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wickedccat's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent comic adventure/fairy tale with a 'thing' for moustaches...
It's a man's world for orphan Stella, found in the Arctic by an explorer and adopted, brought up to look on the globe as somewhere exciting to discover... but girls are NOT expected or encouraged to this kind of career. Persuasion and determination and Stella finds herself, alongside several other boys, on her first expedition to the cold lands in which she was found.
I won't describe deeply what happens next, but alongside a few obvious plot developments that see the children having to call upon their own strengths and form alliances, they get to become true explorers and meet creatures nobody has ever seen before. Some benign, some deadly...
A great set of characters in Stella and her comrades, with a fab set of skills between them (including magic!) and the story moves quickly from one escapade to the next, returning to the heart of Stella and her story with a rather dark heart in which all the characters get a chance to grow.
I was reminded of Phileas Fogg and his world in this, the world of the 'gentleman traveller'. Each of the several groups of explorers, of which the Polar Bears' is just one, each have different rules, priorities and specialties. All seem obsessed with moustaches though, amusingly. And the end of the book gives us a glimpse of the rules of each exploring club, which are hilarious. Excellent addition.
Really enjoyable, it's a joyous and thrilling adventure, with echoes of a certain Hans Christian Andersen story and sets itself up for a whole series of adventures in new contexts. I hope this gets picked up as a potential film, it has some wonderfully strong characters, features friendship and teamwork and has a lot of heart that would transfer superbly to a children's film.
One for ages 9-13.
It's a man's world for orphan Stella, found in the Arctic by an explorer and adopted, brought up to look on the globe as somewhere exciting to discover... but girls are NOT expected or encouraged to this kind of career. Persuasion and determination and Stella finds herself, alongside several other boys, on her first expedition to the cold lands in which she was found.
I won't describe deeply what happens next, but alongside a few obvious plot developments that see the children having to call upon their own strengths and form alliances, they get to become true explorers and meet creatures nobody has ever seen before. Some benign, some deadly...
A great set of characters in Stella and her comrades, with a fab set of skills between them (including magic!) and the story moves quickly from one escapade to the next, returning to the heart of Stella and her story with a rather dark heart in which all the characters get a chance to grow.
I was reminded of Phileas Fogg and his world in this, the world of the 'gentleman traveller'. Each of the several groups of explorers, of which the Polar Bears' is just one, each have different rules, priorities and specialties. All seem obsessed with moustaches though, amusingly. And the end of the book gives us a glimpse of the rules of each exploring club, which are hilarious. Excellent addition.
Really enjoyable, it's a joyous and thrilling adventure, with echoes of a certain Hans Christian Andersen story and sets itself up for a whole series of adventures in new contexts. I hope this gets picked up as a potential film, it has some wonderfully strong characters, features friendship and teamwork and has a lot of heart that would transfer superbly to a children's film.
One for ages 9-13.
ketutar's review against another edition
4.0
The beginning was absolutely horrible.
We have a sassy 12 years old girl who wasn't allowed to do the only thing she wanted to do, but she didn't do anything similar on a small scale, she wasn't training to become an explorer or anything like that.
We have the horrible aunt who tries to force the girl into a mold.
We have a wonderful dad who goes against everything to make his little girl happy.
Her best friend is this boy who is a bit Autistic (or behaves like one), and she is the only one who understands him, appreciates him, and likes him.
And then we get the Draco Malfoy copy enemy.
It doesn't get any better until about 1/3 of the book when the circumstances lead to the kids to be forced to take care of themselves. Then they manage to clear up most of the cliches, tropes and caricatures, and it ends in a rather OK note.
For some reason, they use wolves as sled dogs. Not actual dogs.
And they have unicorns. Not horses.
We have a sassy 12 years old girl who wasn't allowed to do the only thing she wanted to do, but she didn't do anything similar on a small scale, she wasn't training to become an explorer or anything like that.
We have the horrible aunt who tries to force the girl into a mold.
We have a wonderful dad who goes against everything to make his little girl happy.
Her best friend is this boy who is a bit Autistic (or behaves like one), and she is the only one who understands him, appreciates him, and likes him.
And then we get the Draco Malfoy copy enemy.
