Stray

by Stacey Goldblatt

When 16-year-old Natalie Kaplan meets a new person, she knows right away what kind of dog they'd be. Natalie herself resembles an Ibizan hound—quiet, playful, loyal, smart, and above all, obedient. Actually, Natalie has been trained so well that sometimes she thinks her mother is secretly controlling her with a dog whistle. (Her mom is a respected veterinarian with a successful clinic, so it's not that much of a stretch.)

Just like the Ibizan, Natalie is very mindful of her master's rules, but at the first sign of freedom, she is prone to stray. And who can blame her when the gorgeous and mysterious Carver Reed comes to live with the Kaplan family for the summer? Little by little, Natalie is drawn to Carver's spontaneity and free spirit, and before long, she turns into another breed of girl, who surprisingly bites the hand that feeds her.

" Stray is a winning novel that provides us with an important it's okay to make mistakes and break the rules, especially when it comes to love."—Maureen Johnson, author of 13 Little Blue Envelopes

Genres: Young Adult, Teen, Fiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published May 8, 2007

Reviews

[Annabella · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't finish this book, because I didn't like it too much, plus I really wanted to start reading "New Moon" by Stephanie Meyer. I got about 40% of the way through, then stopped reading. "Stray" is about a girl who is obsessed with dogs, and is very anti-social. She was a lot different than me, and part of the reason I didn't enjoy the book was because I couldn't relate to it at all. While reading, I found that I would skim over an entire page, then go back and have to read it again because I wasn't really paying attention. Overall, this book really wasn't written well. I guess you might like it if you are crazy for dogs or something, I don't know!
=)

[Allie Daniels · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an okay book to read. It was about a girl, Natalie, who lives with her mom, grandma, and 2 dogs. Her mom works at as a veterinarian and this girl also helps her mom at the front desk. Natalie's mom is super strict. All of a sudden, the moms friends son comes into town to help out at the office. This girl can't stand him because a long time ago, he gave one of her dogs chocolate. Not only does this boy have to help out, but he is going to stay at the house too. Natalie gets furious and doesn't know how she'll work with him and have to live under the same roof. As they start to work more at the office, Natalie starts to like this boy. I feel this book was an okay book because in the beginning, it was boring. Towards the end, it got more exciting.

[Goldie Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept of this novel was a nice thought. In the end it was definitley dissapointing, The characters while well concieved and developed. Unfourtanatley the plot began to shrivel around chapter two! i also believed in my ill concieved notion of true life and love that Natalie and Kirby should have ended up togeather!

[lycheejelli]

This book fell out of a library bookshelf when I was fishing out the one next to it. Thought the description seemed interesting enough & decided to give it a chance.

I wonder if my quality of life would've improved if I put it back on the bookshelf.

The setting was nice because walkable towns with communities are always enjoyable, but I didn't find the main character's love interest to have much substance. Same thing with the mother. I would've appreciated some more dimension to these characters.

The ending felt incredibly rushed compared to the slow pacing of the beginning, but I do acknowledge how realistic the ending was.

Ultimately, supposed to be a silly mindless read that has me thinking more than I should.

[Nic]

Hah I remember reading this shortly after it came out and hating it so much that I couldn't finish it.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Norma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stray, is a my first book to read this summer. entertaining from beginning to end. I liked how it took me back in time, when I used to sneak out, to see my crush play basketball at the park. 🙈

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Despite my anticipations when it came to reading this book—as I had been greatly influenced by the previous doggie-related book, Alpha Dog—I am very disappointed about how this book turned out. The storyline relates to Jennifer Ziegler’s book about a mother who wants to control their daughter’s lives and the subject of dogs, but that’s as far as they get.

Natalie Kaplan’s like a dog on a very tight leash and her owner is her mother. To get what she wants, she has to make up lies and hope her mother never finds out. When summer starts, her mother informs her that her best friend’s son will be staying with them for awhile so he can get some hands-on activity with the dogs at their store. Natalie doesn’t want to like Carver, especially since he nearly killed her dog when they were little, and he’s now taken over her dream-room (the one above the garage) but Carver’s friendliness and unexpected personality soon changes her opinions. Soon, Natalie is falling for him, but liking Carver comes with things that Natalie might not be prepared to handle—like breaking free from her mother and herself.

