Saber-Tooth: A Novel in Verse

by Robin Gow

From Robin Gow, the award-winning author of Dear Mothman, comes a gripping middle-grade novel in verse about a boy who digs up and loses control of a saber-toothed tiger
 
Jasper’s favorite person is his older brother, Callan. They go on fossil-finding missions and stay up late while their parents work nights. Callan even helped Jasper pick out his new name when he came out as trans.
 
But Callan starts to grow distant and leaves for college without taking Jasper on a promised fossil dig. Jasper feels abandoned—and angry. Who needs Callan? He will dig by himself, in his backyard. As he digs, he hears a the bones of a saber-toothed tiger. He’s buried deep, and he wants Jasper to DIG.
 
Jasper is sure a discovery like this could change the world, or at least get Callan to text him back. But as the saber-toothed tiger finds freedom, Jasper realizes he may have unleashed a monster that no one was ready for, and that anger can empower you—or destroy you.

Genres: Middle Grade, Queer, Transgender, Fiction

328 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication January 27, 2026

About the author

Gow grew up in rural Pennsylvania and lives in Allentown Pennsylvania with their two pugs, Eddie and Gertie and their queer family. He works at Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center coordinating supportive services for the local LGBTQIA+ community.

Awarded the Jerry Cain and Scott James Creative Writing Fellow, Gow earned their MFA in Creative Writing from Adelphi University where they also taught writing courses as an adjunct professor.

Gow runs the trans & queer reading series Gender Reveal Party and co-edits the new magazine The Comments Section.

Robin is the author of the chapbook Honeysuckle by Finishing Line Press and the collection Our Lady of Perpetual Degeneracy by Tolsun Books.

Their first YA novel in verse, A Million Quiet Revolutions, is forthcoming March 2022 with FSG Books for Young readers and their first essay collection, Blue Blood, is forthcoming with Nasiona Publishing House.

They is a managing editor The Nasiona and the assistant editor at large at Doubleback Books. They served for four years as the production editor of the Lantern literary magazine and are Social Media Coordinator for Oyster River Pages. They has also worked to help produce several zines and taught creative writing workshops in a variety of community spaces, including online forms.

They are an out and proud autistic bisexual genderqueer man passionate about LGBTQIAA+ issues.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first novel in verse. I thought it was an interesting way to tell a story. It felt like the days were more connected than in a novel. This middle-grade story explored: being trans, being autistic, recognizing the friends that were there all along, processing the change of an older sibling going to college, and navigating school. If I had read this when I was the target age for this book, then it would have been more impactful. However, I still learned some valuable lessons from this book. I was incredibly frustrated with the adults in this book not doing more to understand what Jasper was going through. I know many kids can relate to those feelings. I understand that Jasper's parents work demanding jobs at night. I would recommend this book! It's always good to diversify your reads.

The audiobook was enjoyable. I know I would have had difficulty reading a book like this. I truly appreciate JJ Hawkins narrating this book. They did an excellent job of bringing this book to life. I would highly recommend!

Rep: Trans, Nonbinary, Autism, Vietnamese side character, Mixed-Race side character

Thank you to NetGalley, Robin Gow, and Dreamscape Media for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Saber-Tooth’ follows Jasper, an autistic trans kid, after his brother and best friend, Callan, moves away for college. Jasper, being somewhat neglected by his parents and never being taken on the promised fossil dig with Callan before he moved away, festers in his anger at being abandoned. He starts his own dig in the backyard, but something in the backyard also really wants Jasper to dig.

Jasper was a particularly likeable character for me (as a younger sibling being kinda left behind by my older siblings). I loved seeing his growth in realising there was other people that wanted to be there for him that at the beginning he hadn’t even really considered as being his friend. Seeing him work through his emotions and build his own found family was delightful.

The poem ‘Time to Wait’ in particular stood out to me, it really felt like to culmination of everything Jasper has been feeling before starting to work through his anger.

I haven’t read too many verse novels but Robin Gow continues to blow me away with its works. I’ve only read this and ‘Dear Mothman’ but I’m eager to get my hands on some of faes other works. Gow plays around a lot with formatting in this book which didn’t fully come across while reading on my phone but I’m excited to see the full effectiveness of it in the finished copy.

