
Gooseberry
Robin Gow(Author)
Amulet Paperbacks (Publisher)
Published on 5. February 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
312 pages
978-1-4197-6443-1 (ISBN)
Description
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
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
Reviews / Votes
***STARRED REVIEW***"Gow's latest middle-grade novel (Dear Mothman, 2023) continues delving into the intersection of transgender or nonbinary identities with autistic and ADHD neurodivergence, and while B thinks no one would be able to understand their brain, autistic readers especially will find much that is both relatable and validating." * Booklist * ***STARRED REVIEW***
"B's struggle to find home and acceptance will have readers rooting for them and Gooseberry the dog. A must-purchase realistic fiction title for all middle grade collections." * School Library Journal * "B's search for self-identity is artfully written..." * Publishers Weekly * "A sensitive exploration of autism, gender identity, and dog training." * Kirkus *
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
Abrams
Target group
Children/juvenile
Young adult
US School Grade: From Fifth Grade to Ninth Grade, Interest Age: From 10 to 14 years
Dimensions
Height: 200 mm
Width: 136 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Weight
262 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4197-6443-1 (9781419764431)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
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.