Strays
Written by Gia Gordon
Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
Campbell Cole has a big heart for all living things, especially strays. It might be because her father, the director of the local animal control, is as aloof as they come, so Campbell knows what it’s like to feel alone.
When she spots an adorable dog being dumped on the street, the last thing Campbell can do is tell her dad. He might take the pup straight to the shelter, where new rescues have just three days to be adopted. The only person she can trust with the truth is her best friend, Luz.
The more time Campbell spends trying to catch the dog, the more he starts to trust her, which is both great and terrible because Campbell knows she can’t keep him. But perhaps she doesn’t have to. With the help of Luz’s father, an army vet grappling with PTSD, she just may find a solution that benefits not only the dog, but everyone else, too.
Primary ISBN: 9780374393588
Publication Date: June 2026
Available As: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook
Middle Grade, Age 08 or older
Community Represented: Unspecified (Hispanic/Latinx/Latine)
Themes: Animals, Cross-Group Friendship, Family Relationship: Parents, Mental Health, Trauma & Healing
Setting: United States
Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Unknown Arrival
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