Moon Bear

In northern Laos, 12-year-old Tam and his family endure one hardship after the next. His family is forced out of its mountain home to make way for a road, a hidden bomb kills his father, and Tam is sent away to work a dangerous job tending a handful of caged bears for a man known as the Doctor. Lewis’s (Wild Wings) simple word choice and sentence structure belie the rich atmosphere and symbolism that she deftly integrates into this tale, which is populated by relatable and fully realized characters. At the heart of the story is Sôok-dìi, a moon bear cub that Tam helps raise from infancy. Like Tam, the bear is a victim of circumstances—forced to live in a cage and endure experimentation, he is restless and yearns to be free. Through Tam’s selfless quest to get the bear back to the wild, and his protection of the cub at the expense of his own well-being, readers witness the depths of his bravery, compassion, and strong moral compass. Art not seen by PW. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Barry Goldblatt, Barry Goldblatt Literary. (Mar.)