BRATTLEBORO-ByWay Books & More, 399 Canal St., is supporting the Vermont Reads community program by hosting an event centered around the book Gather, by Kenneth M. Cadow (Candlewick Press), on Thursday, April 3, from 4 to 6 p.m.
Teachers, teens, and the Brattleboro community are invited to participate in a Pick-Up Party, where participants will pick up a free copy of Gather, sign up for a discussion session, and enjoy light refreshments while meeting fellow readers.
Gather, the 2024–25 Vermont Reads selection, is a debut Young Adult novel which was a finalist for the 2023 National Book Award, won the 2024 Kirkus Prize, and is a Michael L. Printz Honor Book.
It is a coming-of-age story based in rural Vermont about the importance of resiliency, survival, and companionship. Ian Gray fights to maintain his family's home, find a job, and care for his mother as she recovers from her opioid addiction - all the while adopting Gather, a stray dog he isn't supposed to have.
Cadow is an educator and writer who lives in Pompanoosuc, and is currently co-principal of Oxbow High School in Bradford.
"In my teaching career, I have encountered dozens upon dozens of stories like Ian's: kids whose spirits are threatened to be crushed by societal disregard," Cadow said in a news release. "The kids who are able to pull through by the ingenuity of their skill set and the strength of their character, as well as the care of their larger communities, are some of the strongest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting."
For anyone who wants to join the discussion but cannot make the Pick-Up Party, contact ByWay Books. It is important to pick up the book early to have time to read the book before the next meeting.
Next, Byway Books will hold three group discussions based on the book. These are scheduled for the following Thursday afternoons from 4:30 to 6 p.m.: April 24 for teens, May 8 for adults, and May 22 for everyone. For more information, contact Severia A. Drake at 802-490-8014 or [email protected].
This Arts item was submitted to The Commons.