Strays

"Strays is perfection." --Barbara O'Connor, New York Times-bestselling author of Wish

"Funny. Touching. Empowering." --Ellen Hopkins, New York Times-bestselling author of What About Will and Closer to Nowhere

A girl learns the true meaning of home after forming a life-changing relationship with a stray dog in this irresistibly endearing middle-grade novel, reminiscent of beloved and bestselling stories like Wish, Pax, and Because of Winn-Dixie.

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.

Gia Gordon's Strays is a beautifully written, heartfelt novel about friendship, family, and finding the courage to stand up for what's right, that will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to find a place to call home.

If you loved Strays, don't miss Gia Gordon's acclaimed middle-grade debut My So-Called Family.

Author: Gia Gordon
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Byr)
Published: 06/02/2026
Pages: 272
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.67lbs
Size: 7.92h x 5.39w x 1.03d
ISBN: 9780374393588
Audience: Ages 9-12


Review Citation(s):
Booklist 04/01/2026
Kirkus Reviews 04/01/2026
School Library Journal 04/01/2026 pg. 70
Publishers Weekly 03/30/2026

About the Author
Gia Gordon is a disabled author, youth activist, and thirty-year veteran educator who taught Spanish and ELD in northern California and helped establish the school's first conflict resolution program. She is a co-founder of the nonprofit Never Counted Out, which provides books to classrooms and community programs with limited access. Gia is also the author of the middle-grade novels My So-Called Family and Strays. Common themes in Gia's work include chosen and found family, hidden identities, and living one's truth. When she's not writing, Gia can be found thrifting or turning no-longer-wanted household goods into beautifully reimagined art.