Thank you ABRAMS and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Gareth Jones-Jenkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

ummmm........

[K.C. Norton · Rating 4 out of 5]

From a perspective of personal enjoyment, this was closer to a 3 for me. I found that the last third of this book made little internal sense. Why fire? Sure, there's a band-aid explanation, but it seems like an afterthought and doesn't really fit in with some aspects of the story. I wish that there had been a stronger link because the events at the end and Jasper's thoughts/mood throughout the novel. It felt halfway there but ultimately got messy and fell apart, IMO.

All that said, I know SO MANY kids (and adults!!!) who are taught that anger is shameful and bad and that we can never ever talk about it because to even acknowledge its role in our lives would be dangerous, somehow. I appreciated that this book addressed anger head-on, and that in the end, the physical manifestation of Jasper's anger doesn't get buried. It remains out in the open. People come to look at it. It likes on.

I still have a lot of frustrations about how much further Gow could have developed and pushed the analogy, but I suspect that most readers of the target age aren't going to be complaining about cohesive metaphor, whereas they are likely to pick up what Gow's putting down about our relationship to anger and our fear of change.

As far as the in-verse element, I don't think Gow generally uses verse to evoke poetic imagery so much as to put us in the narrator's stream-of-consciousness. That's as true here as in any previous books, and for kids who struggle with reading prose (either for ADHD or reading comprehension reasons, or what have you), this format can invite them in and leave room to think or imagine to fill in the blanks.

I found the first 2/3rds of this to be intense and stressful because I didn't know what was real, and it was kind of exciting to find out that, yes, some wild stuff really is happening and it's not just an intense Calvin & Hobbes meets faltering mental health situation.

Rep-wise, Jasper's trans, but the book doesn't center on this theme. His autistic tendencies, anger, and discomfort with change are the primary focus of the novel. I think a lot of kids will find the portrayal of those elements relatable regardless of any personal diagnosis they may or may not have.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Sacha · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Robin Gow comes through with the most inventive approaches to serious issues and consistently manages to appropriately message to middle grade and young adult audiences in a way that is palatable, engaging, and informative without ever feeling didactic. This most recent effort is another excellent example of Gow's magic and specific approach.

Jasper is going through a tough time. When his older brother invites him to a fun outing, Jasper is immediately offended because he figures out quickly that the outing wasn't really about spending time together or enjoying delicious donuts; it was just an opportunity for Callan to break his heart. Now it's easy to want to get on Jasper's side instantly, but the challenge is that Callan is an awesome brother, and Callan's great offense is only harmful in Jasper's mind. After all, Callan deserves to go off to college and build his own life. Jasper's response to this news is very, very bad, and compounded with a number of other challenges, that buried anger becomes dangerous. In this case, it becomes exactly what the cover of this book suggests: a somehow sentient saber-toothed tiger fossil. I know, I know. I was also skeptical, but only for a sec because I've read a lot of Gow, so I also knew to have faith.

Gow does verse well, and verse WORKS well for the motifs here. The pressure builds, the dig takes time, and the erruptions? Well, they're memorable. The structural choices reinforce the messaging clearly and add to the experience.

Though there is a lot of darkness to investigate, there is a clear core of hope, and that makes this read even more powerful. This is another winner from Gow, and I'm already looking forward to the next.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Amulet Books for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Laura Byrd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you ABRAMS Kids and Net Galley for a chance to read an early copy of this book.

As I was reading Saber-Tooth by Robin Gow, one thought continued to pop into my head over and over again: this is such an important book to get into the hands of kids.

Saber-Tooth offers an inside look into the thought world of Jasper, a transgender, autistic 8th grader who’s struggling with some big changes in his life. The most frustrating one is that his older brother, Callen, whom Jasper depends on to navigate the world around him, left to go to college. With Callan gone, Jasper is lonely, afraid, and angry that he has been abandoned by the person he trusted the most.

One day, Jasper finds himself conversing with the skeleton of a Saber-toothed tiger who says he is buried in the back yard. He just needs Jasper to dig him up and they can be companions forever. At first, Jasper feels as though the tiger is the only one who truly understands him. He is determined to dig up the bones to find a true friend. But, things aren’t entirely as they seem, and to keep those he loves the most safe, Jasper will have to face his biggest fears and deepest anger.

