GatherReview posted July 26, 2024
Candlewick Press, 2023. 325 pages.
Review written June 26, 2024, from a library book.
2023 National Book Award Finalist
2024 Printz Honor Book
2024 Capitol Choices Selection
Starred Review
I finally got this book read a few days before I get to go to the Printz Award Ceremony and get to hear the author give his speech. I only wish I'd gotten around to it sooner.
In many ways this book reminded me of Demon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver, as it is also about a poor kid living in rural America with a lot going against him. This book features a giant, lovable dog -- a dog named Gather. Here's how Ian, the sixteen-year-old narrator, explains his name:
I thought I'd name him Hunter at first, since he knew how to take care of himself. But since he was eating mostly vegetables he found on his own, well, that's how I came to name him Gather.
Everyone who sees Gather offers up speculation as to what breed he might be, and it gets to be comical how few suggest the same thing. Gather's a lovable dog who stays with Ian through everything.
The book opens in November with Ian's mother's friend bringing her back from the hospital. His mom has had trouble with drugs ever since she hurt her back and lost her job at the nursing home. Ian's family has lived on this land for hundreds of years, and he used to go over it all with his Gramps. But Gram left after Gramps died, and then his dad left, and now it's just Ian and his mother, who doesn't have as much connection to the land as Ian does.
As they figure out ways to keep going, we learn that Ian can fix just about anything mechanical and has all kinds of savvy about things that aren't taught in school. He goes to school, but has to drop off the basketball team to try to find a job. And while Ian goes around with Gather, helping people out, making money here and there, we learn about Ian and about his rural community. And when trouble comes, we understand how they all come together to help Ian, and we understand his heart.
Ian - whose name is short for Dorian Gray Henry - is one of those kids in literature that I just want to give a big hug. You come to appreciate what a great kid he is, but also how much is stacked against him. Reading this book, and spending time with Ian and Gather, is a treat.