Seekers: Great Bear Lake by Erin Hunter

August 2009, Egmont Books

421 pages

Review copy

Children's, 9+

Clouds: 2/5

Cushions: 2/5

Smiles: 3/5

Tissues: 2/5

Yunaleska's recommended rating: ♥♥♥♥

Yet another book where I haven't read the previous installment, but that didn't matter a bit. I got plunged into the lives of Lusa, Toklo and Kallik who have all, for one reason or another been abandoned and journey for different reasons to the same lake.

Kallik's story struck my heart because all she wants is a family. She steers clear of a bear family when she sees them, she's frightened at how they might react to her. Once she reaches Great Bear Lake she discovers that her brother is not dead. This should be a cause for celebration, but he isn't the same cub she remembers from before her mother was eaten by a killer whale (orca). Will she do as he says and leave him alone forever?

Toklo and Lusa for the most part journey to the lake together, with the rather strange Ujurak who can change into any animal. Toklo is rather gruff, but has a kind heart which he only really shows at the end of the book. He treats Lusa's imitation of Ujurak's strange ways with contempt; no, she can't turn into different animals at will, but she can sense that all is not right in the world. That some water is unsuitable for drinking.

The amount of emotional conflict is high in this novel. Yes, there is some actual conflict where the bears fight, but it isn't much. What should be noted is that the bears are different: white bears, brown bears, black bears. This is a novel which brings to light the planet-wide environmental problems. I can't recall which page it is, but one bear says something like 'It's not our problem, why should we worry about it?' Many things in life are not our problem, but the bears prove that if you can do something to change an circumstance, its a good idea to do it. Sure, there are risks involved (Killik risks losing her brother, Toklo risks losing face and Lusa risks losing bears of her own kind just so she can be with her friend) but the cause is worth all the risks.

I admire authors who write animal stories because it isn't an easy genre to write about. It isn't a matter of sticking humans into an animal form. All thoughts and feelings have to be centered on issues which drive animals. Hunger is fully explored in this story. I like the different words used to describe idiocy (bee-brained), humans (flat-faces). The maps at the front were a nice touch, one map of Canada from the bear view and one from the human view, with recognisable names like Vancouver.

I feel this book shows that anyone, no matter their colour or religion can get work side by side for the greater good, putting aside small squabbles for the sake of the larger community. Grab a cup of tea (or coffee) and delve into the lives of the bears.

The reason I couldn't find a website for Erin Hunter might partially because Erin Hunter is the pseudonym for Kate Cary, Cherith Baldry, Victoria Holmes and Tui Sutherland. Their other series, Warriors has a website here.

This is a series to keep an eye on.

Liked this? Try Urchin and the Heartstone by M L McAllister