Strays

by Gia Gordon

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.

272 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication June 2, 2026

Reviews

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Campbell, a middle school student, sees a little dog being abandoned, and she and her best friend, Luz, find the dog and try to befriend it and feed it. Neither girl can take the dog home. Campbell’s father is the Head of Animal Control and will take it to the shelter where it will be euthanized after 3 days. Luz’s mother says she’s allergic to dogs. Campbell’s life is complicated because she lives alone with her dad who used to be a firefighter, but who suffered through a traumatic rescue in which one member of the family whose house was on fire died. Luz’s father also suffers from the trauma he experienced in the army; he was a career soldier for many years. Campbell’s father is remote and she feels disconnected from him and Luz’s family is in some disarray because her parents aren’t getting along. Both dads are at loose ends trying to overcome their own traumas but are definitely stuck. The dog isn’t the only stray in the story. The girls’ friendship is positive for the most part. When it hits a snag, Gordon does a nice job of showing how they worked through it and stayed connected. The dads eventually find out about the dog and work together to find a solution for finding it a home. In the process the two families join forces and everyone begins to get the support they need. Two concerns…Campbell’s dad is really adrift and she is practically raising herself when we meet her. Second concern is more of a question…Why didn’t Campbell’s dad adopt the stray dog since giving it a home would mean it wouldn’t have to be euthanized. Campbell clearly loved the dog. Thanks to Net Galley for this advance copy.

[Christine Sturman · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is a stray? Or maybe a better question might be - who is a stray? Stays can be animals without a forever home. But strays can also be people. People who have lost their way in life. They can be a veteran with PTSD. They can be a child who has lost a parent through an accident or illness. They can be a person who has had a traumatic like experience. No matter how one has become a stray, healing is needed. In Gia Gordon’s book, “Strays”, middle school students Campbell Cole and Luz Bernal find an abandoned puppy. Because Campbell’s father is the city’s Chief Animal Control Officer, the puppy needs to remain a secret. As Campbell and Luz try to figure out how to save the puppy, they also end up helping others, who could be considered strays, in their lives.

This book has the ability to help middle schoolers connect with some hard life questions and experiences. It does a good job of describing the feelings an older child might be experiencing and could facilitate some good conversations about feelings and life experiences. The stream of consciousness story line is a bit wordy for my tastes, but I can see how a 10-14 year old could relate to it. This book showed the girls finding workable, realistic solutions, a great example to inspire middle schoolers.

I want to thank the Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the complimentary eARC of this book and for selecting me to review it on NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

#Strays
#MacmillanChildrensPublishingGroup
#NetGalley

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a heartwarming story about trust, family, courage, and friendship. Campbell sees a dog tossed into the road and when she finds it it runs off. She can’t let her dad find him because as the animal control director he will take the dog, and if it’s not claimed the dog will be euthanized. Campbell tells her best friend, Luz, about the dog and they spend many days looking for the dog. They find him and feed him but he always runs off. Then one day the dog comes up to Campbell and climbs into her lap. She has to get home and tells the dog to stay but he follows her. Her dad wants to know about the dog and so Campbell lies and says it’s Luz’ dog. When they go to her house, Luz’ dad says it reminds him of a dog when he was stationed in the army. The dad calls Edie, who says this dog does look like that one near their base. Edie wants to meet the dog. Campbell wants to now start a club to help animals.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Savvy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: This review was written by an 8-year-old reader.

Strays by Gia Gordon is a heartwarming and inspiring story.
This book is about a girl who sees a dog get dumped on the street and decides to help him. While trying to rescue the dog, she also has to deal with family, friends, school, and Animal Control. My favorite part of the book is when she rescues the dog and he finds a new home.
I loved how caring and brave the main character was. This story made me feel happy and hopeful, and it showed how helping animals can make a big difference. It also reminded me of my dog Peyton. She was a stray too, until my mom rescued her and adopted her.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves dogs and emotional stories. Perfect for ages 8–12. I really enjoyed it!

Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan Children's Publishing Group for this advanced copy.

[Chelsea Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartwarming story with a few missed opportunities. This is a lovely, heartfelt middle-grade novel about what it means to find family in the most unexpected places. The narrative does an excellent job of reminding readers that family isn't always about blood relatives but the people- and animals- we choose to love.

The characters are a genuine highlight of this book. The way the relationship between Campbell and the dog develops is the emotional core of the story, and it's a truly touching journey to witness.

The pacing felt a little uneven at times. Some of the subplots and character relationships could have been explored more.

Overall a great read!

Appreciate the opportunity by NetGalley to review!

[Alexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given the opportunity to read an ARC of Gia Gordon’s new novel, “Stray,” which comes out in June 2026. It follows the story of Campbell who witnesses a dog get dumped on her home from school one day. It is a story of love and acceptance and the sad truth that a lot of animals go through.

As someone who has experienced finding stray animals growing up this story hit close to home and I found it would be perfect for the younger generation(probably middle school or late elementary age). It deals with single parenthood, ptsd, friendship, emotional abandonment and more. I rated it five stars and can’t wait for a chance to read more by Gia Gordon in the future!

[Jasmine Shouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

I read this with my 8-year-old, and we enjoyed the experience. I was expecting a lighthearted story about rescuing a dog, but this one digs a little deeper into emotional abandonment and veteran experiences. As a veteran, I really loved Mr. Bernal's whole subplot. The heavy tone you endure the majority of the story comes with a beautiful payoff with the end.

While this story dealt with some tough topics, I think it's a good one for middle schoolers and advanced elementary schoolers.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.

[Claire Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ebook ARC provided by Netgalley!
This was such a heartwarming story! it had even more depth than I was expecting in the best way. I loved Campbell and Luz’s friendship, and how they knew each other so well. I loved Campbell’s determination in rescuing this little dog. I loved how she wanted to help on even bigger scale too. The ending was very satisfying to me and I liked getting to see Luz’s dad’s growth throughout this book and kind of how he handled coming home and getting to see more of the veterans family dynamics.