The Bear by Canadian
author Claire Cameron has been eagerly anticipated by many readers. The
Bear has already been selected as a book club favourite. The story unfolds through the eyes of five
year old Anna. Anna is camping in
Algonquin Park with her parents and younger brother, nicknamed Stick. The story begins with the siblings going to
sleep for the night in their tent, only to be jolted awake by their father
screaming and shoving them roughly into a cooler. Poor Anna and her brother come out of the
cooler to a changed world. They are left
to navigate the wilderness alone with only a canoe and a tin of cookies. The
Bear is a gut wrenching story that will keep you reading to find out what
happens to the children. The story is
also quite touching to see how the siblings take care of each other when things
get tough despite their disagreements. The writing style is reminiscent of the
2010 novel Room written by Emma Donoghue, a Canadian author as well. Room
is a tragic story also told through the point of view of a young boy. Readers will want to finish The Bear well before camping season
begins, unless you enjoy reading a spooky tale around the fire.