At first, I didn’t think it was that bad. Natalie is funny and charming, and I like she’s able to say no to drugs, because that’s a character trait I look for when I find new friends. Of course, I wouldn’t be totally judgmental if a friend couldn’t refuse drugs, but it will definitely disappoint me that they can’t stop being peer pressured. I’m always hearing that it’s hard to say no, but I actually don’t think that’s the case. And, judging from how the author has written Natalie out to be, she would agree. So, I really do like the main character, the humor, and the realistic feel of her voice.

However . . . yes, the dreaded transition in my review. However, very boring. This has a total of 276 pages, almost 300. And though it’s far by classified as long, I couldn’t get halfway through without having to encourage me to go on. At some point of the story (when Carver and Natalie finally kissed) I just wanted to close the book and stop reading. There’s nothing wrong with the characters or even the storyline—some might say it’s cute—but I just can’t get into the story. The words and actions being taken place don’t compel me like another book. And that’s already halfway through the story. I have a rule that if I’m still not interested by the middle of the book, it’s bye-bye.

Though, for my benefit, I did flip to the last chapter and read it so I could get an ending. If I don’t read the last chapter, my brain will forever torture myself with wondering what might’ve happened, so I would like to end that misery please. It didn’t spark my interest. In fact, it just made me feel better that I hadn’t wasted all this time, so it was relief.

Still, Stacey Goldblatt is a first time author. I wouldn’t expect her to nail the perfect book on the first try (but may I repeat that Jennifer Ziegler did!) and she has a good writing voice. Maybe if she had chosen another plot and killed the whole Carver involvement, I would have enjoyed it more. The author tried to make Carver too realistic—he has flaws but he’s a good person—but he didn’t sound alive on paper. He sounded out of place and stoned, even though that is definitely not the case.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like a typical love story, this book made me think of all those possiblities of what could happen to the main character. It was a quick easy read, something during a time of stress to read.
There really isn't much to say about this book except for the fact that it is like the usual love story you'd get, except there are a lot of animals around, there is a lot of lying going on, and there is a dog quote in the beginning of every chapeter(which is pretty intresting as to how a dog quote and somehow become a life lesson in the story and in realy life...sometimes.)
In the story the main character,Natalie is a animal lover. Her mom is a vet and out of thin air, her mom announces that they will have aa visitor that will live in Natalie's most cherished room, but as it turns out the unexpected visitor that kicks Natalie and Natalie's stuff out of her cherished room is the boy from many years ago who fed her dog chocolate, who turns out to be very attractive, and has had a crush on her since when he was young.but even though she promises herself not to fall in love with him, as predicted, she does and because of him, Natalie and her mom get into a very reckless argument and because Natalie is sick of being the good girl, she decides to rebel and do things against the control of her mom.
Love can make people do crazy things and i'm pretty sure of that because from all those lovey dovey YA books, every main character or minor character who has a love story, are all willing to do reckless things for their significant other.

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only reason I gave this four out of five stars is because it's not a book I'd go out and buy.

The best part of this book was the humor--I was constantly laughing. If I feeling a little under it, I would pick this up and feel better in no time. Natalie is a cool girl. A little obtuse at times but otherwise, she's pretty sharp. I love how real it seems: this struggle for her to find out who to trust, who she is, what she has to do and what she shouldn't.

I love the dog references. They're flawless and offer a huge insight to the book. Stacey Goldblatt is excellent at showing the gears of Natalie's head. It was like stepping into someone else entirely.

The descriptions are incredible. They were something a feisty and dogs-are-the-center-of-the-world type of girl would describe something. They were hilarious and honest.

Overall, a touching story and a very satisfying read. Once I managed to have a solid chunk of time to read, I flew through this book. I recommend it to anyone who wants a good read--and anyone who likes to laugh. :)

Technical Info

* Pages - Hardcover, 288
* Some swearing. I mean, they're teenagers. Nothing heavy, though. And it's pretty light throughout the book, overall.
* No sequel, though the way Stacey Goldblatt set it up at the end, a sequel could be ever so possible. *crosses fingers*
* Other books by Stacey Goldblatt: Girl to the Core
* I don't really like the cover. It's so...pink. And the single dog...well. I'm just saying that they could have come up with a more creative cover.

