Gooseberry, by Robin Gow,
Published by Abrams, 2024

Twelve-year-old nonbinary B has lived with so many different foster families and in so many communal youth homes that they need to invent nicknames for them to keep track. And even though some foster families don’t really get B or why they haven’t picked a new name yet (though B has been grappling with this for a while), B tries their best to stay positive.  One thing that B does know is that when they grow up, they want to be a dog trainer.  At a block party that B attends with their current foster parents, Rick and Mandy, B spots the cutest dog ever at a Humane Society booth.  This dog has one blue eye and one brown eye and is named Gooseberry. 
B and Gooseberry make an immediate connection.  With Gooseberry,
B feels they could have everything they want: a family of their own, and a dog to train.  Unfortunately, Rick and Mandy do not want to own a dog, and they decide they don’t want to adopt B either. Fortunately, B’s brand-new foster parents, Jodie and Eri seem like the best fit ever.  Eri is a trans woman who totally gets B, and Jodie is so kind and understanding.  Jodie and Eri even agree to adopt Gooseberry.  B learns quickly however that training a dog isn’t going to be as easy as they expected.  Gooseberry is anxious and barely lets B pet him, let alone train him.  Will Gooseberry ever feel at ease with B?  And how can B teach Gooseberry to trust when they know so little about trust themself.  In many ways Gooseberry and B have a lot in common.

As B, Gooseberry, Jodie and Eri begin their journey to becoming the type of loving and caring family that B has always dreamed of, B is also dealing with problems in school including learning problems, anxiety, bullying, and worrying about finding the perfect name for themself. 

In Chapter One, B writes:

 I’m not a boy or a girl really but I do like some boyish things.  I use they/them pronouns, but I can’t get anyone but my friends to use them. 
My friend Clementine uses ze/zer pronouns, and when ze tells people, most people – especially adults – are like “What is that?”  Ugh.  Why are adults so not good at listening?

I want to change my name because it feels too much like it’s for a girl. 
The problem is that every name I come up with, I know people would assume is for a boy or a girl.  Really, no name has to be only a boy name or a girl name, but people make assumptions.  It’s hard to imagine there’s
one that’s just right for me.  Then sometimes I’m like, Maybe B is my name.
B is the first letter of my old name, so it just feels easier to keep, but it still doesn’t feel quite right.  I go by B for now until I can figure out something else.

Gooseberry is a heartwarming middle-grade novel full of hope, about a young nonbinary person who is searching for friendships and family and finally finding it with a sweet rescue dog named Gooseberry, and loving inclusive new foster parents, Jodie and Eri.

Robin Gow (they/them) writes about themself at the back of this book:   Robin Gow is a poet, educator, and witch from rural Pennsylvania.  It is community educator on disability justice and LGBTQIA2+ issues.  Fae lives with faer partner and their many lovely pets.  Fae enjoys wandering in the woods and any kind of art and crafts.  They write; Gooseberry is “For queer and trans youth everywhere. You deserve to be seen and celebrated.”
– Follow Robin Gow online at robingow.com. 

This book review was submitted by Stand with Trans
advocate Barb Shumer, who is a past board member and
retired public librarian..