When I first requested Hannah Gold’s middle grade novel, “Finding Bear,” I didn’t realize that it was a sequel to Gold’s first novel “The Last Bear” in “The Last Bear” series. I borrowed “The Last Bear” from the library and read it in preparation for the second installment, and I really enjoyed both!

I commend Gold for using storytelling, specifically April Wood’s story, to demonstrate the ways in which April’s experiences demonstrate to readers how climate change (global warming) affects an environment and all living things in that environment. And while April’s friendship with a polar bear which she affectionately names Bear is the fantastical element of this series, April befriends other people (children and adults), who support her not only her dream to live in the Arctic close to Bear but also her mission to fight climate change.

This story also touches on a father/daughter relationship after the loss of April’s mother, the relationship she and her father have with other family members, and how April navigates complex relationships with adults when she herself is still a child. “Finding Bear” is a bildungsroman that is so much more than a bildungsroman because it’s April figuring out how she—as a child—is strong and smart, but isn’t as emotionally intelligent as an adult (which Hedda, another character, points out), but the story also highlights how young children who don’t “fit in” with other children their own age struggle in social situations when they are only among peers. This type of situation is not as uncommon as it may seem, and Gold’s ability to write about it in a manner which acknowledges April’s age but also illustrates her relatively successful relationships with adults is done well and isn’t too mature or too childish—such a well-written experience!

I’ve loved both “The Last Bear” and “Finding Bear” and would highly recommend them to younger readers! The strong environmental message at the heart of the story which is rooted in the idea that love and friendship are the foundation of saving animals and the environment is a bit cheesy…But true.

If you enjoy reading middle grade, like to read heartwarming adventure tales, and like subject matter which focuses on environmentalism, then this is the book for you!

Many thanks to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of Hannah Gold’s newest book, “Finding Bear”.

After her adventures on Bear Island in the previous book (definitely recomend reading that one before this one!) April is back in England and struggling to get back into 'normal' life. Missing Bear and not really fitting in at school, when she hears that a Bear has been injured near Svalbard she is convinced that it is Bear and persuades her Dad that they need to go and help.

Just like the first book, this was a heart-warming and inspiring story showing that no matter how small you are, you can still make a difference. Making this important message of the plight of the polar bears and the effects of global warming as accessible and relatable for children, and hopefully sparking some conversations that will inspire more to take up the cause.

This is a lovely children’s book that is warming to the soul. April returns after sensing Bear is hurt, when she finally tracks him down he’s got a baby cub that needs her help.

A great book that children will love and also help them to learn about the climate and bears in the North.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

Thank you @netgalley and HarperCollins for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It was a worthy continuation to the first book in the series that I felt I should read before diving into this one. An account of our loving relationship with nature both brave and powerful, through the eyes of an eleven-year-old girl drawn into the wild beauty of the Arctic. The strong environmental message conveyed throughout the book was not expressed simply as a scientific fact but also moved the reader emotionally.
I felt the ending was somewhat ‘wrapped-up’ a little too quickly, however, I’m sure April will bring the hope of Spring to the heart of those who read it!

Wow! After reading The Last Bear, I knew this book was going to be wonderful...and I was absolutely right. A joy of a read. April returns to the Arctic after hearing that a polar bear has been shot and injured. Fearing the worse, April (and other familiar characters) embark on an adventure to find Bear. Full of excitement and adventure, this book is a must read for children (and adults!). It is an important read which teaches children the consequences of climate change, especially on the animals that live in the most remote places. I read this book in just one sitting - it is so beautifully written,

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers

I absolutely adored this book, it was so nice to read about April and Bear. This book is just full of cosy feels. I loved the first book and this second definitely lives up to expectations.
I can't wait to see it in print as I know it's going to be a magical as the first with all the illustrations.

We left April at the end of ‘The Last Bear’ saying goodbye to Bear, and not knowing when she would see him again.
‘Finding Bear’ starts with April back home, but not having a good time and constantly thinking of Bear and what is happening to him. When she hears that a bear has been shot and injured, she persuades her father, much against his will, to return to the Arctic. April knows deep within her that this is her Bear and she must go and see him.
This beautifully written book describes April’s journey, both physically and emotionally, as she reconnects with Bear. April has to persuade many people along the way that she has to find Bear, and her persistence pays off. Bear trusts April to help with his motherless cub and it is a thrilling race to get help on time.
I really enjoyed this sequel, and am so thankful that I got to read a proof copy via Net Galley. I can’t wait to read a finished version to see Levi Pinfold’s accompanying artwork, as it is always so stunning.
Thank you Hannah Gold and Harper Collins Uk for a wonderful story.

