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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
neglectful parent (changes at the end)
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
April’s mother, she was made of rainbows.
“When mum had died, two achingly long days after the accident, she’d also taken half of dad with her.
Unfortunately, it was the half of him which was more fun.”
Dad has now been hired to measure the effects of climate change at Bear Island on the Arctic. They were the only two humans on the island, but April might as well have been alone.
As her father crunches reams of data from the weather station built from a century ago, she heads out and to her utter shock, finds a lone polar bear.
With the rapidly melting ice caps, “Bear” should not even be here. April sets out to discover what exactly happened to him, and to save him.
Did you know Arctic is from the Greek word, arktos, for bear? Through the eyes of April who clears the plastic trash the capricious currents have brought in from all over the world, we are brought to our knees with her desire to make change and her love for one lone bear.
This book may be shelved under climate fiction, but it is so much more than that. It is not didactic, and it merely seeks to gently tease out our innate love for our planet. This is done through the simplicity of purpose, and the true heart of a child.
Hannah Gold writes beautifully, it’s something you need to read to experience. There is a chill far colder than the Arctic, the way Dad is unable to overcome his grief and see his daughter right in front of him. But there is also chocolate-brown warmth and triumph at the end of this.
“…sometimes you don’t have to say words for what’s in your heart.”
Indeed. Five perfect stars for this, and I look forward to @hannahgold_author ‘s new book coming soon in March.
📚: @times.reads ❤️
“When mum had died, two achingly long days after the accident, she’d also taken half of dad with her.
Unfortunately, it was the half of him which was more fun.”
Dad has now been hired to measure the effects of climate change at Bear Island on the Arctic. They were the only two humans on the island, but April might as well have been alone.
As her father crunches reams of data from the weather station built from a century ago, she heads out and to her utter shock, finds a lone polar bear.
With the rapidly melting ice caps, “Bear” should not even be here. April sets out to discover what exactly happened to him, and to save him.
Did you know Arctic is from the Greek word, arktos, for bear? Through the eyes of April who clears the plastic trash the capricious currents have brought in from all over the world, we are brought to our knees with her desire to make change and her love for one lone bear.
This book may be shelved under climate fiction, but it is so much more than that. It is not didactic, and it merely seeks to gently tease out our innate love for our planet. This is done through the simplicity of purpose, and the true heart of a child.
Hannah Gold writes beautifully, it’s something you need to read to experience. There is a chill far colder than the Arctic, the way Dad is unable to overcome his grief and see his daughter right in front of him. But there is also chocolate-brown warmth and triumph at the end of this.
“…sometimes you don’t have to say words for what’s in your heart.”
Indeed. Five perfect stars for this, and I look forward to @hannahgold_author ‘s new book coming soon in March.
📚: @times.reads ❤️
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
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:
Complicated
April sometimes wondered about other families who just said sorry and if this was easier or harder.
The writing in this is stunning, as are the illustrations and I'm very pleased to have read it.
Couple of issues: April is very much 'not like other girls' which always makes my eyes roll although it a bit more forgivable given her young age. I like to think she'd grow up to recognise that as a ridiculous concept.
I also sometimes found it a bit difficult to suspend my disbelief. There are some things that happen towards the end of this book
(Thank you to Kaleidoscopic book tours and Harper Collins children for my copy of this book!)
There is an openness and wonder that we have when we're younger and when that is reflected and captured in a story it allows a space for important discussions to take place.
The Last Bear is a book that does just that.
This book is a really beautiful story about the friendship between a young, curious girl and a bear. In their own way both are alone and out of place and I loved seeing the way their bond and trust in each other grows.
The environment and the climate crisis is a huge part of this book - Bear's story is one that really cleverly shows the impact that we as humans are having on the planet. But the book also touches on topics like loss and loneliness and the importance of listening, both to the planet and each other.
You can feel the chill and the vastness of the Arctic in the descriptions of Bear Island itself, yet they also truly put emphasis on the beauty of nature - and Levi Pinfold's illustrations throughout capture these moments perfectly. (I want them wallpapered on my wall, they are stunning).
I loved reading this book - although full of magical realism and adventure, Hannah Gold manages to express the reality of climate change in a way that I think will connect with young readers - but with April's fire and determination, I can't imagine anyone, child or adult, could come out of reading this not wanting to do something about it.
The message of this book is a clear and powerful one - everyone, no matter how small, can make a difference.
There is an openness and wonder that we have when we're younger and when that is reflected and captured in a story it allows a space for important discussions to take place.
The Last Bear is a book that does just that.
This book is a really beautiful story about the friendship between a young, curious girl and a bear. In their own way both are alone and out of place and I loved seeing the way their bond and trust in each other grows.
The environment and the climate crisis is a huge part of this book - Bear's story is one that really cleverly shows the impact that we as humans are having on the planet. But the book also touches on topics like loss and loneliness and the importance of listening, both to the planet and each other.
You can feel the chill and the vastness of the Arctic in the descriptions of Bear Island itself, yet they also truly put emphasis on the beauty of nature - and Levi Pinfold's illustrations throughout capture these moments perfectly. (I want them wallpapered on my wall, they are stunning).
I loved reading this book - although full of magical realism and adventure, Hannah Gold manages to express the reality of climate change in a way that I think will connect with young readers - but with April's fire and determination, I can't imagine anyone, child or adult, could come out of reading this not wanting to do something about it.
The message of this book is a clear and powerful one - everyone, no matter how small, can make a difference.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
inspiring
fast-paced
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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:
No
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Medical content, Grief
Minor: Car accident, Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes