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Strays Like Us
From the moment Fred (never Winifred!) spots a scruffy little mutt with sad eyes, she knows she's in big trouble. Toby's in bad shape, and Fred longs to rescue him from the old man with the mile-long mean streak who lives next door. But Margery—the straight-talking woman who is fostering Fred—says going over to their house is against the rules.
And since Fred will only be around until her mother comes to grips with her dependence, Fred can't let herself care too deeply. Not about Toby or Margery or Delia, a new classmate whose insistent friendship surprises Fred at every turn. Because the more Fred lets this loveable band of misfits into her heart, the harder it'll be to leave them all behind.
In this story of loss and love, acclaimed author Cecilia Galante examines life's difficult choices and how a girl plus the dog she loves can add up to finding family in the most unlikely places.
And since Fred will only be around until her mother comes to grips with her dependence, Fred can't let herself care too deeply. Not about Toby or Margery or Delia, a new classmate whose insistent friendship surprises Fred at every turn. Because the more Fred lets this loveable band of misfits into her heart, the harder it'll be to leave them all behind.
In this story of loss and love, acclaimed author Cecilia Galante examines life's difficult choices and how a girl plus the dog she loves can add up to finding family in the most unlikely places.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published June 26, 2018
91 people are currently reading
1006 people want to read
About the author
Cecilia Galante
23 books170 followersCecilia Galante is the author of several middle grade, young adult and adult novels. She also teaches 8th grade English at Wyoming Seminary Prep School, and teaches creative writing in the MFA program at Wilkes University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
July 7, 2021
This book deals with some hard, heavy stuff, but it does it really well. Cecilia Galante wrote this book for those who are struggling with really heavy stuff, to remind them that it is okay to ask for help and to allow others to help you. There are so many other inspiring messages weaved into this story that I think we can all use a reminder of.
As the story goes along we learn the background behind each of the characters. All the main characters are very well rounded, with such interesting stories that had similarities to Fred's story, but were still unique and different. This allows more readers to connect with the characters, and notice how even though we all have a different story, we all have similar struggles. Another good reminder.
It had always been Fred and her mom, just the two of them. Even without any heat and water in their Philadelphia apartment, or food in their kitchen, they had each other, which was all they really needed anyway, as Fred would always point out. Until one day they didn't. After an incident at her work Fred's mom goes to jail and suddenly Fred finds herself moving in with Margery, her new foster mom.
Margery lives beside a man she considers "the meanest man on God's green earth," John Carder. He owns a dog named Toby who he never brings inside, even in the winter, leaves chained up all the time, and never gives any attention to, except to throw things in the dog's direction to get him to shut up. Fred is drawn to Toby, who's pitiful barks, howls and whines she can't ignore. Reading about this animal abuse that Margery can't do anything about, and that the ASPCA either won't or can't do anything about, was really hard. It doesn't last the whole book though.
As much as Fred doesn't want to like this new place, and doesn't want to stay, people (and a certain dog) keep making that extremely difficult. She accidentally makes a new friend, Delia, the school loner, who is so excited to meet her and be friends that she won't leave Fred alone. Delia is always asking questions, and unintentionally bringing up painful memories and worries for Fred.
I really liked Delia, and really felt for her situation, when that explanation came along. I also really liked her friendship with Fred, even though it takes them awhile to figure it out. People really do have a way of coming into our lives right when we need them.
Margery is another really interesting character. She's a great cook and a loves to build things out of junk. The things she makes are really cool, especially the metal chairs on the backs of which she created forest inspired designs. She gets Fred into it too, as something for Fred to channel her anger into creating something, which is honestly such a good idea. Plus, reusing things is always a good thing. As the saying goes, "One man's trash is another man's treasure."
This is a beautifully crafted story, with some sad but always inspiring parts. Toby is the one who kind of keeps this little group together - Fred, Margery and Delia. They all work together to heal each other, and help each other be braver and better people.
As the story goes along we learn the background behind each of the characters. All the main characters are very well rounded, with such interesting stories that had similarities to Fred's story, but were still unique and different. This allows more readers to connect with the characters, and notice how even though we all have a different story, we all have similar struggles. Another good reminder.
It had always been Fred and her mom, just the two of them. Even without any heat and water in their Philadelphia apartment, or food in their kitchen, they had each other, which was all they really needed anyway, as Fred would always point out. Until one day they didn't. After an incident at her work Fred's mom goes to jail and suddenly Fred finds herself moving in with Margery, her new foster mom.
Margery lives beside a man she considers "the meanest man on God's green earth," John Carder. He owns a dog named Toby who he never brings inside, even in the winter, leaves chained up all the time, and never gives any attention to, except to throw things in the dog's direction to get him to shut up. Fred is drawn to Toby, who's pitiful barks, howls and whines she can't ignore. Reading about this animal abuse that Margery can't do anything about, and that the ASPCA either won't or can't do anything about, was really hard. It doesn't last the whole book though.
As much as Fred doesn't want to like this new place, and doesn't want to stay, people (and a certain dog) keep making that extremely difficult. She accidentally makes a new friend, Delia, the school loner, who is so excited to meet her and be friends that she won't leave Fred alone. Delia is always asking questions, and unintentionally bringing up painful memories and worries for Fred.
