Today I give you the standout of my recent reads:
Journey of the Pale Bear by Susan Fletcher
Summary:
Twelve-year-old Arthur forms a bond with a polar bear given by King Haakon IV of Norway to King Henry III of England while traveling as her handler.
Winning elements of Journey of the Pale Bear:
A runaway boy seeking his place in the world.
A terrified and angry captive polar bear.
A sea voyage from Norway to England, including a storm and shipwreck.
The magic of deep connection between a child and an animal.
Remember A Whale in Paris? I recommended that historical fiction set in WWI Paris, just prior to Christmas. (I remember because one reader happily let me know it had been the perfect gift idea for a grandchild!)
What they share:
I bring it up because A Whale in Paris has a few things in common with Journey of the Pale Bear: a historical basis, a well-developed and well-imagined development of that slice of real history into a really good tale, and finally, (my favorite), the bonding between a child and a large animal.
As a child I longed for a Pegasus, a dragon, even a tiger to bond with! OK, so I haven’t exactly grown out of that longing. I make do with my kitties, but I must say, having a polar bear sleep with its foot pressing against me would be quite the moving and life-altering experience!
Enchanting historical fiction
Like several other historical fiction titles I’ve shared with you in the past months, Journey of the Pale Bear brings another time vividly to life in ways that will make readers interested in knowing more.
Though new, your library should have Journey of the Pale Bear, by Susan Fletcher. Once you open it, you won’t want to put it down! Now I have to seek out the other titles written by this author!