[Danielle · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was so bad I stopped on page 109, I couldn't stand it any longer. At first I thought this book would be about Natalie finding the dog Boggart and them becoming great companions. Instead this book is about Natalie giving away Boggart and liking this guy Carver, who she treats like crap. I really wanted this book to be about Natalie and Boggart, maybe I would have actually finished this terrible book. It probably would have been a better book just because Boggart was a main character. The main thing that annoyed me so much I couldn't continue reading was how the author Stacey Goldblatt kept comparing getting butterflies in your stomach to pixies! All she had to say was "butterflies in my stomach" and we would have gotten the idea. For example when she says on page 89, "I didn't have to wrestle the fairy dust out of Pixie's hand in order to keep it together." What does this mean??!! Once again on page 101, 'Pixie breaks out and starts doing cancan kicks in my stomach. She does this so quickly, I don't even have time to stop her." This is a young adult fiction novel and she's using kindergarten lingo like "Pixie" and "fairy dust". Also, there's a whole chapter on being in a room filled with detached doll heads...why was that in this book? The author uses "there're" too much. Just say "there are" and we get the idea. And it's weird when on page 96 the author compares a guy's biceps to a Rottweiler head!

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Safia Abdul for TeensReadToo.com

Sixteen-year-old Natalie Kaplan is better around dogs than people. She can name practically every breed of dog there is, yet can't fit in at a party. Natalie lives with her control-freak mother, her cake-baking grandmother, and four dogs (including Fufu, her cement chinese Foo dog that is supposed to bring her luck).

For Natalie, the summer before her junior year of high school wasn't supposed to be different from any other summer. Natalie planned to hang out with her friends (Nina and Kirby), help out at her mother's vet clinic, and basically continue to be the obedient daughter she has always been. However, at the beginning of summer, a wave of wildness overcomes Natalie - starting with streaking her hair blue and continuing to lying to her mother. When boy-hottie Carter Reed, son of Natalie's mother's friend, comes to stay with them for the summer, Natalie just can't help being attracted to him despite her mother's request to "keep it professional."

In one summer, Natalie is about to break the leash from her controlling mother and stray just enough to find herself.

STRAY is a funny and warm novel about one dog-loving girl's summer transformation. This is one of my favorite books of the year and I would definitely recommend it!

[Kricket · Rating 3 out of 5]

Natalie, the daughter of a control freak veterinarian mother and an out-of-the-picture dog behaviorist father, also loves dogs and works at her mother's clinic while dreaming of fixing up the room over the garage as her own space. This summer, however, the garage room will be occupied by a friend of the family called Carver who wishes to intern at the clinic. Natalie is peeved until it turns out Carver is a hottie. AND he likes her instead of the witchy neighbor Laney who has no redeemable qualities. But Natalie's mom says she and Carver can't be together. How can Natalie get her mother to trust her?

Hmmmm. I probably would have loved this in high school. That said, the characters were lacking. Natalie spent so much time carping about her mother that I never even figured out why Carver would like her. Carver spends so much time being dreamy that he's just kind of...boring. Laney and Maryann are completely one-sided as villains. And so on. Goldblatt does do a good job illustrating how painful and liberating it can be for a typically good girl to test boundaries and learn to trust herself.

[Shaya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a big dog lover and enjoyed the dog references in Stray. Too many purebred references and a deeper relationship with dogs wasn't really explored but I was expecting that.

This is your typical realistic fiction/romance and as a plus the narrator discusses dogs a lot. Teen angst, too good to be true boyfriend, control freak mom, rebellion...

I thought it was quite cliched and I've read many similar stories before. I did like the way the book approached drug and alcohol use, though. It was very matter of fact but from the perspective of a girl who didn't want to use or drink.

The dog quotes at the beginning of each chapter were okay. I disagreed with half of them and I didn't really feel like they fit the chapters particularly well.