I really liked Delia, and really felt for her situation, when that explanation came along. I also really liked her friendship with Fred, even though it takes them awhile to figure it out. People really do have a way of coming into our lives right when we need them.
Margery is another really interesting character. She's a great cook and a loves to build things out of junk. The things she makes are really cool, especially the metal chairs on the backs of which she created forest inspired designs. She gets Fred into it too, as something for Fred to channel her anger into creating something, which is honestly such a good idea. Plus, reusing things is always a good thing. As the saying goes, "One man's trash is another man's treasure."
This is a beautifully crafted story, with some sad but always inspiring parts. Toby is the one who kind of keeps this little group together - Fred, Margery and Delia. They all work together to heal each other, and help each other be braver and better people.
"'Easy for you, maybe. I hate fractions.'
'I hate them, too... But I'm still good at them. You just have to find the problem's common denominator. The trick is to look for what you have, not what you don't.'
It occurred to me that while Delia was talking about numbers, she could have been just as easily talking about people. Would it make things any easier if I tried to focus on the things I did have right now - Margery, Toby, Delia - instead of all the things I didn't? It sounded easy but I knew it wouldn't be. Still it was worth a shot. Because while I sort of hated to admit it, Delia's law of subtraction actually made a lot of sense."
January 16, 2019
This book was amazing. It took my breath away. There were sad and unexpected parts but overall it was an excellent book and I definitely would recommend it to anyone who likes to read adventurous books.
July 27, 2022
The truth is always the best option. But sometimes it’s not always the easiest. There’s been multiple times where I’ve lied about injuries or other problems, just so I could stay in the game. But then I realize nothing’s going to get better until I tell the truth. Nothing will change until you stop living your lie and start living your truth. I love this book so much because of all the hard stories it shows, and how Fred was able to pull through it all; and tell the truth, even though it was so hard for her.💖💚
January 11, 2019
This month's MoDa book club pick. A wholly predictable book in the YA-equivalent of chic lit. BUT, it included some great messages (the trick for math problems: "look for what you do have, now what you don't) and addressed some tough topics, so I still enjoyed it and think it's got a lot of value for kids.
January 11, 2019
Mother-Daughter book club pick, so my rating is for younger age group. It's a sweet and easy read with good messages that would apply to a lot of kids in different situations. Great characters for middle school readers.
November 23, 2020
I loved this book. It was heartwarming.
September 11, 2018
I loved this book! It made me smile and cry and swoon and have all the feels. Such a well written book and a story and plot line that will just touch your heart in every way possible! I absolutely recommend this book!
November 11, 2018
I read this book to provide a review and received my copy from SWON Libraries Consortium.
I don’t normally like middle school books, but this one was pretty good — lots of tough issues that kids deal with, strong protagonist, believable characters, solid writing!
I don’t normally like middle school books, but this one was pretty good — lots of tough issues that kids deal with, strong protagonist, believable characters, solid writing!
December 16, 2019
I really enjoyed this book, i felt connected to the situation. I recommend reading it if you're around 13 or older so you understand the book. Definitely a 5 star rating, very well deserved. I say try it out.
August 15, 2025
Okay uhm I am absolutely in awe of Cecelia Galante's skill in writing internal dialogue and show-don't tell....like, it was almost surreal 🤩
Also it was such a beautiful story too like- I love Fred and Margery smmm T-T
Also it was such a beautiful story too like- I love Fred and Margery smmm T-T
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December 9, 2020 Reflecting the work of Cecillia Galante, Strays Like Us is an action packed novel that will leave you begging for more. Cecillia’s novel takes place in present day Philadelphia in the city but very quickly things take a turn and Fred ends up in the country via motorcycle with some lady she has never met whose name is supposebly Margery.
The novel begins with meeting Fred, whose full name is Winifred but has always gone by Fred. We see Fred getting onto a motorcycle and driving to the country with some lady she just met named Margery. After being taken to her house, Fred eats food, and takes a nice warm bath ,which she hasn't done in ages, and is introduced to the home. Fred is still very confused where and why she is at this woman's house. The only thing she knew was the workers at the children's department told Fred her mom was being arrested because she was being accused of stealing pills from the pharmacy that she works at. When Fred heard the news she could not believe that her dear mother would ever do something like that. Fred immediately wanted to try to do something to stop what was happening to her mom. She lived in an old apartment with just her mother. The cabinets in the kitchen were always barren. And her mother could not afford to pay for the heat to be turned back on.
While Fred is staying with Margery, she finds out the old, angry, grumbling man next door, Mr. Crader, keeps a dog, named Toby, outside and rarely ever brings it inside. Margery explained to Fred that she had never seen the dog go inside the house ever in the midst of the deep summer heat or the freezing cold winters. The only thing Toby had was a shed because someone called the pet department and reported Mr. Crader for abusing the dog.(7) Mr. Crader yells”Get out of there, You go home and mind your own business!). Fred thought that was so wrong so every night she would take any leftover food from the fridge and feed it to the poor starving dog. Fred got in lots of trouble for wasting Margery's food, but Fred thought it was the right thing to do. Fred wanted other people to not have to suffer like she did.
Fred had a big heart for people and also wanted to believe her mom about not taking pills but she kept finding empty bottles. Fred had a huge spot in her heart because of Toby, she wanted others to be cared for because sometimes she wasn't.
