Hannah Gold has done it again!

It was so lovely to be reunited with April and Bear once again - along with a little surprise addition to the family!

Finding Bear is a beautiful story full of heart, friendship and hope, paired with Levi Pinfold’s stunning illustrations - you won’t want to miss this one.

Just brilliant!

Thank you to NetGalley & Harper Collins for the DRC

Such a fantastic book. I read both of these books with my 3 boys and they adored them. My eldest is rereading them already.

A beautiful and heartwarming story which I absolutely fell in love with....morals and guidance intertwined with a fab polar bear story!

4.5 Stars.
I really enjoyed this continuation of April & Bears story. Here we see April return to the Artic after hearing a polar bear has been shot & worrying it’s Bear. Upon finding him she realises not only is it him that needs her and just maybe she needs them too!.
The impact of climate change here makes us really think by the devestating effect it had on Bears family. I liked the character development of April too, now a little bit older and adapting to her Fathers new relationship. This time I read the book ( I listened to the first on audio) and I enjoyed the illustrations and putting faces to names. The weather descriptions were so atmospheric, I really felt the bitter conditions.
A very enchanting emotional read that I read in one sitting and it even made me check out the web cams once putting the book down!.

An excellent sequel to the last bear, which I have been reading to my class. I know they will be very excited to hear the sequel. This is a gripping adventure of travel across the north pole in search of bear. we meet old friends and New. Conservation and love of nature are the centre of this a lovely story.

An emotional adventure between a little girl and her friend who is a polar bear. The illustrations are stunning and a wonderful addition to the book.
My nine year old daughter absolutely loved it. and wants to read more books from this author. We will definitely check them out

Finding Bear is a dazzling sequel to the Last Bear. It follows the same unlikely friendship between April and Bear, but now there are new foes, new dangers and a new addition to their little group...
Hannah Gold vividly describes the Arctic conditions that April finds herself stranded in, and the setting and issues that are addressed are done so sensitively and truthfully. It's April's inner issues that have to be faced too, and the emotional journey she has to endure, as well as the physical one, is equally captivating.
I really enjoyed being back with them both again, although my heart firmly belongs to the new addition...

Thank you Netgalley for an early copy in exchange for review. I adored The Last Bear when it first came out, and as soon as I saw there was to be a follow-up I knew I had to read it. The book is beautifully done. In a way that is compelling to all ages, young and old, Hannah Gold interweaves the concerningly critical environmental messages with true character it is impossible to NOT imagine from the page. Threaded with a needle of hope, Finding Bear is a beautiful sequel and a book that warms the heart at times, but also makes you absolutely ache. And think.

I really enjoyed this gorgeous environmental tale of April Wood returning to the arctic to save her beloved Bear once again. The sequel to The Lost Bear, April hears that a bear has been injured by humans when it strays too close to their town but she realises something is wrong and sets off on an epic journey to find him. It was full of really heartwarming scenes, poignant messages and great adventure - a must for any animal lover or young person with an interest in making a difference to the environment. The illustrations are beautiful and they compliment the story so well; this would make a lovely Christmas gift!

Another wonderful book from Hannah Gold! April journeys back to the Arctic in search of Bear who she believes is calling for her and may have been injured after being shot at. What follows is another breathtaking adventure and a harrowing account of the plight of polar bears as they find it harder and harder to survive as their hunting grounds disappear. There are more fantastic descriptions of the Arctic and once again we learn more about the impact of climate change on the landscape and wildlife. Levi Pinfold’s fantastic illustrations bring the scenes to life. Highly recommend!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Being able to return to the world of April and Bear felt like coming home.

Hannah Gold writes such profound stories about important subjects while encapsulating the importance of friendships, love and finding purpose in the world.

Their story light not have hit all the same spots as The Last Bear, but I might be a bit bias when it comes to TLB as it will always have a very special place in my heart. But I can see the direction the story had to take to close off any loose strings we may have wanted tied off.

I loved it none the less and encourage readers young and old to pick it up.

We return to Svalbard for this stunning follow up to The Last Bear and what a return it is! Filled with adventure, fiery determination and beautiful descriptions, it will have readers spellbound by the awe-inspiring Arctic landscape. We meet familiar characters again - April, Tor, Dad and of course, Bear himself. But there are new characters too - Maria, Hedda and Peanut. This time, April hears news that a polar bear has been shot and she is determined to return to the Arctic to check on Bear. But will she find him? And will he remember her? It soon becomes clear that this is a journey not only to save Bear but a vulnerable cub too. From the moment April Wood returns to Svalbard, we are on this journey with her, experiencing every sled ride, the Northern Lights and even an Arctic storm. We experience her joy at being reunited with Bear but also her desperation and ultimate determination to fight things much bigger. April Wood will inspire children everywhere - she is ‘a true soul of the Arctic’.

A heart warming book with a very important message. My daughter thoroughly enjoyed this book.We hadn't read the first book but will definitely be reading it now.

