Strays

by Ron Koertge

Book Overview

Could life as a foster kid lead to unexpected benefits? A teenager's link to animals gives way to human connection in a smart, incisive novel.

Sixteen-year-old Ted O'Connor's parents just died in a fiery car crash, and now he's stuck with a set of semi-psycho foster parents, two foster brothers -- Astin, the cocky gearhead, and C.W., the sometimes gangsta -- and an inner-city high school full of delinquents. He's having pretty much the...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0763643777
• ISBN13: 9780763643775
• Release Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Candlewick Press (MA)
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.3" x 7.5"
• Age Range: 14 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 9 and higher

Customer Reviews

Marvelous Magic Realism!

I happened to pick this book up at the library and was immediately drawn in by the way Ron Koetrge writes. I was especially enthralled and pleased by the magic realism and those marvelous talking dogs et al. The protagonist, Ted O'Connor is the sort of social outcast that readers wouldn't want to identify with if it weren't for the fact that he's become a dog magnet after his parents tragic death. Who can resist him? That's the beauty of the magic realism in this book. His parents had a pet store, and his mother seemed to know everything about animals and told him strange and unusual facts about them. And it is through the animals that we are able to get a glimpse of his grief, because his interactions with them are so emotionally tied to his memories of his mother. The magic realism is what initially humanizes his character and makes us care about him.

A simply remarkable book.

Ted's parents die in a car crash, and he is placed in foster care in a nearby town. His foster parents are a bit odd, but life will be stable in their home as long as Ted, and two foster chums, Astin and C.W. follow the rules. Ted's own parents, who owned a pet shop, were just plain awful: his mother was a bleeding heart for animals and spent more time nurturing them than her son. His father was a skinflint who made inappropriate comments to his son ("you don't have a sibling because I can't breed in captivity"), as well as giving him bad advice ("wear a bowtie so as to be approachable"). Ted was a social outcast, his former schoolmates claimed he smelled like animals and bullied and tormented the boy who didn't fight back. But, happily, Ted shares a special clairvoyance with animals--in conversation he offers kindness and understanding, they offer guidance and support. The characters in this fabulous coming-of-age story are all loners who seek footage as individuals in the world. This story, told by Ted, and interspersed with his thoughts, is truly heartwarming. Moreover, the reader is not an isolated onlooker, but actually feels as if he is in Ted's skin--by golly, this is no mean feat.

Intriguing story

Teen Ted's parents just died in a fiery car cash and he's stuck with a set of strange foster parents and an inner-city high school full of delinquents. It's the most miserable time of his life - but despite it all things are changing, in this intriguing story of a teen who faces some terrible disasters and through them, learns lessons on coping and building new worlds.

The perfect book to take to the park and dig into on a warm summer day

It's in our nature to resist change. The strange and unfamiliar are hard enough to accept when we know it's coming, but when change is thrust upon us, we can either surrender to the despair that wants to come along with it or we can rise to the challenge and figure out how these new things fit into our lives. And then there are those who think they're surrendering but answer the challenge with a rare blend of courage and insight. In STRAYS, we meet 16-year-old Ted O'Connor, recently placed in foster care following the untimely death of his parents. In the care of the Rafters, he meets C.W. and Astin, two other boys who introduce Ted to life as a foster child, a world seemingly apt for someone who now considers himself a "stray." As Ted acclimates to a new school and tries to process life without his parents, he comes to understand a self-reliance he never knew in his old life. His ability to communicate with animals --- he has conversations with several --- means he never has to be alone. But Ted knows he can't rely on just animals for companionship. The question is: Can he learn how to live with people in the same way? Anyone familiar with Koertge's past novels knows to expect a taut, multi-layered narrative. Indeed, STRAYS delivers in spades, offering readers a deceptively simple story that is rich with a gamut of levels to explore and contemplate. The heart of the story is Ted's journey as he struggles to figure out what life means on his own and comes to understand that there is a home out there for any stray willing to make one. I found myself most intrigued by the Rafters, Ted's foster parents. Mr. Rafter could easily have been the stereotyped taskmaster, and while he certainly doesn't hold back his opinions, you feel sympathy for him as he tries to keep moving forward in life while caring for his addled wife. Koertge also does an excellent job of placing Ted in the middle, unsure how to respond to either parent but determined to listen to the advice of his foster brother, Astin, and toe the line until he turns 18. The fantastical element --- Ted's ability to communicate with animals --- is probably the least developed aspect of the book. I was never sure if he was actually having the conversations or if they were in his head. It's an interesting element, but I don't think it accomplishes what the author wants. Still, there is no denying the power in Koertge's storytelling and how he is able to handle the difficult topic of losing one's parents and treat it with respect and sensitivity. The perfect book to take to the park and dig into on a warm summer day, STRAYS is funny, touching, thoughtful and a must-read for Koertge fans. --- Reviewed by Brian Farrey