The Last Bear

by Hannah Gold

Overview

An instant classic with a bear-sized heart, Hannah Gold’s debut novel is a touching story of kindness, adventure, and forging your own path—perfect for fans of Pax and A Wolf Called Wander.

There are no polar bears left on Bear Island. At least, that’s what April’s father tells her when his scientific research takes them to a faraway Arctic outpost.

But one night, April catches a glimpse of something distinctly bear shaped loping across the horizon. A polar bear who shouldn’t be there—who is hungry, lonely and a long way from home.

An excellent choice for readers in grades 3 to 7, this fierce celebration of friendship includes full-page black-and-white illustrations throughout, as well as information about the real Bear Island and the plight of the polar bears.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063041073
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	02/02/2021
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	116,036
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Hannah Gold grew up in a family where books, animals, and the beauty of the outside world were ever present, and is passionate about writing stories that share her love of the planet. She now lives in the UK with her tortoise, her cat, and her husband and, when not writing, is busy hunting for her next big animal story as well as practicing her roar. The Last Bear is her debut novel. 

Editorial Reviews

02/08/2021

Though debut author Gold conveys the danger of approaching polar bears, this lightly fantastical tale will have readers dreaming of an ursine friend of their own. Ever since her mother’s death seven years before this book’s start, April Wood, 11, has lived alone with her neglectful father, whose job at a nearby university researching weather patterns makes for an unpredictable schedule. When he secures a six-month-long position measuring temperatures for the Norwegian government on secluded Bear Island, April has nothing but a set of encyclopedias to keep her busy in the arctic circle. But sensitive April, who knows the key to making animals feel safe lies in listening to them, has a knack for befriending wild animals. When she meets an injured polar bear, she helps him heal and regain weight. As the two grow closer and embark on adventures together, April soon learns that the melting ice caps mean Bear can’t travel to other areas with polar bear populations. Slater’s full-page b&w illustrations amplify tension by visualizing majestic or dramatic scenes, often featuring April and Bear. While Gold’s conservationist message is occasionally heavy-handed, fans of Pax will appreciate this endearing story of interspecies friendship, which will inspire young eco-activists. Ages 8–12. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

"Gold has an ear for descriptive language, and the close narration of April's story keeps readers intimately engaged. The book's environmental message is clear without being overpowering, and the combination of internal and external conflicts allows the story to be quiet and dramatic at the same time."

Horn Book Magazine

This is an important first novel, important for us, for polar bears, for the planet. It is deeply moving, beautifully told, quite unforgettable.”  %COMM_CONTRIB%Michael Morpurgo

01/01/2021

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. Young April and her scientist father travel to Bear Island for his research. Ironically, no bears are believed to be left. That is, until April catches a glimpse of a malnourished polar bear. They form a friendship as April nurses him back to health. 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. Gold's debut middle grade novel is a bold, unapologetic look into the devastating effects of climate change and its impact on wildlife. Scientific facts and statistics are seamleassly integrated into the narrative, strengthening the book's urgent tone. 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. These small details will likely not bother young readers, who will be eager to find out if Bear makes his way home. Sections of the book are divided by gentle black-and-white illustrations that help bring April's story to life. The author includes a helpful and informative note at the end about the real Bear Island she used as inspiration. VERDICT A fast-paced novel that will awaken or strengthen readers' concern for their environment and that has the potential to act as a powerful discussion tool in classrooms and book clubs.—Katherine Hickey, Metropolitan Lib. Syst., Oklahoma City

School Library Journal

2020-11-17
A girl and a polar bear forge a unique, loving friendship.

April Wood and her widowed scientist father travel to uninhabited Bear Island in the Arctic, where April’s dad has been commissioned to spend six months studying the effects of global warming on the area. Lonely April hopes to get closer to her distracted father, who still grieves his wife’s loss. Instead, incredibly—as dad had said there were none left—she bonds strongly with the island’s lone, injured polar bear, whom she dubs Bear. How April and Bear become best friends, how she cares for him, learns his ways, and masterminds a harrowing rescue effort to save Bear and deliver him home to Svalbard comprises the bulk of this unusual, amiably written tale. The novel incorporates facts, capably raises awareness about the perils of global warming, and makes a strong case for humans’ negative impact on the Arctic. April is an intelligent, independent, resourceful animal lover who staunchly advocates for the environment. Like-minded readers will relate to her and her desire for positive change in the world—and her yearning for loving relationships. The novel’s conclusion is touching and poignant, but some plot elements strain credulity or feel clichéd, and April’s dad is not a fully realized character. Sparse, unexciting, black-and-white illustrations fail to capture the setting’s grandeur. An author’s note includes information and websites.

For animal lovers, defenders of the environment, and fans of female-powered stories. (Fiction. 9-12)

Kirkus Reviews

This is an important first novel, important for us, for polar bears, for the planet. It is deeply moving, beautifully told, quite unforgettable.” 

Michael Morpurgo