The novel begins with meeting Fred, whose full name is Winifred but has always gone by Fred. We see Fred getting onto a motorcycle and driving to the country with some lady she just met named Margery. After being taken to her house, Fred eats food, and takes a nice warm bath ,which she hasn't done in ages, and is introduced to the home. Fred is still very confused where and why she is at this woman's house. The only thing she knew was the workers at the children's department told Fred her mom was being arrested because she was being accused of stealing pills from the pharmacy that she works at. When Fred heard the news she could not believe that her dear mother would ever do something like that. Fred immediately wanted to try to do something to stop what was happening to her mom. She lived in an old apartment with just her mother. The cabinets in the kitchen were always barren. And her mother could not afford to pay for the heat to be turned back on.
While Fred is staying with Margery, she finds out the old, angry, grumbling man next door, Mr. Crader, keeps a dog, named Toby, outside and rarely ever brings it inside. Margery explained to Fred that she had never seen the dog go inside the house ever in the midst of the deep summer heat or the freezing cold winters. The only thing Toby had was a shed because someone called the pet department and reported Mr. Crader for abusing the dog.(7) Mr. Crader yells”Get out of there, You go home and mind your own business!). Fred thought that was so wrong so every night she would take any leftover food from the fridge and feed it to the poor starving dog. Fred got in lots of trouble for wasting Margery's food, but Fred thought it was the right thing to do. Fred wanted other people to not have to suffer like she did.
Fred had a big heart for people and also wanted to believe her mom about not taking pills but she kept finding empty bottles. Fred had a huge spot in her heart because of Toby, she wanted others to be cared for because sometimes she wasn't.
June 25, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. There is something about a good story that deals with raw emotions, and has a loving, quirky dog that gets me every time. It’s a perfect read for a kid that just doesn’t feel like she fits in and how being honest, even in the hardest of cases, can heal a broken heart.
October 8, 2018
An excellent read for all! I could not put down this book! If it wasn't a school night I probably would have read waaaay past my bedtime to finish. Could be used as a read aloud too.
May 1, 2019
A good YA read with some great relatable life experiences.
July 31, 2020
This book took my breath away. It is beautiful and sad at the same time, and Fred never failed to surprise me.
February 2, 2023
I loved this YA book. Cecilia Galante is now one of my favorite authors.
November 14, 2018
this is a good book but its amazing that strays like us has better words than like said and then because when i.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2021
Recommended by a student. <3
October 10, 2020
A story between a girl, losing something that is so important in her life but finding a new passion, and new love, that will guide her the rest of the way. In the book, Strays Like Us, the author Cecilia Galante, expresses the pain that a young girl named Fred Fred experiences when her mother goes to jail. She was an only child so this change was huge on her, she had to learn to adapt to new situations, and learn how to adapt to a completely new lifestyle. Throughout her journey, she makes amazing memories and creates the strongest bond she has ever had with her and her dog. This book explains the many ups and downs that life throws at us, and how we learn to accept these changes and use them to grow.
This book made me wish that Fred Fred didn’t have to go through such a traumatic stage. I think it’s difficult to deal with this type of stuff when it comes to a family member that you love very deeply. I feel bad for all the trauma that she experienced throughout the past year trying to figure out how to take care of her mom, and once her mom went to jail figuring out how to get her out of jail. Fred Fred took care of the whole family, and she kept everything intact all the time, and when this happened to her mom just added additional pressure on to her. This book made me wish that Fred Fred hadn't gone through everything that she did, and that she didn’t have to experience all the pain because of her mother's actions. Fred Fred had so much responsibility riding on her shoulders at all times, but once she moved to Margery’s she felt a sense of relief around her, not a weight dragging her down everyday. Traumatic events can scar you for life, but Fred Fred didn’t let this stop her from living her life to the fullest. She has grown from everything that has happened to her in the past, and has proved to not just herself, but everyone around her that she is stronger than ever, and proud of the battle that she fought through.
This book made me realize that I shouldn’t take my family members for granted. Life is unexpected and it throws changes at you all the time. Although its impossible to be ready for anything, we have to learn to accept these changes in our lives. Fred Fred had such a close relationship with her mom, so this happening to her was such a large change in Fred Fred’s life, but throughout the situation she learned to become more independent, and learned to find a love for many other things around her. It made me realize that even though I go through hardships everyday, I should still be greatful for what is around me, and the family members that I have to support me. This made me realize how lucky I am to have a strong support system around me at all times, I rely on my family for everything, and I don’t know what I would do without them. Every day that I struggle or go through something tough, I just have to remind myself that the fight is always worth the battle, meaning that fighting as hard as I can and pushing through tough times will only benefit me in the long run.
This book made me wonder about the challenges that I've gone through throughout my life. I've never been through such a large change that it has impacted my life forever, but in the book, Fred Fred experienced something like she never has before. She feels as if the one thing that was always there for her was ripped away from her, and she can't do anything about it. I never knew how tough something like this was, or how difficult it would impact her life in the end. It made me wonder how she became so strong throughout the whole thing, stronger than she ever was. She gained confidence, she gained strength, and she finally started to believe in herself. It made me wonder how she ended up at the end of the story with a smile on her face. How did she heal herself from everything she has been through? As she grew as a person, she realized that a traumatic experience stays with you forever, and there is no erasing it.
