Gather
Just when Ian Gray is about to need it most, an enormous dog wanders out of the woods and into his life. Ian would love to avoid school altogether and fix small engines, track deer, and care for the historic but dwindling family farm. But school is the only certain thing in his life: the food, the sober people, the reliable heat, and the people who love him. Things get complicated when Sylvia moves to town. Sylvia's highly academic and wealthy family loves many of the things that Ian does, and Ian falls for Sylvia, but there are also strong differences in their approaches to life.
As things unravel in Ian's home life, a whole lot of folks lean in to help, drawn to him by his wry wit and resourceful attitude. But the state agencies that step in do not have a protocol that will necessarily support the kindness of others.