The Last Bear
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- 5,49 €
Publisher Description
An instant classic with a bear-sized heart, Hannah Gold’s debut novel is a touching story of kindness, adventure, and forging your own path—perfect for fans of Pax and A Wolf Called Wander.
There are no polar bears left on Bear Island. At least, that’s what April’s father tells her when his scientific research takes them to a faraway Arctic outpost.
But one night, April catches a glimpse of something distinctly bear shaped loping across the horizon. A polar bear who shouldn’t be there—who is hungry, lonely and a long way from home.
An excellent choice for readers in grades 3 to 7, this fierce celebration of friendship includes full-page black-and-white illustrations throughout, as well as information about the real Bear Island and the plight of the polar bears.
For April, this is more than an adventure. It’s a promise to a friend in a world that’s running out of time.
An Unlikely Friendship: April has always preferred animals to people. But forging a secret bond with a starving polar bear on a remote Arctic island is a connection she never imagined.A Father-Daughter Story: April’s father is lost in his work and his grief. Can her mission to save her new friend be the one thing that finally brings them back together?Climate Change for Kids: A powerful, gentle introduction to the impact of melting sea ice, this story shows how the planet’s changes affect its most vulnerable creatures.A Thrilling Survival Adventure: With time running out, April must embark on a dangerous journey to get Bear home, facing down storms and her own fears along the way.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Though debut author Gold conveys the danger of approaching polar bears, this lightly fantastical tale will have readers dreaming of an ursine friend of their own. Ever since her mother's death seven years before this book's start, April Wood, 11, has lived alone with her neglectful father, whose job at a nearby university researching weather patterns makes for an unpredictable schedule. When he secures a six-month-long position measuring temperatures for the Norwegian government on secluded Bear Island, April has nothing but a set of encyclopedias to keep her busy in the arctic circle. But sensitive April, who knows the key to making animals feel safe lies in listening to them, has a knack for befriending wild animals. When she meets an injured polar bear, she helps him heal and regain weight. As the two grow closer and embark on adventures together, April soon learns that the melting ice caps mean Bear can't travel to other areas with polar bear populations. Slater's full-page b&w illustrations amplify tension by visualizing majestic or dramatic scenes, often featuring April and Bear. While Gold's conservationist message is occasionally heavy-handed, fans of Pax will appreciate this endearing story of interspecies friendship, which will inspire young eco-activists. Ages 8–12.
