Gooseberry: A Story of a Rescue Dog, a Nonbinary Kid, and Learning to Trust Again

Robin Gow’s Gooseberry is a moving middle-grade novel about a young nonbinary person searching for family and finding it with a sweet rescue dog.

A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year

A Booklist Editors' Choice Selection

***STARRED REVIEW*** "Both relatable and validating." ―Booklist

***STARRED REVIEW*** "A must-purchase realistic fiction title for all middle grade collections." ―School Library Journal

There’s a lot twelve-year-old B doesn’t know―like what their new name should be after coming out as nonbinary. Or what it would feel like to finally feel at home after moving around to different foster families for years. But there’s one thing B does know: they want to be a dog trainer when they grow up. And when they meet Gooseberry―a feisty stray dog who seems as wary of strangers as B does―B feels an instant connection. With Gooseberry, B could have everything they want: a family of their own, and a dog to train. And B’s newest foster parents agree to let B adopt him.

But training a dog isn’t as easy as B expected. Gooseberry is anxious and barely lets B pet him, let alone train him. Will Gooseberry ever feel at ease with B? And how can B teach Gooseberry to trust, when they know so little about trust themself?
 
Gooseberry is a heartwarming story by the acclaimed author of Dear Mothman about finding family, finding hope, and―most of all―finding and accepting yourself.

Also by Robin Gow

Dear Mothman

Saber-Tooth

Robin Gow is a poet, educator, and witch from rural Pennsylvania. It is a community educator on disability justice and LGBTQIA2+ issues and author of critically acclaimed books for children and young adults including Dear Mothman, Ode to My First Car, and A Million Quiet Revolutions. Fae lives with faer partner and their many lovely pets. Fae enjoys wandering in the woods and any kinds of arts and crafts.