It doesn't get any better until about 1/3 of the book when the circumstances lead to the kids to be forced to take care of themselves. Then they manage to clear up most of the cliches, tropes and caricatures, and it ends in a rather OK note.
For some reason, they use wolves as sled dogs. Not actual dogs.
And they have unicorns. Not horses.
lubmed's review against another edition
Leído para Polarthon 2021 // Me encantó y me reí muchísimo. Un viaje mágico y divertido con un cast de personajes muy entrañables, y un montón de animalitos preciosos.
cwritesu's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
5.0
- I liked this way more than I expected to.
- The world-building was excellently done. I truly wanted to join the exploration-- & I hate winter with a passion, so that says something!
- Felix is amazing!! Good on him for being that rare, "awesome supportive" guardian who manages to live thru the book, & not impede the adventure.
- All the creatures had me fascinated and thinking them through!
- I felt immersed as I read, & I always love that, getting lost in a good story.
mythicmelon's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
josie_addison's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
missbookiverse's review against another edition
3.0
Zebra-Einhörner, Zwergdinosaurier und heißhungrige Kohlköpfe – Stellas Welt ist voll von diesen Wesen. Hinter jeder Ecke lauert eine neue kreative und meist zuckersüße Überraschung, so dass es sich ein bisschen wie ein Spaziergang durch Oz anfühlt. Doch für Stella ist das ziemlich normal, denn sie lebt in dieser Welt und möchte mit ihrem Adoptivvater Felix noch viel mehr von ihr erforschen (im Fall dieses Abenteuers: den kältesten Punkt der Icelands).
Auf geschicktes Worldbuilding wird weitestgehend verzichtet, genau wie auf komplexe Sprache und überraschende Wendungen in der Handlung. Das ist ein bisschen schade, aber vollkommen in Ordnung in Anbetracht der Zielgruppe. Dafür hat die Autorin für feministische Töne gesorgt (Stella ist die erste zugelassene weibliche Entdeckerin… daher allerdings auch fast die einzige weibliche Figur) und in Stellas Freundeskreis Diversity eingebracht (ein Junge hat braune Haut, ein anderer weist neurodivergente Züge auf).
Die Atmosphäre ist herrlich frostig, verschneit und magisch. Es gibt neben dem Polar Bear Explorers’ Club noch 3 andere Clubs und da dieses Buch laut Goodreads Teil 1 einer Reihe ist, hoffe ich ganz stark, dass es das Team in den Fortsetzungen in die Wüste (Desert Jackal Explorers), den Dschungel (Jungle Cat Explorers) und aufs offene Meer (Ocean Squid Explorers) verschlagen wird. Ich wäre wieder mit im Gepäck.
Auf geschicktes Worldbuilding wird weitestgehend verzichtet, genau wie auf komplexe Sprache und überraschende Wendungen in der Handlung. Das ist ein bisschen schade, aber vollkommen in Ordnung in Anbetracht der Zielgruppe. Dafür hat die Autorin für feministische Töne gesorgt (Stella ist die erste zugelassene weibliche Entdeckerin… daher allerdings auch fast die einzige weibliche Figur) und in Stellas Freundeskreis Diversity eingebracht (ein Junge hat braune Haut, ein anderer weist neurodivergente Züge auf).
Die Atmosphäre ist herrlich frostig, verschneit und magisch. Es gibt neben dem Polar Bear Explorers’ Club noch 3 andere Clubs und da dieses Buch laut Goodreads Teil 1 einer Reihe ist, hoffe ich ganz stark, dass es das Team in den Fortsetzungen in die Wüste (Desert Jackal Explorers), den Dschungel (Jungle Cat Explorers) und aufs offene Meer (Ocean Squid Explorers) verschlagen wird. Ich wäre wieder mit im Gepäck.
michalice's review against another edition
5.0
When you’ve worked with a publicist for a while, and they ask you to be part of a new book release which ends up being a worldwide hit, you don’t turn the offer down, so when you’re asked again for a surprise middle grade book you don't hesitate in saying yes.
