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A review by book_mark_shelf
Bear, Otter, and the Kid by TJ Klune
4.0
This book has been on my TBR list for quite some time now and I must say, I really did enjoy the read. For me, it was a rollercoaster of emotion because it did touch on some horrendous topics that is only too true in the world, especially for young LGBTQIA.
The novel is about how Bear’s mother left him and his younger brother Ty for a ‘better’ life with a new boyfriend. He has friends that help him but sometime he is too proud to ask for help. That is until feelings start to develop between him and his friend’s older brother, Otter.
I love the comradery of the entire novel and how it shows that family does not necessarily have to be blood relatives. His friends are always there to help, even through times when he feels he doesn’t want or need it. It was a comforting thought because it made me think of young LGBTQI people being shunned in the real world and what they go through. Even the relationships between the brothers was interesting because it showed that the mother wasn’t really part of their lives to begin with and they help each other through living their lives.
There was a part of the book I was not entirely fond of. When Otter left at the start because he felt that he would influence Bear’s sexuality. I didn’t understand where that would have come from because, even though Bear is going through a journey of self-discovery and didn’t realise until much later, he always had choice. It was a sweet seeing the development of the relationship and the different feelings that he goes through and realising what they mean.
I feel anxiety and love was the main drivers in this story and how both were handled was inspirational. A lot of people I think may enjoy this book but I feel that is mainly directed at YA.
I have given this a good 4/5. It would have been a 5 if there wasn’t the ‘sexual influence’ topic because I do not believe this could be a deciding factor. I look forward to reading the other books of the series.
The novel is about how Bear’s mother left him and his younger brother Ty for a ‘better’ life with a new boyfriend. He has friends that help him but sometime he is too proud to ask for help. That is until feelings start to develop between him and his friend’s older brother, Otter.
I love the comradery of the entire novel and how it shows that family does not necessarily have to be blood relatives. His friends are always there to help, even through times when he feels he doesn’t want or need it. It was a comforting thought because it made me think of young LGBTQI people being shunned in the real world and what they go through. Even the relationships between the brothers was interesting because it showed that the mother wasn’t really part of their lives to begin with and they help each other through living their lives.
There was a part of the book I was not entirely fond of. When Otter left at the start because he felt that he would influence Bear’s sexuality. I didn’t understand where that would have come from because, even though Bear is going through a journey of self-discovery and didn’t realise until much later, he always had choice. It was a sweet seeing the development of the relationship and the different feelings that he goes through and realising what they mean.
I feel anxiety and love was the main drivers in this story and how both were handled was inspirational. A lot of people I think may enjoy this book but I feel that is mainly directed at YA.
I have given this a good 4/5. It would have been a 5 if there wasn’t the ‘sexual influence’ topic because I do not believe this could be a deciding factor. I look forward to reading the other books of the series.