This book made me see that even though some things can hold you back in life, you are stronger than you believe that you are. Life changes at every corner, and you can never prepare yourself for what is supposed to happen next. Fred Fred overcame so many battles throughout her life, and her everyday life wasn't always the easiest. Once this happened to her it changed her life forever and she had a completely different view on life.Throughout the book, she learned that because she overcame the strong battle, it just made her stronger in the end. It opened my eyes to such a larger perspective, realizing that the little things may not always have the biggest impact. It showed me that there is no need to be scared or anxious for what is coming, the only thing that you can do is be ready to fight the battle.
This book made me believe that no matter what change you are going through, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Fred Fred went through a tremendous and heartbreaking change, but throughout all of that, she made a new best friend and created a bond with Margery that will last forever. I believe that when you're put through such a tough situation, you always have to look towards the brighter side. In this situation, Fred Fred went through such a traumatic experience, but in the end, she came out with two phenomenal relationships that will stick with her for the rest of her life. I think that by all of this change happening to her she grew overall as a person and became stronger throughout the process. She always felt as if she was a shy girl, and I think that by spending almost a year with Margery, that helped her develop new skills and overcome more and more obstacles.
This book made me feel that Fred Fred went through such a tough time, and the author used very strong figurative language throughout the story, causing the reader to truly feel Fred Fred’s emotions. It made me feel as if I wanted to express sympathy for her, when all of this started she was heartbroken, and didn’t know why she would do without her mother, because that was her only family. She expressed her emotions in such a strong way and explained all the little details of what she was going through. I saw her struggle in all these situations, have emotional breakdowns, and just wish that none of this had happened in the first place. Throughout the story, I felt what she was going through, she didn’t have a support system, and she was alone for so long. Living with her mom made her feel as if she was the glue that held the family together, everyone relied on her. However, once she moved in with Margery, she felt this weight lifted off her shoulders, and especially once she met the neighbor’s dog, the puppies joy kept a smile on her face.
This book made me hope that Fred Fred would be able to overcome this large obstacle that was holding her back. Even though Fred Fred went through such a hard and traumatic stage in her life, she overcame what happened and is stronger from it now. It made me hope that Fred Fred grew from all of this and meeting both Margery and the neighbor’s dog, would help her overcome this experience and help her feel like even without her mother, she still has a support system and a family to lean on. It made me hope that Fred Fred could have a better life, she never enjoyed living with her mom because she was a drug addict, but Fred Fred didn’t know that until she got arrested. Her mom was never there, but even when she was there, she was never there. Always in her own word, enjoying her time alone. Fred Fred made both herself and her mother dinner every night, and sometimes didn’t even get a chance to work on her homework, she cleaned the house, washed the dishes, took out the trash, she took care of everything. When I saw her living like this, I felt bad for her, she was always stressed with everything she had to do, and she felt as if she never got the time to be a kid. Once she moved in with Margery all of this eased, she helped around the house, but she never felt that she was the only one living there, she knew that there was always someone there to help her.
Fighting through a traumatic battle, will only make you stronger in the end. Throughout the book Starys Like Us by Cecilia Galante, the character Fred Fred goes through a traumatic expierience that changes her life forever. She took what happened to her, and made the best out of it; she created a bond with Margery, and also helped her make a new best friend along the way. She learns to love new things in life , and creates new memories. She develops character, she becomes unique, and she embraces everything around her. This book was inspirational, but also a very heartfelt story about a girl overcoming something so traumatic. I would definitely recommend this book to others because of the journey that she overcomes, and the emotions that are expressed throughout the book.
This book made me wish that Fred Fred didn’t have to go through such a traumatic stage. I think it’s difficult to deal with this type of stuff when it comes to a family member that you love very deeply. I feel bad for all the trauma that she experienced throughout the past year trying to figure out how to take care of her mom, and once her mom went to jail figuring out how to get her out of jail. Fred Fred took care of the whole family, and she kept everything intact all the time, and when this happened to her mom just added additional pressure on to her. This book made me wish that Fred Fred hadn't gone through everything that she did, and that she didn’t have to experience all the pain because of her mother's actions. Fred Fred had so much responsibility riding on her shoulders at all times, but once she moved to Margery’s she felt a sense of relief around her, not a weight dragging her down everyday. Traumatic events can scar you for life, but Fred Fred didn’t let this stop her from living her life to the fullest. She has grown from everything that has happened to her in the past, and has proved to not just herself, but everyone around her that she is stronger than ever, and proud of the battle that she fought through.
This book made me realize that I shouldn’t take my family members for granted. Life is unexpected and it throws changes at you all the time. Although its impossible to be ready for anything, we have to learn to accept these changes in our lives. Fred Fred had such a close relationship with her mom, so this happening to her was such a large change in Fred Fred’s life, but throughout the situation she learned to become more independent, and learned to find a love for many other things around her. It made me realize that even though I go through hardships everyday, I should still be greatful for what is around me, and the family members that I have to support me. This made me realize how lucky I am to have a strong support system around me at all times, I rely on my family for everything, and I don’t know what I would do without them. Every day that I struggle or go through something tough, I just have to remind myself that the fight is always worth the battle, meaning that fighting as hard as I can and pushing through tough times will only benefit me in the long run.
