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Gr 5-7 Set in Central Europe, this first-person narrative tells of Benno, a lightning-quick pickpocket who, along with his father and his beloved bear, has been caught as the novel opens. While his father is sentenced to prison for seven months and the bear is caged at the zoo, a kindly, childless police officer takes pity on the motherless 11-year-old boy, and brings him home to the bakery his wife runs. Benno's confusion at living with the former enemy and his reaction to having enough food, new clothes, ...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

In the Grimms' tale "Snow White and Rose Red," a bear inadvertently discloses the princely raiment of his true form beneath his enchanted fur suit. Young Benno, whose own tale in this uneven but still compelling first-person novel has many fairy-tale elements, hears this story and is not impressed. He has much more admiration for bears than for princes because his best friend—his only friend—is a bear. It is Benno's lovingly drawn relationship with this "tame" wild animal that will keep rea...Log In or Sign Up to Read More