Genre: Middle Reader Fiction - Animal Fantasy
My Rating: 8/10
When my class of 5th graders started becoming interested in Erin Hunter, I picked up one of the Warriors books, but found that there wwere way too many characters for my taste. However, Hunter has a similar series that traces the journey of 3 bears and a changeling across Canada and North America that I found very satisfying. The first book in the Seekers Series, The Quest Begins, introduces the reader to three very different bear cubs. Kallik, a polar bear, finds herself all alone in the Arctic after her mother and brother are separated from her. She knows that something is causing the ice to disappear, and that her only hope of surviving is to follow her instincts to take her to this place of Eternal Ice. Toklo, a brown bear cub, also finds himself on a journey by himself after a severe food shortage in his forest home leads to the loss of his mother and brother. And finally, Lusa - a black bear who lives in a Zoo but desperately wishes to see the wild with her own eyes. The world is changing and the problems our environment is facing effect each of these bear cubs in a different way, but ultimately draws them together on an adventure to save what they love the most.
The first book focuses on each character individually, hinting that they will soon meet and journey together. The two maps at the beginning of the book give the reader an interesting overview of the 3 paths the bears travel, and let you see how many times they came so close to crossing paths before their first meeting. Like the Warriors series, Hunter uses descriptive words pertaining to bears in order to really give the reader the feeling that they are seeing the world through her character's points of view. The bears think of distance in terms of pawsteps and nose-lengths instead of feet, as well as other small differences that will help the reader become completely engaged in the bears' story. The Quest Begins leaves the reader with a cliffhanger just as the plot starts to thicken, but the 2nd book picks up moments after the first book ends.
This is a wonderful series for any animal lovers, and is sure to please boys and girls alike.
Order books in the Seekers Series from Inkwood Books HERE
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