This book made me wonder about the challenges that I've gone through throughout my life. I've never been through such a large change that it has impacted my life forever, but in the book, Fred Fred experienced something like she never has before. She feels as if the one thing that was always there for her was ripped away from her, and she can't do anything about it. I never knew how tough something like this was, or how difficult it would impact her life in the end. It made me wonder how she became so strong throughout the whole thing, stronger than she ever was. She gained confidence, she gained strength, and she finally started to believe in herself. It made me wonder how she ended up at the end of the story with a smile on her face. How did she heal herself from everything she has been through? As she grew as a person, she realized that a traumatic experience stays with you forever, and there is no erasing it.
This book made me see that even though some things can hold you back in life, you are stronger than you believe that you are. Life changes at every corner, and you can never prepare yourself for what is supposed to happen next. Fred Fred overcame so many battles throughout her life, and her everyday life wasn't always the easiest. Once this happened to her it changed her life forever and she had a completely different view on life.Throughout the book, she learned that because she overcame the strong battle, it just made her stronger in the end. It opened my eyes to such a larger perspective, realizing that the little things may not always have the biggest impact. It showed me that there is no need to be scared or anxious for what is coming, the only thing that you can do is be ready to fight the battle.
This book made me believe that no matter what change you are going through, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Fred Fred went through a tremendous and heartbreaking change, but throughout all of that, she made a new best friend and created a bond with Margery that will last forever. I believe that when you're put through such a tough situation, you always have to look towards the brighter side. In this situation, Fred Fred went through such a traumatic experience, but in the end, she came out with two phenomenal relationships that will stick with her for the rest of her life. I think that by all of this change happening to her she grew overall as a person and became stronger throughout the process. She always felt as if she was a shy girl, and I think that by spending almost a year with Margery, that helped her develop new skills and overcome more and more obstacles.
This book made me feel that Fred Fred went through such a tough time, and the author used very strong figurative language throughout the story, causing the reader to truly feel Fred Fred’s emotions. It made me feel as if I wanted to express sympathy for her, when all of this started she was heartbroken, and didn’t know why she would do without her mother, because that was her only family. She expressed her emotions in such a strong way and explained all the little details of what she was going through. I saw her struggle in all these situations, have emotional breakdowns, and just wish that none of this had happened in the first place. Throughout the story, I felt what she was going through, she didn’t have a support system, and she was alone for so long. Living with her mom made her feel as if she was the glue that held the family together, everyone relied on her. However, once she moved in with Margery, she felt this weight lifted off her shoulders, and especially once she met the neighbor’s dog, the puppies joy kept a smile on her face.
This book made me hope that Fred Fred would be able to overcome this large obstacle that was holding her back. Even though Fred Fred went through such a hard and traumatic stage in her life, she overcame what happened and is stronger from it now. It made me hope that Fred Fred grew from all of this and meeting both Margery and the neighbor’s dog, would help her overcome this experience and help her feel like even without her mother, she still has a support system and a family to lean on. It made me hope that Fred Fred could have a better life, she never enjoyed living with her mom because she was a drug addict, but Fred Fred didn’t know that until she got arrested. Her mom was never there, but even when she was there, she was never there. Always in her own word, enjoying her time alone. Fred Fred made both herself and her mother dinner every night, and sometimes didn’t even get a chance to work on her homework, she cleaned the house, washed the dishes, took out the trash, she took care of everything. When I saw her living like this, I felt bad for her, she was always stressed with everything she had to do, and she felt as if she never got the time to be a kid. Once she moved in with Margery all of this eased, she helped around the house, but she never felt that she was the only one living there, she knew that there was always someone there to help her.
Fighting through a traumatic battle, will only make you stronger in the end. Throughout the book Starys Like Us by Cecilia Galante, the character Fred Fred goes through a traumatic expierience that changes her life forever. She took what happened to her, and made the best out of it; she created a bond with Margery, and also helped her make a new best friend along the way. She learns to love new things in life , and creates new memories. She develops character, she becomes unique, and she embraces everything around her. This book was inspirational, but also a very heartfelt story about a girl overcoming something so traumatic. I would definitely recommend this book to others because of the journey that she overcomes, and the emotions that are expressed throughout the book.
May 12, 2020
This book took the breath away from my body... It was beautiful. It had sad and happy parts.
December 11, 2018
I loved this book this book was probably my absolute favorite book. So what happens in this book is that there is a girl name Fred and her mom gets caught with pills that the police think that she stole but she did not and so they put her mom in jail for about a month then they will go to court. So her daughter goes to a foster home and there is a dog next door that is not looking like it is treated very well so she feeds it every day until something happened to the old man in the house and she has to watch the dog and after a while the old mans son comes and he watches the dog and he was cleaning his gun and it shoot out a bullet on accident and it scared the dog and the dog went in front of a car and got hit and then they took the dog to the vet and they went to court and Fred did the right thing and told the truth and when she got home she got to keep the dog which name is Toby because the old man is to old and he is in a wheelchair so he can't take care of the dog.
