Mr. Beans
Gr 6-8-New in a small Oregon town and the only Native American child there, Chirp reluctantly agrees to participate in a prank instigated by his only friend and sometimes tormentor, involving a local dancer's pet grizzly bear. The bear, Mr. Beans, ends up slightly injuring Mugsy (in self-defense) and the town decides that the animal must be destroyed. Chirp pities him and engineers an escape during which the bear is hurt. They hide out until the animal can travel, and then head for the Idaho wilderness where Chirp's uncle lives. The journey unfolds with adventure after adventure as the two narrowly escape being captured. The story is driven by the action, and there's not a lot of detail, except for the descriptions of the country, which reflect the author's obvious love of the land and give this story a strong sense of place. The characters are not fully developed but are believable enough to sustain sympathy and interest throughout. Some readers might be offended by the use of the word "Indian" used throughout but the novel takes place in the 1940s, and its use is more appropriate and authentic for that time period. While not a must-have, the book will fill a need where nonstop adventure is in high demand.-Arwen Marshall, formerly at New York Public LibraryCopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.