Eleven-year-old Neng, who had retinoblastoma, has written a book review for CHECT.
My Book Review
Title: The Last Bear
Author: Hannah Gold
The writer presents April, the main character, as kind and fearless when she attempts to free the last remaining polar bear from a piece of plastic that has been entangled around its paw, demonstrating that she will do anything to help the injured and lonely bear. This is shown when she exclaims “Oh my! What have you done to yourself?”. The dialogue illustrates April’s horror when she spots the plastic. On one hand April is kind and understanding but on the other she is curious and fearless as she repeatedly, over the course of the story, tries to find where Bear lives and also willingly rides Bear. The text itself is a heart-warming and emotional tale.
The last chapter showcases a very touching scene as it describes April having to leave Bear to return home in time for school to start. This is the part that made me cry because of how emotional it is. The book is a story of happiness, sadness and a call to the unrelenting wilderness of the north that is written through emotion.
I like this book because, despite it being a work of fiction, it depicts the troubles that endangered animals living in the north, such as polar bears, face because of climate change. I would definitely recommend it to young readers. The book highlights the importance of taking care of our planet and the endangered animals that have been made that because of us. The book is also the first in a two-book series about the main character and Bear and I would also recommend the sequel if you have finished the first as it is equally, if not more heart-wrenching.