Rocha, K.E. Secrets of Bearhaven.

Rocha, K.E.  Secrets of Bearhaven.  Scholastic Press  2016  244p  $14.99      ISBN 978-0-545-81303-7  elem/ms     Fantasy  VG

Spencer’s parents have disappeared while they were on a mission to rescue abused bears. His uncle whisks him away to safety in Bearhaven, a bear town where bears live an almost human existence, including being able to communicate with humans. Grades 5-7. Spencer has always known his parents researched bears and are activists who rescue bears from abusive situations.  When his uncle comes to whisk him away after his parents have failed to keep in contact, Spencer realizes his parents are bear superheroes, having established the secret community of Bearhaven where rescued bears can live their lives in comfort and safety. Bears can even communicate with humans through technology called Bear-Com.  With the assistance of Kate, a rambunctious, consistently perky cub, Spencer learns the skills of Bear Guards, who patrol the grounds and go along on rescue missions. Spencer even learns the guttural sounds of specific bear terminology such as the words for “friend”, “go”, “hurry”, and “attack”. Spencer is determined to go along on a rescue mission for RoRo and her cubs, who are being used in bear baying events--think a cock fight, but more unfair to the bears, as their teeth and claws are filed down while the dogs that attack only suffer from starvation. The brutal scene in the arena may not be appropriate for young readers. That scene, related by Spencer, will linger for a long time. As Spencer uncovers an even deeper abuse/kidnapping plot, he does manage to rescue RoRo and her cubs, only to have to leave his mother and father behind. There is sure to be a sequel about the rescue of Mom and Dad. Full of action.                 

Summary: Spencer’s parents have disappeared while they were on a mission to rescue abused bears. His uncle whisks him away to safety in Bearhaven, a bear town where bears live an almost human existence, including being able to communicate with humans. Grades 5-7.

Animal abuse-Fiction, Fantasy                               --Lois McNicol

Rocha, K. E. Secrets of Bearhaven.

Rocha, K. E.  Secrets of Bearhaven.  Scholastic Press  2016  244p  $14.99  ISBN 978-0-545-81303-7  ms/jr  Fantasy  VG  

Spencer’s parents are kidnapped while they are away on business. Saving abused bears and providing shelter and support for them is their business. His Uncle Mark takes Spencer to Bearhaven, which is a town where bears live and communicate like humans. Spencer has been involved with bears since he was born. His parents spend their lives supporting abused bears and rescuing them from evil-minded people. His parents and an adopted bear belonging to Professor Weaver established a community called Bearhaven long ago, where rescued bears can heal and live safely with other bears. It is a well-thought-out, self-sufficient community administrated by the bears. They have the technical expertize to fortify their community and provide railroad transportation to other areas.

Spencer blends right into the community and learns about all the things his parents have accomplished. He wants to help. He feels that he should be on the rescue mission to recapture the bears who are being put into a bear-baying event. But everyone thinks he is too young to go on the mission.

Kate, an adorable, spunky cub, puts Spencer through a training course to learn to speak and understand the Ragayo language and how to walk quietly in the woods. Spencer manages to sneak onto the rescue train and is subsequently allowed to participate. His small size and the knowledge of the bears’ language prove to be a plus to the rescue mission. The mission does not get to the bear-baying event in time to save RoRo and her cubs from it. They find her tattered and abused. Spencer does manage to save RoRo and her cubs’ lives, but he cannot find his parents. There will probably be another book.

This is a well-written book for young readers, but I hesitate to recommend it for our Books of Note because of the graphic wording used to describe the bear-baying event and the abused condition in which Spencer finds the bears underground. I feel that it could have been just as effectively described in much less vivid detail for young readers.

Summary: Spencer’s parents are kidnapped while they are away on business. Saving bears and providing shelter and support for abused bears is their business. His Uncle Mark takes Spencer to Bearhaven, which is a town where bears live and communicate like humans. Spencer subsequently becomes involved with saving some bears himself, while also looking for his missing parents.

Animal fantasy                                                    --Linda McNeil