I’ve absolutely adored everything that @hannahgold_author has written and Finding Bear did not disappoint
I loved this book so much and it was so lovely to read about April and Bear again
I can’t wait to get a finished copy to see all the incredible artwork
You can pre-order a copy of this amazing book now
Out September 28th
❤️💜🧡💛💙

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

April Wood returns to Svalbard in this amazing sequel to The Last Bear. The story really makes you think about the way climate change is impacting Arctic Life, and it was such a heart-warming story, giving the reader a range of emotions throughout the book.

I can not wait to use this book with my class, its going to be a great read for discussion about climate change and the impact it is having on the Arctic, as well as covering the PSHE side of things, talking about how we can be different to others around us and what makes us unique. It also gives the opportunity to research what jobs people can do in the Arctic.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an Honest review.

I am beyond excited to go back to Svalbard with bear and A free falling in love with Hannah gold’s first book the last bear I have been anticipating this one so much.

In this adventure, April returns to Svalbard after she hears that a polar bear has been shot by a tourist. She is scared for bear. There she arrives in the middle of artic winter, where it’s always dark and the weather is unforgiving. In the search for bear she uncovers something else…

I love these book and the focus on his humans are impacting the natural world, I love the artic landscape and getting to meet the polar bears again. I did initially have some frustration with the character of April who seemed hell bent on ignoring all the safety protocols and putting herself constantly in danger. I loved seeing bear and peanut and the relationship April has with bear. I loved going on another artic adventure and the discussion this book promotes with climate change, nature conservation and human impact is huge and so vital.

I can’t wait to see Levi’s illustrations in the final book!!!

The sequel to The Last Bear does not disappoint. When Bear calls, April goes to him. She doesn’t know what he needs and fears the worst but ends up with more surprises than she bargained for. Hannah Gold tells the story beautifully in her own special way and keeps the reader guessing at every twist and turn.

In both her books so far, Hannah Gold has established a sure-fire formula: a passionate concern for the conservation of our wonderful planet (thankfully, already shared shared by many children) with a story centred on an intense bond between a child and a particular animal (a theme with an enduring appeal to almost all children). These twin themes are very much to the front in her new sequel, where both aspects are again beautifully worked into a most compelling and often moving tale.

Having immersed us quickly in her protagonist, April’s desperate need to find her beloved ‘Bear’ of the previous book, Hannah Gold quickly moves her, and us, into the the creature’s Artic home. Her conjuring of of this landscape is strongly evocative, both of the ice wilderness itself, and of the rather dismal, run-down remoteness of the small settlement where April and her father land up. It becomes very clear, however, that April’s passion for this landscape almost equals that of her adoration of Bear, and her close connection to its wild beauty fully communicates itself to us. Soon we are to share with her the glorious spectacle of the Northern Lights, as well as the thrill of riding a Husky dog sled across the icy wastes.

Yet is is April’s relationship with Bear that is at the heart of this story, and responsible for its irresistible emotional enthralment. The scene of April’s reunion with Bear is a true gem of children’s literature, as memorable as it is moving. April feels that once she is back with Bear broken pieces of the world have been sewn back together and the whole universe restored to where it should be. By this stage of the story, I think many readers will not be feeling very differently. April desperately wants change for herself and the planet, and her determination to play a part in achieving it is infectious.

Subsequently, there is a desperate journey fraught with excitement and jeopardy; this would not be such a good story without. However, April finds that certain others in the Arctic are warmer and more supportive human beings than she previously judged them to be. I don’t think it is too much of a spoiler to say all is well in the end, wonderfully, warmly well. With this author I would have expected nothing less.

Stunning cover apart, this NetGalley proof is, as yet, without its artwork. However, I know Levi Pinfold’s work well enough to be absolutely confident that it will be unspeakably wonderful. Added to which Hannah Gold has already shared enough previews of his illustrations for Finding Bear on social media to amply confirm this.

