About the Book:
They were sisters and they would last past the end of time.
Sam and her sister, Elena, dream of another life. On the island off the coast of Washington where they were born and raised, they and their mother struggle to survive. Sam works long days on the ferry that delivers wealthy mainlanders to their vacation homes while Elena bartends at the local golf club, but even together they can't earn enough to get by, stirring their frustration about the limits that shape their existence.
Then one night on the boat, Sam spots a bear swimming the dark waters of the channel. Where is it going? What does it want? When the bear turns up by their home, Sam, terrified, is more convinced than ever that it's time to leave the island. But Elena responds differently to the massive beast. Enchanted by its presence, she throws into doubt the plan to escape and puts their long-held dream in danger.
A story about the bonds of sisterhood and the mysteries of the animals that live among us — and within us — Bear is a propulsive, mythical, rich novel from one of the most acclaimed young writers in America.
Published by Scribe Publications Australia
Released July 2024
My Thoughts:
Bear was such a thrilling and unique story. I had no idea where this story was headed and still find myself shocked with how it all wrapped up.
Sam and Elena have a plan. After years of nursing their mother through terminal illness, once she's passed, they'll sell the house and leave their insulated island life behind, onto bigger and better things.
Then a bear shows up. A huge grizzly bear, not only unheard of on the San Juan Islands, but rarer than rare in Washington state. For Sam, this bear becomes the symbol of all that is wrong with their lives, yet for Elena, it becomes a symbol of something else, something magical, and she defies all warnings from the authorities, her sister, possibly even her own common sense, and begins to tread a very dangerous path.
The continued presence of the bear, Elena's attachment to it, and their mother's inevitable death, cause the sister's relationship to fracture. The ending of this novel was so sad and tragic, so inevitable, yet still utterly shocking.
I loved this one, it was fantastic. A little bit fairytale-ish in its final pages, which sort of came out of nowhere, but didn't impact on my overall enjoyment of the story. Highly recommend this one.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
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