Scan barcode
woolfinbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
content/trigger warnings:
bullying
death of parents (off-page)
foster care system
grief
group home
homophobia
hostility towards dogs (I don't think it can be classified as abuse, just unkind thoughts and behaviors)
social worker
transphobia
representation:
adhd
autistic
lesbian
nonbinary
queer
trans
they/them pronouns
ze/zer pronouns
The first Robin Gow book I read was "Dear Mothman", which made me cry "Bridge to Terabithia" level tears. After reading the synopsis of 'Gooseberry', I figured this would be another tearjerker, but I was pleasantly surprised with how fun it is! Yes, there are sad moments. Some chapters made me cry and reflect on my nonbinary childhood. There were happy tears reading about acceptance and understanding one's identity at a young age. The sadness wasn't profound, it was more of a feature.
I don't think this is as much of an issue as other reviewers are making it out to be, but how Gooseberry was trained isn't the 100% correct way to train a dog if you're a professional. The thing is, B isn't a professional. They're a child. Of course, they're not magically going to know how to perfectly train their first dog. Which is fine because the children reading this book are smarter than adults give them credit for, and this isn't a how-to guide. Kids know this is just a book and that fiction means it's not real! You see B struggles with training Gooseberry. You experience their frustrations. They try over and over again to get it right, and it doesn't happen as quickly as they want it to. Gooseberry isn't perfectly trained by the end of the book either, so I truly do not understand the hate for that aspect of it.
Sorry to complain about other reviewers again, but I disliked how several reviewers claimed B not being diagnosed sooner was unrealistic. Healthcare in America, especially mental healthcare of trans children, is subpar at best. Children in the foster system are often overlooked and go well into adulthood without a diagnosis. Social workers, foster parents, teachers, and other adults in their lives tend to view it as a symptom of the surrounding situations instead of a mental health issue or neurodivergence. Whatever year it is doesn't erase the fact that millions of kids experience a lack of mental health care.
Overall, Gooseberry is a good book. I enjoyed the positive representation of various queer identities and how well they were handled. I'd suggest this for any middle-grade reader in need of diversity as well as nonbinary adults who need the positive representation they were missing during their childhoods.
I rate it 4.5/5 stars and will be recommending it to tons of other people!
bullying
death of parents (off-page)
foster care system
grief
group home
homophobia
hostility towards dogs (I don't think it can be classified as abuse, just unkind thoughts and behaviors)
social worker
transphobia
representation:
adhd
autistic
lesbian
nonbinary
queer
trans
they/them pronouns
ze/zer pronouns
The first Robin Gow book I read was "Dear Mothman", which made me cry "Bridge to Terabithia" level tears. After reading the synopsis of 'Gooseberry', I figured this would be another tearjerker, but I was pleasantly surprised with how fun it is! Yes, there are sad moments. Some chapters made me cry and reflect on my nonbinary childhood. There were happy tears reading about acceptance and understanding one's identity at a young age. The sadness wasn't profound, it was more of a feature.
I don't think this is as much of an issue as other reviewers are making it out to be, but how Gooseberry was trained isn't the 100% correct way to train a dog if you're a professional. The thing is, B isn't a professional. They're a child. Of course, they're not magically going to know how to perfectly train their first dog. Which is fine because the children reading this book are smarter than adults give them credit for, and this isn't a how-to guide. Kids know this is just a book and that fiction means it's not real! You see B struggles with training Gooseberry. You experience their frustrations. They try over and over again to get it right, and it doesn't happen as quickly as they want it to. Gooseberry isn't perfectly trained by the end of the book either, so I truly do not understand the hate for that aspect of it.
Sorry to complain about other reviewers again, but I disliked how several reviewers claimed B not being diagnosed sooner was unrealistic. Healthcare in America, especially mental healthcare of trans children, is subpar at best. Children in the foster system are often overlooked and go well into adulthood without a diagnosis. Social workers, foster parents, teachers, and other adults in their lives tend to view it as a symptom of the surrounding situations instead of a mental health issue or neurodivergence. Whatever year it is doesn't erase the fact that millions of kids experience a lack of mental health care.
Overall, Gooseberry is a good book. I enjoyed the positive representation of various queer identities and how well they were handled. I'd suggest this for any middle-grade reader in need of diversity as well as nonbinary adults who need the positive representation they were missing during their childhoods.
I rate it 4.5/5 stars and will be recommending it to tons of other people!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Minor: Death of parent and Grief
abbie_'s review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
3.5
This was a cute, wholesome, hopeful middle-grade read about a young person called B who’s just trying to figure themselves out with the help of their friends, foster parents and newfound furry best friend, Gooseberry. This book is filled with so many gorgeous characters disrupting heteronormative and neurotypical norms, and I just hope it helps a few kids who feel like their differences are a bad thing realise that differences are something to be celebrated.
I did find myself occasionally wishing for B to make different decisions, mainly around their training of Gooseberry. Gooseberry is a stray who’d been abused in a former home, and considering B wants to be a dog trainer and dogs are one of their special interests, they often get frustrated at Gooseberry’s reluctance to learn or make irresponsible choices. However, you have to remind yourself that B’s just a kid, and a kid who’s had an extremely tough time of it.
I loved their friendship circle, and it definitely reminded me of my own little circle of wonderful weirdos growing up. Gow does a marvellous job of depicting the ups and downs of school - spending all day with your pals, bullies, good teachers, teachers with good intentions but who still cause harm, all the frustrations and small joys of a school day. Jodie and Eri, B’s foster mothers, are also wonderful and show what a massive impact a bit of understanding and consideration for people’s differences and needs can have.
The writing was a little bit stilted at times though - too many likes and justs, which people definitely do use but to that extent? Unsure. But still, v heartwarming little book and who doesn’t love a wholesome story about dogs!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Bullying
More...