June 1, 2013
Gr 5-8-When boys are looking for a good read they turn to authors like Will Hobbs who consistently provides a story that interweaves survival skills, the great outdoors, and spine-tingling adventure. Nick, a 15-year-old Inuit boy living in Alaska, learned from his grandfather how to hunt to feed his family. Like any Inuit hunter, he believes in respecting the animal and taking only what is needed. The book opens with an ordinary hunt where Nick fells a caribou and cuts it up to take home. As he nears his boat, a huge bear appears out of nowhere and viciously attacks him for the food in his pack. This monstrous bear appears to be part grizzly and part polar bear (a "grolar" bear), a possible crossbreeding of the two species. When he returns to his village, Nick receives a letter from his half brother, a professional wildlife photographer, asking him to come along with him into the wild to document the Alaskan wildlife and how global warming has affected their survival. Initially reluctant to leave his sick grandfather behind, Nick realizes that this will be a trip of a lifetime. But all bets are off when a chance meeting with the "grolar" bear changes everything. Hobbs's story (HarperCollins, 2013) addresses the importance of family, global warming, and the place the natural world plays in our lives. This audio is guaranteed to keep listeners on the edge of their seats. Nick Cordero's narration is spot-on, sounding like a teenager with a good story to tell. Don't save this just for the boys-girls will like it too.-Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
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