Robin Gow – författare

Love can be many things – all-consuming, fleeting, vengeful, selfless, toxic, uplifting, and always, a core part of the teen experience that leaves an indelible mark. This enchanting, genre-crossing anthology delivers something for every reader with unique characters, global settings, and a dazzling mixture of myth, historical, speculative, and contemporary fiction.With the turn of a page, get swept away by unexpected love blooming between two princes from enemy Mesoamerican nations in the 15th century, who'd rather make music rather than war; cheer for a timid bearded lady who was shunned by her family and runs away to find belonging and safety at the circus during the 1800s experience the heartbreak of saying goodbye to a beloved pet; breathlessly watch a myth unfold as a siren bound to the water falls in love with a winged forest spirit, their love seemingly impossible from the start. Root for a girl who emerges from grief and battles with chronic pain to discover how to love herself and life again. Love is complicated, and this anthology embraces the messiness and the joy of all kinds of love. Contributors include:Alexandra AlessandriDavid BowlesMelanie CrowderMargarita EngleEric GansworthRobin GowMariama J. LockingtonLaura RubyPadma VenkatramanJasmine WargaCharles WatersKip Wilson

In their small town, Aaron and Oliver have always had each other. They've shared milestones like coming out as trans, buying the right binders, and choosing their new names.Then Aaron moves away, and everything changes. They dig deep into the annals of American history, seeking to find themselves reflected in the past, but unsurprisingly find little trace of queer individuals in their search. People like them have been all but erased. So they decide to write themselves into their own story. They're inspired by two Revolutionary soldiers, who they believe to be trans men in love, and adopt their names: Aaron and Oliver. As the two grow and change, they will learn to take ownership of their own story-and discover whether their love can truly transcend the distance.

A moving middle-grade novel in verse, about a young trans boy dealing with the loss of his friend by writing to his favorite cryptid, MothmanHalfway through sixth grade, Noah’s best friend and the only other trans boy in his school, Lewis, passed away in a car accident. Lewis was adventurous and curious, always bringing a new paranormal story to share with Noah. Together they daydreamed about cryptids and shared discovering their genders and names. After his death, lonely and yearning for someone who could understand him like Lewis once did, Noah starts writing letters to Mothman, wondering if he would understand how Noah feels and also looking for evidence of Mothman’s existence in the vast woods surrounding his small Poconos town. Noah becomes determined to make his science fair project about Mothman, despite his teachers and parents urging him to make a project about something “real.”Meanwhile, as Noah tries to find Mothman, Noah also starts to make friends with a group of girls in his grade, Hanna, Molly, and Alice, with whom he’d been friendly, but never close to. Now, they welcome him, and he starts to open up to each of them, especially Hanna, who Noah has a crush on. But as strange things start to happen and Noah becomes sure of Mothman’s existence, his parents and teachers don’t believe him. Noah decides it’s up to him to risk everything, trek into the woods, and find Mothman himself.

Winner, LGBTQ+ Middle Grade Lammy Award (Lambda Literary Award)Robin Gow’s acclaimed middle grade novel in verse about a young trans boy dealing with the loss of his friend by writing to his favorite cryptid, MothmanMoving and lyrical, Dear Mothman is a story about finding belonging and hope in the most unexpected places.A few months ago, Noah’s best friend and the only other trans boy in his school, Lewis, passed away in a car accident. Feeling lost and alone, Noah starts writing letters to Mothman, Lewis’s favorite cryptid, wondering if he would understand how Noah feels.At first, Noah isn’t sure whether he actually believes in Mothman—not like Lewis did. But when strange things start to happen around his wooded home, Noah wonders whether there might be something to the stories.He decides to make his science fair project about Mothman, despite his teacher’s urging to study something “real.” As Noah’s mind begins to open, so does his world. He makes friends with a group of girls in his grade and finally feels like he belongs.But most people are not so accepting, and he has no evidence to prove that Mothman exists. With the science fair looming closer, Noah decides to risk everything, trek into the woods, and find Mothman himself.“A hauntingly moving examination of grief, friendship, and identity, reminiscent of my favorite classics. Robin Gow has a magic with words, stirring and shining a light on the deepest of emotions, leaving behind goosebumps (and tears) for Noah’s story. This book is a gift.” —Kacen Callender, author of the National Book Award winner King and the DragonfliesAlso by Robin GowGooseberrySaber-Tooth

