Hannah Gold

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.

The Last Bear

kayla 

This book was gorgeous. It was educational, sad and just adorable. I'd recommend this book to anyone & everyone, regardless of what you regularly read - the message it shares is an important and sadly commonly unacknowledged one.. Prepare to cry (I did many, many times).

This was also my first audiobook experience, and I loved it - the narrator did a wonderful job.

daisy

Originally, I read this book because a friend of mine told me to, and went into it with very low expectations. I am not a children’s/ middle-grade book enjoyer, and find them quite boring to read, leading me to expecting to DNF this book.
HOWEVER, I am happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised. 
I found the plot of this book to be entertaining and interesting, whilst also educating the reader about global warming, and just the arctic in a discrete way, getting across important facts without bombarding the reader and turning it into a lecture. i learnt the basic facts in a way that related to the plot, whilst also learning about the importance of working against global warming, and how to fight it. I feel it was also written in a way that would be easy for kids to read and understand, and hopefully inspire them to care more about the environment.
The writing style was easy to read whilst being incredibly descriptive and beautiful. I found myself highlighting many passages because I found them so beautiful and sweet that I wanted to remember them. It was easy to get lost in this book due to the sheer amount of detail, which effectively immersed the reader without being too over the top.
The plot was the only thing I struggled with, and that was entirely due to personal preference. As a reader, I heavily enjoy fantasy books with fictional creatures and beasts, which is very different to the realism within the book. Nothing was wring with the book at all, but it is just purely personal preference which made it a slightly less enjoyable read. 

Overall, I have to say that this book was an enjoyable, easy read, and i highly recommend it!

A Super Cute Middle Grade that warms the heart of every reader to Open its Cover and get lost in the story the perfect way to spend an Autumnal afternoon being transported to Bear Island. The Book easily transports the reader to the Island to be right there with April on her adventure on the island.

This Books follows April who joins her father to Bear Island in the Atlantic circle. With it just being them two on the island for six months, April goes exploring and comes across a stranded polar bear. She Strikes up an unlikely friendship with the Bear and with him they explore various themes such as grief, climate change and protecting our planet and animals.

Overall, I loved the messages throughout this book, and I know this will open young minds who read this and want to start taking an interest in our planet and how the actions of one can be so powerful and create a huge impact. Through April and Bear readers off all ages are able to see first-hand how we can help protect our planet. I truly think, in the right hands, this book will do so much for the next generation in making this world a better place.

Everyone will really enjoy the polar setting off Bear Island and how isolated and icy place it can be but through Aprils eyes it was lovely to explore the island and get to learn about her and her passions. Its superbly written and I would recommend to readers both old and young looking for a good Middle Grade to get lost in.

Ian Brakspear

A Super Cute Middle Grade that warms the heart of every reader to Open its Cover and get lost in the story the perfect way to spend an Autumnal afternoon being transported to Bear Island. The Book easily transports the reader to the Island to be right there with April on her adventure on the island.

 

This Books follows April who joins her father to Bear Island in the Atlantic circle. With it just being them two on the island for six months, April goes exploring and comes across a stranded polar bear. She Strikes up an unlikely friendship with the Bear and with him they explore various themes such as grief, climate change and protecting our planet and animals.

 

Overall, I loved the messages throughout this book, and I know this will open young minds who read this and want to start taking an interest in our planet and how the actions of one can be so powerful and create a huge impact. Through April and Bear readers off all ages are able to see first-hand how we can help protect our planet. I truly think, in the right hands, this book will do so much for the next generation in making this world a better place.

 

Everyone will really enjoy the polar setting off Bear Island and how isolated and icy place it can be but through Aprils eyes it was lovely to explore the island and get to learn about her and her passions. Its superbly written and I would recommend to readers both old and young looking for a good Middle Grade to get lost in.

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.

Megan Engela

Tug at your heartstrings great! Everyone should read this, young or old, and see how a book about climate change and it’s effects in the Arctic can be written in such a beautiful and heartwarming manner.

Imagine making friends with a polar bear... The Last Bear is perfect for readers of 8+, beautifully illustrated throughout by Levi Pinfold - winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal and illustrator of Harry Potter 20th anniversary edition covers.

Joanna Rosenwink 

This beautiful book is not only for middle-grade aged children, but also an important read for adults. 

April lives with her father who is still drowning in grief following the death of her mother 7 years before. When he gets offered a position on a remote island for 6 months and April learns they will be the only inhabitants, she hopes that he will finally start to notice her.

What follows is not only a magical friendship that blossoms between April and a stranded polar bear, but also the exploration of how the time on the island affects her relationship with her father. 

I absolutely adored this book. April’s relationship with Bear is very moving, and I was captivated by their story.

The story contains facts about climate change and the importance of protecting the polar ice caps in a natural way and I felt that I learnt a lot without feeling like I was reading a textbook. 

Children have a way of seeing straight to the heart of things in a way that many adults have lost. April embodies this perfectly and would be an inspirational role model for any budding environmentalist.

Although classified as 9-12 fiction, this would also be suitable to be read to slightly younger children. The gorgeous illustrations make this a wonderful book to share together and the hardback edition is certainly one to treasure.

Becca West

Eilidh 

Oliver Merryweather

erin hawthorne 

Jessica Blythe

Melanie Foti

Imagine making friends with a polar bear... The Last Bear is perfect for readers of 8+, beautifully illustrated throughout by Levi Pinfold – winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal and illustrator of Harry Potter 20th anniversary edition covers.

The Last Bear

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