You can read my full review at magicfictionsincepotter.blogspot.com

How good to be back with April in the Arctic Circle!! I was so looking forward to reading this sequel, and it's safe to say it didn't disappoint!

The old relationships; the new characters and the relationships they brought to the story were all perfect and April and Bear's enduring bond was, once again, perfectly written.

The description of the landscapes was amazing and the underlying message about humans' affect on the world, our environments and the animals within them was so well written and just what children need to help them fight the good fight.

Amazing storytelling continuing the adventures of April and Bear. I thought Lost Bear was a fantastic book but this is even better

It was so good to be back with April and Bear. Another wonderful Arctic adventure, beautifully told. Loved it.

April is a really hard character to like! She means well, but she really does put her friends and family at risk.

We do get to meet Bear again and as you can see from the cover Bear has an addition to his family - read on to find out what they get up too.

"A real leader is someone who speaks up for change even if other people disagree."

As with her previous books, this was an absolutely wonderful read and I was drawn into April’s world and could feel her passion for Bear and understood her drive to rescue him.

I have always enjoyed books where animals play a key part and where humans form strong friendships with those creatures. I was glad to see April fight for what she was passionate about and think this is a great way to raise the issue of climate change with children. The tale makes us aware of the small but significant changes that are happening as humans continue to ravage the world, and how these changes impact the animals that we share our planet with.

I must say that I found April just a little annoying this time around as she quite determinedly made choices which were much more dangerous, and from a place of being better informed. While I understand her connection and strength of feeling, it just seemed a bit too far. I also was surprised how easily everyone seemed to accept what she did and there were no repercussions for her actions.

Finding Bear is a beautiful, relevant and current adventure about a feisty young girl who will literally stop at nothing to help the Bear she loves, and is a great introduction into themes around climate change. I will definitely be buying this for my class.

My class have never, ever enjoyed a book so much - not in the seven years I have been reading books to them! Having finished (and loved) the Last Bear last year, I wasn't sure how this would compare. Hannah has completely outdone herself - we were all hooked on the love story between bear, peanut and April and with tears at the end from both myself and the class, it's a story that will never be forgotten.

Returning to a bestselling favourite is surely nervewracking for both author and reader. Will it be as good as the first? Will we like the new characters we're introduced to? What if it doesn't meet expectations?
Well, there's no need to worry about Finding Bear! This sequel to The Last Bear, written by Hannah Gold and winner of the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2022 and Best Story in The Blue Peter Book Awards, is a triumph. Within a few minutes of reading, I was swept away on an epic Arctic adventure full of adventure, determination, heart and hope...

Over a year has passed since April left Bear in Svalbard and her life just isn't the same. So when April hears that a polar bear has been shot and injured in the place where they said goodbye, she knows she has to return. Desperate to make sure her beloved Bear is okay, she sets out on a dangerous journey across the icy tundra. But it's not only Bear that April finds...and soon the clock is ticking on an urgent rescue mission. Can April survive one of the wildest places on Earth?

This story is action-packed and full of adrenaline. It is pacier than the first, with more characters and even higher stakes. And yet, Hannah Gold manages to retain all the gorgeousness of the first by filling it with hope and love and the same powerful magic that she created in her first novel, through the bond between April and Bear. Yes, it's a magical realism novel, where a girl sets off on a daring adventure with a polar bear, and yet Gold fills it with a truth and passion that will hopefully open the hearts and minds of young readers, fill them with wonder and magic and make them care about, not only the creatures we share our world with, but the planet itself.

April is a fantastic character: bold, strong and determined to make a difference. Although some of her choices are reckless, almost disastrously so, we can certainly relate to her motivations. The story is also enhanced by the slightly humorous helplessness of April's father, the easy cheerfulness of Tor and the cuteness of one polar bear in particular. I also really liked the way April's father's new girlfriend, Maria, was portrayed. There's a wealth of educational material between the pages that can be used to promote discussion, again making it a brilliant novel for the classroom. This is what sequels are all about!

A magical, emotional and gripping sequel. A huge thank you to the publisher for this fantastic ARC, I adore Hannah Gold’s books so I was so happy to realise April and Bear were back for another heartwarming adventure. The stakes seem even higher, the icy wind more perishing and April is even more of heroine and a risk taker than ever before. I feel like her dad should just go with it at this point. Poor chap. Five stars from me.