's (Dorian Grey) life. Any of us would feel fortunate to simply survive such a year. As Ian works through everything, he gains a true sense of community and friendship. He begins to realize his own value not only to himself but to those who surround him.

The author created a setting that I pictured as Anytown, America. It could be any small town with it's cast of characters. I especially enjoyed Ian's history teacher, who we know as "The Sharpe" who clearly illustrates the fact that caring teachers CAN make a huge difference.Each character is uniquely important to the plot, though. The relationships are heart-tugging and heartbreaking, including Ian and his dog Gather, Ian and his mom, his absent dad, his ever-present-though-deceased Grandpa, his teachers, (especially The Sharpe) and community folks, both adults and kids.

Cadow writes as if Ian is sitting across the blue kitchen table telling you his story. Nothing is linear, there are side stories and backtracking, but you get the full story in the end. This is a good thing, by the way. It gives the story that small town character. I give this book 4.5 stars.