The Princess and the Bear
Grade 7 Up&mdash;This stand-alone sequel toThe Princess and the Hound(HarperCollins, 2007) examines and critiques humanity by contrasting animals and people. Here, in what the author calls a parallel novel, the legend of King Richon is told. Because of his cruelty to those with magic, he was transformed into a bear 200 years earlier. The hound Chala, from the previous volume, gradually becomes his constant companion. Meanwhile, "unmagic" is spreading, and they must travel back in time in order to save the kingdom. King Richon, who returns to his human form, aims to make amends for his tyrannical rule. Chala, choosing to give up her hound state, must reconcile herself to her human limitations as she wonders if she sacrificed too much. Their mutual respect and deep friendship subtly and convincingly grow into love while they explore their magical shape-shifting powers and restore peace to the kingdom. Told in third person, the chapters alternate between the points of view of the bear and the hound. The plot pacing is even and taught. Deep exploration of the main characters' flaws and values blends smoothly with an exploration of good versus evil. Some well-drawn descriptions of bloody battles between animals and humans may be too intense for some readers, but the love story is as compelling as the characters are strong and complex. The message of ecological responsibility is slightly heavy-handed but readers will find the relationship between independent Chala and pensive Richon appealing.&mdash;Amy J. Chow, The Brearley School, New York CityEND--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.