December 17, 2019
This book was a great book. She has to live with a new family that she does not like very much, and learns to love them. I loved how she connected with a dog, and that brought her closer to, her foster mom, and her friends. I would recommend this book to anyone around the age of 12-14, because I think they can connect with her a lot better if she's around her age.
August 17, 2018
3.5 for this one for some situations that seemed too convenient, but it is touching and particularly relevant, and will be popular with middle grade readers. After all, many of them live and love parents that are dealing with various addictions and insist that they are going to get well soon, just as is the case here, and many of them have deep reserves of anger and resentment that prompt them to lash out, usually at whomever happens to be nearby. It's easy to understand how Fred could so easily bond with Toby, the neglected dog that has spent his life outdoors, chained so that he can't move around much. After all, even though Fred can't see the similarities to how his elderly owner, Mr. Carder, treats the dog, there are some parallels to her own life, and it's a lot easier to show affection to the dog than it is to Marjory, the woman who is fostering Fred and lives next door to Mr. Carder. When Mr. Carder makes it clear that Fred must leave Toby alone--after all, he's his dog!--she and her friend Delia still feed him. Fortunately for the elderly man, they are close enough to come to his rescue after an accident. There is quite a lot going on in this book. Marjory has also dealt with a sister who was addicted, and Fred isn't sure she wants to betray her mother by telling the truth about her prescription abuse. She's also not so sure she wants to be friends with Delia, who seems unwilling or unable to stand up for herself, especially around one bully in particular at school. Delia is dealing with loss and a distant father who can't come to terms with the drowning death of Delia's brother. I loved how Marjory used sculpting to help her deal with her own demons, encouraging Fred to find a way to make something meaningful out of all the materials she had gathered, essentially turning trash into some sort of personal treasure. Parts of the book are hard to read as Fred seems to lash out at everyone around her and push others away, and others are a bit too good to be true--for instance, the identity of the man whose car hits Toby when he runs away--but there are many readers who see their own experiences mirrored on these pages, and maybe find a way to share the secrets and burdens they are carrying with others. Fred's deep and abiding love for her mother never wavers, but she does wonder if her mother is serious about kicking her addiction and getting well, a realization that takes almost the whole book for her to reach. The title is perfect since it's pretty clear that with the right kind of nurturing, strays--whether they be cats, dogs, or humans, can heal from their wounds and thrive. This is in so many respects an uplifting story of courage and resilience.
September 27, 2020
Have you ever gotten to a great part in your book, and then done something silly, like, say, forgotten to bring it on vacation with you? There you sit, at the hotel, and you know you could start any of the other books you brought in your bag (because you are always prepared like that) but you are so desperate to know what will happen next in your book that even the magic of Disney World couldn't quite compensate for the emptiness in your curious soul? (This is all hypothetical, of course...)
I pulled this 2020-2021 Iowa Children's Choice Award nominee up on MackinVIA, thrilled to see there was still one book available. I quickly checked it out and began reading, making it through chapter 20 in a single sitting. And then the unthinkable happened: I shut down my computer and when I brought it back up again I could no longer access Strays Like Us. Fingers twitching and sweat dripping from my brow, I tried every technological trick I could think of, but the book was still not accessible. And because Cecilia Galante's story was just so compelling, I did what any avid reader would do in my situation: I immediately ordered a copy online.
Don't judge my lack of restraint until you've journeyed 20 chapters into the book and become fiercely attached to three humans you're cheering for and a dog, Toby, who you will love with all of your heart. This story was reminiscent of one of my favorites from the 2019-2020 nominee list (The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade by Jordan Sonnenblick) in that the main character is taking care of a parent who is dealing with addiction.
Fred (short for Winifred) is put into foster care with Margery when her mom is jailed for stealing drugs from her place of work. While Fred tries to acclimate to this unexpected turn of events, she comes into contact with Toby, a neighboring dog who is severely neglected, and Delia, a girl who is emotionally neglected at home and bullied at school with the cruel nickname: Lardvark. Fred sides with both underdogs, which helps her take her mind off her own problems, but there is no ignoring the anger building inside her as she deals with her own circumstances and sometimes erupts, burning those who are trying to support her.
Strays Like Us has a Lexile measure of 590. I thoroughly enjoyed the rich characters, the complex issues in the story, and the pacing of this story and hope you'll give this great book a try, too!
Strays Like Us
I pulled this 2020-2021 Iowa Children's Choice Award nominee up on MackinVIA, thrilled to see there was still one book available. I quickly checked it out and began reading, making it through chapter 20 in a single sitting. And then the unthinkable happened: I shut down my computer and when I brought it back up again I could no longer access Strays Like Us. Fingers twitching and sweat dripping from my brow, I tried every technological trick I could think of, but the book was still not accessible. And because Cecilia Galante's story was just so compelling, I did what any avid reader would do in my situation: I immediately ordered a copy online.
Don't judge my lack of restraint until you've journeyed 20 chapters into the book and become fiercely attached to three humans you're cheering for and a dog, Toby, who you will love with all of your heart. This story was reminiscent of one of my favorites from the 2019-2020 nominee list (The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade by Jordan Sonnenblick) in that the main character is taking care of a parent who is dealing with addiction.
