The Bear by Claire Cameron

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.