If you like light teen romance books you'll probably like this.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet book. Sweet and calm and surprisingly welcome at the end of the month. I particularly liked that all of the characters, from Nattie's bitterly overprotective mother to her snotty and popular next door neighbor, are portrayed sympathetically. Reminding us that everyone is more than they seem, no matter how unsympathetic they can be at times. The fact is sometimes you find yourself in a bathroom with your arch nemesis, holding her hair back for her as she vomits her guts out. Goldblatt's writing feels well-grounded to me, her characters glitz-free and appealing.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very different and unique book. It was a very open and relaxed read. The thing that I loved the most about it was that it talks about real problems and issues teenagers deal with. It wasn't about a magical land or talking animals;it was a book about real teenagers problems. I loved the fresh breath of reality. I would recommend this to any teenager that doesn't mind a little bit of bad language or some unique concepts. However, I would not recommend this to anyone under the age of 12. Over all, I enjoyed reading the book.

[Natalie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stray was a great book telling people to say what they want to say, no matter how hard the situation. It was an amusing story. It made me laugh sometimes, the dog references were hilarious, but it didn't offer much meaning or depth. It was just an average teenage story about an average teenage life. The story line was very typical and really had no surprises. The characters were very well developed, though, and I got a clear sense of what was going on. I could relate to this book, as I think many can. I would recommend this book if you are looking for a quick and light read.

[Samiha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about trust of a girl from her mother an the relation she forms with a boy she has known since she was young and the things the main character Nat is forced to because she doesn't have her mothers trust. A girl whose father had left for another lady. A girl who has to live in the boundaries her mother build and the boundaries she has broken down. She has to bulid it up again for her love her mothers trust and the friendship of Kirby and Nina.

[Meghan Frenkel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book revolves around a sixteen-year-old named Natalie. Natalie is the daughter of two dog-loving parents, an over-protective, controling veterinarian mother and a distant traveling writing father. Natelie considders herself very unpoopular, especially concering a particualar group of girls. She has two best friends, Kirby, a vintage-loving nerd, and Nina, a confident, social girl who seems to be liked by everyone.

[Jai · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an awesome book.I read the About the Author section and found that this was Stacey Goldblatt's first book and for a first book, it was very good. It was exceptional. It had the mother daughter conversations,looks,and bond. It was also a sweet love story and showed how much effort it takes to earn trust. I read this book in one day and then again the next night. You definitely want to read this book.It is the best.

[Leila K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the book Stray by Stacey Goldblatt, Natalie feels out of place when confronted by the cool girls at her school, but decides to play along. However, along her summer journey, she meets a cute guy who seems to be perfect for her and her dog life. The best part is when she breaks the rules and falls in love, against her mother's words. In this book you will find love so strong that they must rebel, but through it all, they stay together.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the characters in the book. I can really relate to the main character so it made my time reading it more enjoyable. I like the outcome of the book because it was realistic unlike some teen reads. I also love how dogs were tied into this story. It was fun to read, and i would recommend it to any girl who is growing up.

[Xiu Ling · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main character and I are kind of connected, because we both have parents that always form our way instead of we choosing who we really are; and who we want to be. So when I read this book, it's really like I am reading my own story but with a different story plot. From this book I learned that instead of making up lies so I can do things I want to do, maybe there are better ways out.

[Melissa]

Cute, clean teen read. Using the metaphore of dog behaviors throughout each chapter, Stray is about coming of age, becoming oneself, finding your own voice as a young woman, Learning about what your own boundaries are and not those of parental demands.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

predictable, no new ground broken, but still an interesting look into a girl's life as she tries to break the barriers that mom erected around her. The gimmick, or hook, is that she works at her mother's vet clinic.

A likeable read.

[Diana S · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was OK. I liked that the start of each chapter. There was a quote from Natalie's Dad's book The Manifesto of Dog. I also thought it was amusing how Natalie would compare people she dealt with to certain dogs breed.(lol)

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

The reason i gave this book 3 out 5 stars is because, honestly IT WAS KINDA BORING. IT DRAGGED ON. It was funny, sure but that up for lack of plot. This is one of those books where you read it once. Thats it, i honestly wouldn't waste my money on to buy it.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually liked this book. I finished it in 2 days. I pretty much related to it- a lot! I'm obsessed with dogs and pretty much anti-social. This book kept me interested (which is why I finished it in 2 days.) Good book overall!

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was cute. There are some issues with the themes and the overall message of the book. The overall story was decent.

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

moderately entertaining novel about dog-obsessed teen girl who experiences first crush and learns to stand up to her (vet) mom over summer break.