Fred (short for Winifred) is put into foster care with Margery when her mom is jailed for stealing drugs from her place of work. While Fred tries to acclimate to this unexpected turn of events, she comes into contact with Toby, a neighboring dog who is severely neglected, and Delia, a girl who is emotionally neglected at home and bullied at school with the cruel nickname: Lardvark. Fred sides with both underdogs, which helps her take her mind off her own problems, but there is no ignoring the anger building inside her as she deals with her own circumstances and sometimes erupts, burning those who are trying to support her.
Strays Like Us has a Lexile measure of 590. I thoroughly enjoyed the rich characters, the complex issues in the story, and the pacing of this story and hope you'll give this great book a try, too!
Strays Like Us
December 1, 2019
3.5 stars (rating may differ depending on whether site allows half star ratings)
Warning: Spoilers may follow. Read at your own discretion.
****
I think there are times that everyone feels alone or different (or like a stray to use this author's jargon). My guess is that different people respond differently to this feeling. Some become bullies/mean girls, putting others down to build themselves up. Some become followers, figuring that being in the orbit of someone else who is perceived as popular keeps them in the "in" crowd. Some embrace their differentness or find others who have similar interests and don't worry about being popular.
Winifred, who prefers to go by Fred, has more reasons to feel like a "stray" than most. She's placed with Margery after her mother is arrested for stealing from work. This also means changing schools. It's no wonder Fred is a hurting child. Unfortunately, instead of sharing her hurts and fears, she tends to bottle them up and then lash out at others. I was glad to see her grow--grow to the point where she's not afraid to tell the truth despite her mother asking her to keep secrets and to the point where she's able to identify that she's going to explode on someone else.
Ardelia Lark is a victim of bullying. Through a friendship with Fred, Delia learns to stand up for herself.
Margery is interesting--she cares but somehow she also knows when to let Fred work things out for herself and when to push or counsel her.
Toby (a dog) is another stray. He's the neighbor's dog but seems to be neglected. We do find out some of the why late in the book, but it is still heartbreaking. Fred takes an interest in Toby and the two sort of heal each other. Toby gets to experience freedom.
Warning: Spoilers may follow. Read at your own discretion.
****
I think there are times that everyone feels alone or different (or like a stray to use this author's jargon). My guess is that different people respond differently to this feeling. Some become bullies/mean girls, putting others down to build themselves up. Some become followers, figuring that being in the orbit of someone else who is perceived as popular keeps them in the "in" crowd. Some embrace their differentness or find others who have similar interests and don't worry about being popular.
Winifred, who prefers to go by Fred, has more reasons to feel like a "stray" than most. She's placed with Margery after her mother is arrested for stealing from work. This also means changing schools. It's no wonder Fred is a hurting child. Unfortunately, instead of sharing her hurts and fears, she tends to bottle them up and then lash out at others. I was glad to see her grow--grow to the point where she's not afraid to tell the truth despite her mother asking her to keep secrets and to the point where she's able to identify that she's going to explode on someone else.
Ardelia Lark is a victim of bullying. Through a friendship with Fred, Delia learns to stand up for herself.
Margery is interesting--she cares but somehow she also knows when to let Fred work things out for herself and when to push or counsel her.
Toby (a dog) is another stray. He's the neighbor's dog but seems to be neglected. We do find out some of the why late in the book, but it is still heartbreaking. Fred takes an interest in Toby and the two sort of heal each other. Toby gets to experience freedom.
October 18, 2018
{My thoughts} – Winifred {Fred} isn’t like your ordinary twelve year-old. She has a mom that has been arrested and is being held in jail because her boss said she had stolen some pills from work. Her mom says that it was a big mistake and that she didn’t do anything. In the meantime she has been placed within the foster system and is currently staying with a new foster named Margery.
Margery isn’t like your typical foster. She rides a motorcycle, collects junk and turns it into stuff and has a heart of gold. She lives next door to a crazy neighbor that has a dog named Toby that he completely ignores and treats like crap. When anyone pays attention to the dog he threatens them.
Fred makes a friends with a girl at school and they get close. They start sharing things about their personal life with one another. Then one day the neighbor gets hurt and the girls are the one’s that hear him and call 9-1-1. Once he goes off to the hospital they take the dog back to Margery’s with them and start training the dog to have some people manners.
A lot of other fun and not so fun stuff happens within this book. The thing is the book helps to show children that even though they are in the foster system that it is okay to be happy. It shows them that it is okay to find good in a bad situation. It shows them that it is okay to want whats right for them in their eyes. It shows them that even though they are strays within the system that they aren’t entirely alone.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I look forward to reading more books by this author in the very near future.
Margery isn’t like your typical foster. She rides a motorcycle, collects junk and turns it into stuff and has a heart of gold. She lives next door to a crazy neighbor that has a dog named Toby that he completely ignores and treats like crap. When anyone pays attention to the dog he threatens them.
Fred makes a friends with a girl at school and they get close. They start sharing things about their personal life with one another. Then one day the neighbor gets hurt and the girls are the one’s that hear him and call 9-1-1. Once he goes off to the hospital they take the dog back to Margery’s with them and start training the dog to have some people manners.
