There Will Be Bears
Gr 5–8—Since his dad lost his job, 13-year-old Tyson has been living with his parents and younger sister in his Gramps's house in Colorado. The two are unusually close, which is a source of stability for Tyson as he makes his way through the tough changes in his life—shifting family dynamics; the drifting away of his childhood best friend Brighton, who plays football now and runs with the popular crowd; and a first attempt at romance with new girl Karen. Then Gramps has to move to an assisted-living facility three hours away because his health is failing, which means a promised elk-hunting trip in the Grand Tetons is in jeopardy. Not to mention there's a malicious grizzly on the loose in the area. So the two concoct a lie about camping in Idaho in order to convince Tyson's dad to give him permission for what will most likely be Gramps's last hunting trip. Tyson's narration lends immediacy to the emotional development but can lapse into throwaway colloquialism ("I'm all whatever about it" or "I go, 'Yeah'"). The scenes surrounding the hunt and an encounter with the grizzly are the most dynamic in the book. It's here that the story really begins to grip. These depictions are not for every reader, though. The description of Tyson learning to field dress an elk is detailed and gory. Nonetheless, this should be an easy sell to younger middle schoolers, especially where hunting is a popular activity.—Bob Hassett, Luther Jackson Middle School, Falls Church, VA