Reviews

The Last Bear by Hannah Gold

martha_benedicte's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-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

4.0

czoltak's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I too would risk everything to save a polar bear 🐻‍❄️

missrossblog's review against another edition

5.0

Beautiful.
This book made me cry.
And in a good way.

jane_kelsey's review against another edition

5.0

I absolutely adored this book! This book was everything for a middlegrade: brilliant characters, beautiful setting, a sweet friendship and talking about grief and climate change.

It is really hard to review this book because it is SOOOO GOOD!!

suegat's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring reflective fast-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

5.0

manteiga's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective 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? Yes

4.0

Beautifully written. The descriptive language just transports you instantly to Bear Island. You can’t help but fall in love with the characters. 

readmayahread's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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? Yes

4.25

This book is an example of a well-written Middle-grade book and it is certainly a worthy recipient of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize and The Blue Peter Book Award. 

April is a wonderful main character. Her kindness, sensitivity and intelligence will motivate young readers to be like her. Her friendship with Bear, though it may sound rather fantastical, is a beautiful and endearing one. 

As an adult, I would rate the book 4.5 stars but I would have loved it even more if I were to have read it as a child. The writing is simple but full of meaningful messages.

Highly recommended for Middle-graders, perhaps to be read with their parents or teachers. The book provides many interesting topics to be discussed including familial relationships, friendship and the importance of caring for the environment.

jenndelp's review against another edition

5.0

The descriptive detail in this book was amazing!

t_j_a's review against another edition

4.5

A lovely book with a powerful message 

kaylasbewks's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book was gorgeous. It was educational, sad and just adorable. I'd recommend this book to anyone & everyone, regardless of what you regularly read - the message it shares is an important and sadly commonly unacknowledged one.. Prepare to cry (I did many, many times).

This was also my first audiobook experience, and I loved it - the narrator did a wonderful job.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Death of parent