A review by librarianlk
They Threw Us Away by Daniel Kraus

4.0

In a book about teddy bears, I sure didn’t expect so much grim gruesomeness! The ordeal a band of thrown away teddies endure hurts to read about. There’s death, abandonment, torture, being stalked, deranged terrorizers—do NOT give this book to a sensitive child.

That said, it’s a pretty terrific book. The author carefully crafted character development, so you end up rooting for the bears as they grow and learn. The desire for mysterious “forever sleep” that is bestowed on teddies when they are hugged by a child is every teddy’s fervent wish. To see the characters grow beyond this simplistic desire was a treat.

The story within the story, about Proto and Mother, had just the right touch of mythology, allowing Buddy, the leader, to ponder the nature of existence and his place in the world. Looking forward to the next book!