I was honestly skeptical when I started reading this book and couldn’t remember why I requested an ARC. However, it didn’t take long for me to see how important this story truly is. Jasper’s internal thoughts are raw, and I imagine, quite relatable for many kids. I wouldn’t recommend this book for particularly sensitive kids, but for children struggling with navigating being different, feeling alone, anger, loss, or difficult changes, Saber-Tooth could be the balm their weary souls need.

I don’t think every child will connect with this story, but for those who do, it will be a book they won’t soon forget.

Autistic and transgender representation
Themes: Friendship, anger, loss, and navigating changes
Novel in Verse

[ech0reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for giving me an ARC.

This was a really unique little read. I liked the use of the format to emphasise certain parts of the prose and show the intensity of emotion that Jasper is feeling. It was really well done and added a lot to both the narrative and characterisation.

Jasper was such a sweetheart. His character was so close to my own experience as a young person that I instantly liked him. I felt sorry for him that he'd been left behind by his brother. Although at the end of the book, we saw how many people came to help him. It was such a sweet and wholesome moment considering at the beginning of the novel, Jasper wasn't even sure if he had any friends.

Yarrow and their mum were really great characters. I loved the aspect of both Yarrow and Jasper struggling to find where they fit in and gravitating towards each other. I really liked Parker as well. Together, the three of them had a great dynamic.

Maybe as an adult I'm missing something, but it seemed like the Saber-tooth was responsible for setting the fires across the town, but it's a fossil. So maybe I cannot suspend my disbelief like a young person would be able to.

Overall, a really cool read.

[Jenn Naughton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saber-Tooth: A Novel in Verse by Robin Gow is a compelling middle-grade novel that tells the story of Jasper, a trans boy who feels abandoned by his older brother, Callan. In his backyard, Jasper unearths a saber-toothed tiger's bones, which begin to communicate with him, urging him to dig. As Jasper embarks on a journey of self-discovery and connection, he learns to process complex emotions and confront the loneliness that comes with feeling left behind.
This powerful novel, written in verse, addresses themes of identity, family, and belonging through the eyes of a young, autistic trans boy. The story unfolds in a captivating way, blending elements of magical realism with real-world struggles. Gow's masterful use of language and pacing creates a vivid and emotional reading experience.
Saber-Tooth is a celebration of difference and an exploration of the power of community, showcasing the importance of acceptance and understanding. This moving and memorable tale will resonate with readers of all ages, making it a must-read for anyone seeking stories that highlight diverse experiences and promote empathy.

[PJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the subtitle calls this a novel in verse, to me it read like a regular novel with line breaks in odd spots. It did at times remind me of "The Tyger" poem by William Blake.

I found this book highly relatable. Jasper has difficulty identifying why he feels the way he does and knowing how to express his emotions.

While the synopsis is what got me to request the ARC through NetGalley, I was happily surprised to read that Jasper is an Autistic character written by an Autistic author! I also appreciate all of the LGBTQIA+ representation.

I'm not sure if it was intentional or not but I had a hard time knowing whether the saber-tooth was supposed to be real or an imaginary hallucination.

This was an emotional and suspenseful read.

[Valerie Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kept going back and forth on how I felt about this because the beginning dragged on foreverrrr and then the ending was resolved so easily, however the characters were great with Jasper perfectly portraying all the different emotions that stem from anxiety to Parker who has a similar life as Jasper, but handles it in a more distanced way to Jesse who also shared the same experiences but handled them in a warm way. I thought the metaphor of the saber-tooth was great, but maybe a bit too on the nose, but this could be a good story for younger readers encountering a lot of emotions due to change

[Critter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an audio ARC.

This was a well written book with an excellent narrator. I did feel the narrator aided in the main character's characterization. I really liked the themes in this one and how the characters are written. This delves into feeling lonely and feelings of being alone in experiences. I loved the main character and directness of experiences related to autism and transness for a younger audience. This book is great for trying to show that you're not alone even when you feel that way and others can help. It also shows a good story about anger getting out of hand. Overall I really liked this book.

[Briana Gagnon · Rating 5 out of 5]

jasper my sweet child 🥺