![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Sections of the book are divided by gentle black-and-white illustrations that help bring April’s story to life. These small details will likely not bother young readers, who will be eager to find out if Bear makes his way home. While the themes are clear and compelling, certain plot points remain nebulous, such as how April is able to communicate so well with the bear (a gift briefly tied to her late mother) or how her father seems unconcerned with her wandering the island alone all day. Scientific facts and statistics are seamleassly integrated into the narrative, strengthening the book’s urgent tone. Gold’s debut middle grade novel is a bold, unapologetic look into the devastating effects of climate change and its impact on wildlife. She discovers that he has been stranded on the island for many years and devises a plan to get him home to Svalbard before her time in the North comes to an end. They form a friendship as April nurses him back to health. That is, until April catches a glimpse of a malnourished polar bear. Ironically, no bears are believed to be left. Young April and her scientist father travel to Bear Island for his research. Gr 3-5–A novel that immerses the reader headfirst into the cold, bare landscape of the Arctic melting under the effects of climate change. ![]()
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