Robin Gow’s Gooseberry is a moving middle-grade novel about a young nonbinary person searching for family and finding it with a sweet rescue dog.A School Library Journal Best Book of the YearA New York Public Library Best Book of the YearA Booklist Editors' Choice Selection***STARRED REVIEW*** "Both relatable and validating." ―Booklist***STARRED REVIEW*** "A must-purchase realistic fiction title for all middle grade collections." ―School Library JournalThere’s a lot twelve-year-old B doesn’t know—like what their new name should be after coming out as nonbinary. Or what it would feel like to finally feel at home after moving around to different foster families for years. But there’s one thing B does know: they want to be a dog trainer when they grow up. And when they meet Gooseberry—a feisty stray dog who seems as wary of strangers as B does—B feels an instant connection. With Gooseberry, B could have everything they want: a family of their own, and a dog to train. And B’s newest foster parents agree to let B adopt him.But training a dog isn’t as easy as B 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? Gooseberry is a heartwarming story by the acclaimed author of Dear Mothman about finding family, finding hope, and—most of all—finding and accepting yourself.Also by Robin GowDear MothmanSaber-Tooth

Robin Gow’s Gooseberry is a moving middle-grade novel about a young nonbinary person searching for family and finding it with a sweet rescue dog.A School Library Journal Best Book of the YearA New York Public Library Best Book of the YearA Booklist Editors' Choice Selection***STARRED REVIEW*** "Both relatable and validating." ―Booklist***STARRED REVIEW*** "A must-purchase realistic fiction title for all middle grade collections." ―School Library JournalThere’s a lot twelve-year-old B doesn’t know—like what their new name should be after coming out as nonbinary. Or what it would feel like to finally feel at home after moving around to different foster families for years. But there’s one thing B does know: they want to be a dog trainer when they grow up. And when they meet Gooseberry—a feisty stray dog who seems as wary of strangers as B does—B feels an instant connection. With Gooseberry, B could have everything they want: a family of their own, and a dog to train. And B’s newest foster parents agree to let B adopt him.But training a dog isn’t as easy as B 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? Gooseberry is a heartwarming story by the acclaimed author of Dear Mothman about finding family, finding hope, and—most of all—finding and accepting yourself.Also by Robin GowDear MothmanSaber-Tooth

From Robin Gow, the award-winning author of Dear Mothman, comes a gripping middle-grade novel in verse about a boy who digs up and loses control of a saber-toothed tiger.***STARRED REVIEW*** “Deeply cathartic; balances emotional depth with engrossing suspense.” ―Kirkus Reviews***STARRED REVIEW*** “A heartening, deeply felt work.” ―Publishers Weekly***STARRED REVIEW*** “Using a fascinating mixture of metaphor and reality, this verse novel explores the explosive nature of anger and the pain it can cause when left untended.” ―The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s BooksJasper’s favorite person is his older brother, Callan. They go on fossil-finding missions and stay up late while their parents work nights. Callan even helped Jasper pick out his new name when he came out as trans.But Callan starts to grow distant and leaves for college without taking Jasper on a promised fossil dig. Jasper feels abandoned—and angry. Who needs Callan? He will dig by himself, in his backyard. As he digs, he hears a voice: the bones of a saber-toothed tiger. He’s buried deep, and he wants Jasper to DIG.Jasper is sure a discovery like this could change the world, or at least get Callan to text him back. But as the saber-toothed tiger finds freedom, Jasper realizes he may have unleashed a monster that no one was ready for, and that anger can empower you—or destroy you.Also by Robin GowDear MothmanGooseberry

From Robin Gow, the award-winning author of Dear Mothman, comes a moving middle-grade novel in verse about a boy who digs up and loses control of a sabertooth tigerJasper’s favorite person is his older brother, Callan. They go on fossil-finding missions and stay up late while their parents work nights. Callan even helped Jasper pick out his new name when he came out as trans.But Callan starts to grow distant and leaves for college without taking Jasper on a promised fossil dig. Jasper feels abandoned—and angry. Who needs Callan? He will dig by himself, in his backyard. As he digs, he hears a voice: the bones of a saber-toothed tiger. He’s buried deep, and he wants Jasper to DIG.Jasper is sure a discovery like this could change the world, or at least get Callan to text him back. But as the saber-toothed tiger finds freedom, Jasper realizes he may have unleashed a monster that no one was ready for, and that anger can empower you—or destroy you.

From Robin Gow, the award-winning author of Dear Mothman, comes a moving middle-grade novel in verse about a nonbinary middle schooler who finds their voice on a choir trip to New York CityA lot has changed in Calliope’s life since they came out as nonbinary, but the biggest change by far has been the birds. Calliope always loved singing . . . until the day a mourning dove flew out of their mouth in the middle of “Ave Maria.” Now Calliope can’t hum a note without a bird appearing, so they’re forced to mouth the lyrics in choir even though they long to sing.When the time comes for the eighth-grade choir trip to New York City, Calliope worries they won’t be able to hide their secret any longer. But how will people react? What if Marie, Dani, and Feliz—the coolest kids in choir—don’t want to be friends with them anymore? And what if Calliope finally stopped caring . . . and sang anyway?Told in Robin Gow’s signature moving verse, Bird Mouth is a heartfelt story of identity, belonging, and finding the people who love you, magical birds and all.