Stella Starflake Pearl is adopted, she lives with her Dad Felix, and their multitude of pygmy dinosaurs, unicorns, and a polar bear. Stella wants to be an explorer, a navigator to be exact, but the Polar Bear Explorer's Club forbids women from being explorers, but Felix puts his honour, and his role in the club on the line and Stella soon finds herself part of this club, along with her friend Beanie, and Shay, a mysterious wolf whisperer.
The Polar Bear Explorer's Club embark on a mission to find the coldest part of the Icelands, but this isn’t a solo mission and the Ocean Squid Explorers Club is accompanying them, and that’s how they meet Ethan, an arrogant, selfish boy who dislikes Stella, Beanie, and Shay. But unexpected circumstances involving hastily purchased wolves, a herd of woolly mammoths, and a broken ice bridge, finds this young group of explorers alone in the Icelands, trying to find a way to the coldest part in one piece.
The Polar Bear Explorer's Club was just the book I needed to read. As soon as I began reading I didn't stop, I love the relationship Stella and Felix have. I love how Stella isn’t afraid to push the boundaries, and how Felix doesn’t hold her back but encourages her.
I love the magical aspect to it, who wouldn’t want a pet Unicorn, or a Pygmy Dragon, or a Polar Bear (minus the potential squashing), or even mini Penguins in a mini igloo. Even the meaner side of the magical creatures make an impact, Yetis and the Frosties.
The Polar Bear Explorer's Club is the perfect book for an adventure seeking child...or adult. I love how the plot was easy to follow, but kept you wanting to know more. As the story progresses some secrets and pasts are revealed (one I did guess) but seeing what comes from those revelations made up for the sad parts.
I am honestly struggling to write this review, because I have so many reasons for you to read this book, I'm worried that all my reasons will spoil a lot of what happens within the pages. I just know that as soon as I finished reading The Polar Bear Explorer's Club I needed to know there would be another in this series, and that I need it in my hands right now please. I'm really looking forward to getting a copy of this for my niece.
Final Verdict
Buy this book
Stella Starflake Pearl is adopted, she lives with her Dad Felix, and their multitude of pygmy dinosaurs, unicorns, and a polar bear. Stella wants to be an explorer, a navigator to be exact, but the Polar Bear Explorer's Club forbids women from being explorers, but Felix puts his honour, and his role in the club on the line and Stella soon finds herself part of this club, along with her friend Beanie, and Shay, a mysterious wolf whisperer.
The Polar Bear Explorer's Club embark on a mission to find the coldest part of the Icelands, but this isn’t a solo mission and the Ocean Squid Explorers Club is accompanying them, and that’s how they meet Ethan, an arrogant, selfish boy who dislikes Stella, Beanie, and Shay. But unexpected circumstances involving hastily purchased wolves, a herd of woolly mammoths, and a broken ice bridge, finds this young group of explorers alone in the Icelands, trying to find a way to the coldest part in one piece.
The Polar Bear Explorer's Club was just the book I needed to read. As soon as I began reading I didn't stop, I love the relationship Stella and Felix have. I love how Stella isn’t afraid to push the boundaries, and how Felix doesn’t hold her back but encourages her.
I love the magical aspect to it, who wouldn’t want a pet Unicorn, or a Pygmy Dragon, or a Polar Bear (minus the potential squashing), or even mini Penguins in a mini igloo. Even the meaner side of the magical creatures make an impact, Yetis and the Frosties.
The Polar Bear Explorer's Club is the perfect book for an adventure seeking child...or adult. I love how the plot was easy to follow, but kept you wanting to know more. As the story progresses some secrets and pasts are revealed (one I did guess) but seeing what comes from those revelations made up for the sad parts.
I am honestly struggling to write this review, because I have so many reasons for you to read this book, I'm worried that all my reasons will spoil a lot of what happens within the pages. I just know that as soon as I finished reading The Polar Bear Explorer's Club I needed to know there would be another in this series, and that I need it in my hands right now please. I'm really looking forward to getting a copy of this for my niece.
Final Verdict
Buy this book
thursdd4y's review against another edition
4.0
This is such a great book, aimed for kids but still enjoyable as an adult. Bell channels her endless imagination beautifully, creating a magical experience for the reader. I’d love to give this book to a younger family member, because I know that any kid would enjoy it!