Reviews

Gentle Ben by Walt Morey

gingerbread814's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Animal cruelty

graggirl's review against another edition

5.0

I read this aloud to the kids. It was a kid book club pick. It is one of those books that at times I ugly cried and plowed through. Overall the story is very sweet and holds all the themes of childhood optimism, nature, and family that you would expect from a book set in this time period. It includes the beautiful backdrop of Alaska before statehood and details the coming of age story of a boy who is best friends with a bear.

kentexmom's review against another edition

5.0

I was familiar with the story, only because of the old movie. I read this aloud to my 8- and 10-year old. We all loved it. Good story, exciting, uplifting.

The 10-year old gives it 5 stars. The 8-year old gave only 4, which I suspect is simply because it contains no bathroom humor.

oviedorose's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative lighthearted tense

5.0

ferrisscottr's review against another edition

5.0

I'm not sure how I missed this book all these years. I've got a wife who is an elementary teacher, I have two kids, it takes place in Alaska, there's a bear and a fishing boat...how did I miss this book?

A great great story about a kid growing up in Alaska who befriends a bear.

Yeah sure other stuff happens but it's really the friendship between the boy and the bear that are important and it's magical. Wonderful story, wonderful characters, I just loved every minute of it.

Great stuff here.

kamrynharned's review against another edition

lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.25

baldingape's review against another edition

4.0

The kind of story I used to love as a kid, and still have a weakness for today.

falconerreader's review against another edition

3.0

I remember liking this book a lot--and then my mom, a nurse, had Walt Morey as a patient and he signed my copy. Still a thrill.

scostner's review against another edition

2.0

We did a unit on animal stories in language arts class, and we had to read several books where an animal was the main character. This was one of the books I read for the assignment.

socialistbodega's review against another edition

4.0

Good kid's book. I don't know how I made it thru childhood without ever reading it. The ending was unexpected... in a good way.