We all have stories behind what shows on the surface. If I take nothing else from Gather, a young adult novel by Upper Valley educator Ken Cadow, it is a reminder that what we see when we observe someone else is not the whole picture.
Is 16-year-old Ian late to school because he doesn’t care about it? Far from it! While academics are not his forte, he missed the bus to care for a dog who’d appeared out of the woods—and did not want to upset his fragile mother.
Did Ian drop out of basketball because he lost interest? No. He’s good at it and sees it as a way to connect with friends and have fun, but he got caught coming to class late—then needed to work to support his mother and try to hold onto the family farm.
Even his choice to name the dog that found him “Gather” has a thoughtful story behind it.
And there’s more than just Ian. People in the community who reach out to help are complicated in their own ways, from the elderly neighbor who gives Ian the “excess” food in her freezer to the teacher who understands being different from one’s peers.
Because the story is told in Ian’s voice, the reader experiences his interpretations and confusions in real-time. I recommend this insightful novel – written for young adults – to readers of all ages who want to understand rural life, teenagers, insecurity, addiction, and their own biases.
Ken has received many deserved accolades for Gather – a National Book Award Finalist, Michael L. Printz Honor Book, New England Book Award Finalist, and most recently, the Kirkus Prize. In addition, the novel was chosen by the Vermont Humanities Council for the Vermont Reads program.
Ken will talk about Gather and the topics he explores in the novel at the Norman Williams Public Library in Woodstock on Friday, December 6 at 4 pm, after spending the morning at the high school. This event, co-hosted by the Yankee Bookshop, is free and open to all.
Liza Bernard is a voracious reader who enjoys both printed volumes and audiobooks. Formerly co-owner of the Norwich Bookstore, she maintains her connections with readers and writers as the Programming and Marketing Librarian at the Norman Williams Public Library in Woodstock, Vermont.