What a beautiful book and so cleverly written. Hannah Gold is a fantastic Author. I haven’t read book one in this series but knew the basic premise of it and do intend to read it also.

Aimed at readers 8 and up it is a powerful message about the state of the Arctic, the demise and hunger of the polar bears and the impact of climate change on all creatures in this special part of our world. Y weaving these messages into a heartwarming story is open doors for great conversation and interest into the fate of these wonderful polar bears. We can’t afford to let them go extinct in a book or in reality.

April Wood is back home after her time in the Arctic and her special bond she found with “Bear”. She hears that a polar bear gets shot and may be injured or dead and worried it’s her fiend Bear her and her Father travel over again to the cold Arctic. As they search for bear a delightful gift comes their way in the form of a polar bear cub!

This is gorgeous writing for both young readers up to adults. Joyous escapism and getting the true message across to children about the plight of the polar bears who are facing starvation today. The way it’s blended just works. It’s not preachy or over the top and the storytelling is lovely.

I thoroughly enjoyed this gem and highly recommend it to all ages 7 plus. It should be in every library, schools and public in multiple copies! If you can definitely read both books. I’m keen to go back now to Aprils first encounters and special bond built with her Bear. 4 solid stars.

What a brilliant follow up book from Hannah Gold. My youngest grandchild remembered the first book so well that she brought a box of tissues with her ! Such a wonderful book but we will have to buy the book to appreciate the stunning illustrations. A great addition to any bookshelf.

Ok, heads up - i requested this....and then couldn't bear to read it without Levi's stunning illustrations, so I've waited until I'd got myself a beautiful Indie bookshop copy to read!
Could Hannah Gold keep April and Bear's story at the quality of The Last Bear?
Well, I think she did.

April is in England with her father, living near Granny Apples and the coast. She is at school, but she doesn't feel like she belongs. School is difficult. Dad has a new girlfriend Maria; she is April's head teacher! But her life is missing something....Bear.
One night she wakes...she heard him surely....how could she hear him roar? Tor's email is due the next day - it doesn't arrive on time...and when it does it says a bear has been shot by a tourist in the port at Longyearben. A bear that was on his hind legs, roaring at the sea....just as Bear had done when she said goodbye.
April persuades Dad to return to Svalbard, he's not happy- Maria doesn't really understand why as she hasn't heard the full story. Dad points out it might not be Bear but April is convinced.
When they get to Svalbard, they are staying in a bit of a shabby hotel, run by Jurgen who is surprised to see a child in Svalbard in the Winter. April runs from the Polar Institute in alarm when the man says they shouldn't go looking for an injured polar bear, who probably won't remember her, even if she is THE April Wood! She gets lost. She's at the edge of the town. She gets picked up by a woman who clearly lives there; she makes it quite clear Ashe thinks April is stupid! She drops April back at the hotel. Dad is back here and then Tor arrives!
Jurgen is stunned by their story and arranges for them to be taken to the area they suspect Bear to be...by the woman who picked April up! They tell her they want to see the Northern Lights; Jurgen suggests telling her they're looking for a polar bear isn't a good idea! But things go wrong when a storm blows up, first April and Tor are separated from Hedda and Dad, then April is alone. the dogs take her to a cabin...but she forgets Hedda's rule and doesn't tie them up...in the morning they've gone. But there is something else there...a polar bear....Bear. And he does recognise her!
Bear wants April to ride on his back, he's refusing the peanut butter but seems hungry. Why won't he eat? She leaves Dad a note in the cabin, and climbs on. He takes her to a cave, another bear is there but she has died. Then, Bear makes a different noise and a cub appears from the back of the cave. This is why Bear wouldn't eat. The cub is very small. She decides she has to help. But how?
Suddenly she isn't alone - Tor, he took a sled North from the cabin, while Dad and Hedda went back to Longyearben. She tells Tor the plan.

Hannah's story of Bear and his love for his cub made me unable to put this down (and I'm not a speed reader!) I couldn't stop reading because I had to know if the plan could work.
A twist at the end of the story surprised me and left me with tears rolling down my face and a smile on my lips. Every emotion overflows throughout this book. Hannah's words bring Bear, his cub, April and her family, Tor, Lisé, Jurgen and Hedda to life.
As for Levi's illustrations - well they bring the beauty of the story to your eyes. I couldn't imagine this book without them.
Stunning, loved everything.

As a huge fan of The Last Bear I've been really looking forward to reading Finding Bear and it was every bit as magical as the first book.!
We get to explore Bear's territory more in Finding Bear and look at how important our connections to each other and our environment are as well as our character's personal journeys. The writing is wonderful and you find yourself transported to Svalbard, enduring the harsh and isolated environment alongside April, her Dad and their friends. A delightful read for children and adults alike.

Hannah Hold is true God tier when it comes to children's books. She has such a way with words that anything she writes captivates readers if any age and in this new book - she has done it again.

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.