A lot of other fun and not so fun stuff happens within this book. The thing is the book helps to show children that even though they are in the foster system that it is okay to be happy. It shows them that it is okay to find good in a bad situation. It shows them that it is okay to want whats right for them in their eyes. It shows them that even though they are strays within the system that they aren’t entirely alone.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I look forward to reading more books by this author in the very near future.
October 1, 2018
Reviewed for www.compassbookratings.com
Overall Review:
"When you learn how to use the anger inside you to create instead of destroy, you'll realize it's one of the greatest tools you'll ever have."
- Cecilia Galante, Strays Like Us
Strays Like Us is a poignant, character-driven story. Written by Cecilia Galante, this middle-grade read follows Fred as she tries to navigate her mother's imprisonment AND life in foster care. Fred is a flawed preteen and her drastic change in circumstances brings about a torrid of emotions, frustrations, and heavier subject matter. Galante captures these in an age-appropriate, yet realistic manner. With the assistance of a new friend, her foster parent, and a helpless dog, Fred's journey towards healing begins. Strays Like Us includes strong writing and good pacing. The ending is not the "and they all lived happily ever after" ending readers might long for, but the book's message is one of bravery and hope. A thoughtful and beautiful read.
Review of an Advance Reading Copy
For full content analysis, go to www.compassbookratings.com
Overall Review:
"When you learn how to use the anger inside you to create instead of destroy, you'll realize it's one of the greatest tools you'll ever have."
- Cecilia Galante, Strays Like Us
Strays Like Us is a poignant, character-driven story. Written by Cecilia Galante, this middle-grade read follows Fred as she tries to navigate her mother's imprisonment AND life in foster care. Fred is a flawed preteen and her drastic change in circumstances brings about a torrid of emotions, frustrations, and heavier subject matter. Galante captures these in an age-appropriate, yet realistic manner. With the assistance of a new friend, her foster parent, and a helpless dog, Fred's journey towards healing begins. Strays Like Us includes strong writing and good pacing. The ending is not the "and they all lived happily ever after" ending readers might long for, but the book's message is one of bravery and hope. A thoughtful and beautiful read.
Review of an Advance Reading Copy
For full content analysis, go to www.compassbookratings.com
February 2, 2019
This is an amazing book about a girl, Winifred (Fred), who is a survivor . . . in so many ways. She is one of those characters that you like to read about, and would like to know in real life. Because she is tough, resilient, and loving - but she does not know it until she confronts the challenges presented to her.
Fred's mom screws up, and Fred is tossed into foster care with Margery. This situation is a blessing for both people because they need each other. Now add a dog, Toby, who lives next door and is neglected by his owner. After some attempts to fix this neglect, Margery has learned to accept it, but Fred refuses to ignore this abuse. And the story takes off from there.
I recommend this book because if makes a connection with the reader on so many levels. The only spoiler I will reveal is that there are some sad parts, but overall it is very uplifting. I want to follow this author to see what else she has given us.
Fred's mom screws up, and Fred is tossed into foster care with Margery. This situation is a blessing for both people because they need each other. Now add a dog, Toby, who lives next door and is neglected by his owner. After some attempts to fix this neglect, Margery has learned to accept it, but Fred refuses to ignore this abuse. And the story takes off from there.
I recommend this book because if makes a connection with the reader on so many levels. The only spoiler I will reveal is that there are some sad parts, but overall it is very uplifting. I want to follow this author to see what else she has given us.
October 6, 2021
this book was great, i would recommend this book. when i read this book i felt anxious because there was so much stuff happening all the time and you never knew what was going to happen next. i originally chose this book because it looked interesting when i was first searching for a new book to read. I also just like reading dog books. the setting was mainly at the adoption center, winifred house, or her neighbors house. Winifred is an adopted girl who doesn't want anything to do with her new mom. her mom was a drug addict who could no longer have custody of winifred and her dad was never in the picture. the conflict of the story is that Winifred has been trying to become happy but its so hard without having anyone that she actually wants to be around. but she spotted this mistreated dog next door that hadn't been inside or fed for days. once she spotted it she never gave up on that dog. i liked this book a lot, it was very interesting, and i would recommend it.
February 10, 2020
Two things my students love reading about: dogs and tough family issues. This a wonderful combination of the two that is perfect for middle grade readers.
Fred has been taken from her mom due to what she believes is a misunderstanding--there's no way her mother did what the police say she did, and she knows she'll be back with her mother soon. Toby is the sad, neglected dog who lives next door to her new foster parent Margery (who rides a motorcycle and cooks like a dream). When the situation with Fred's mother turns out to be more complicated that she thought, Fred's anger threatens to ruin the good things she's built with Margery, Toby, and a new friend at school.
A quick, heartwarming read that addresses some tough issues--substance abuse and addiction, foster care, controlling your anger, bullying, and doing the right thing.
Fred has been taken from her mom due to what she believes is a misunderstanding--there's no way her mother did what the police say she did, and she knows she'll be back with her mother soon. Toby is the sad, neglected dog who lives next door to her new foster parent Margery (who rides a motorcycle and cooks like a dream). When the situation with Fred's mother turns out to be more complicated that she thought, Fred's anger threatens to ruin the good things she's built with Margery, Toby, and a new friend at school.
A quick, heartwarming read that addresses some tough issues--substance abuse and addiction, foster care, controlling your anger, bullying, and doing the right thing.
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