The Water Bears (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781984852236)

A quirky, empowering story about a boy recovering from a bear attack with the help of his friends and, maybe, some magic. For fans of Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer by Kelly Jones and The Canning Season by Polly Horvath.

Newt Gomez has a thing with bears. Having survived a bear attack last year, he now finds an unusual bear statue. Newt's best friend thinks the statue grants wishes. But even as more people wish on the bear and their wishes come true, Newt is not a believer.

But Newt has a wish too: while he loves his home on eccentric Murphy Island, he wants to go to middle school on the mainland, where his warm extended family lives. There, he's not the only Latinx kid, and he won't have to drive the former taco truck--a gift from his parents--or perform in the talent show. Most importantly, on the mainland, he never has bad dreams about the attack. Newt is almost ready to make a secret wish when everything changes.

Tackling themes of survival and self-acceptance, Newt's story illuminates the magic in our world, where reality is often uncertain but always full of salvageable wonders.

Author: Kim Baker
ISBN-10: 198485223X
ISBN-13: 9781984852236
Publisher: Yearling Books
Language: English
Published: 09/14/2021
Pages: 272
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.39lbs
Size: 7.80h x 5.20w x 0.70d

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 4.3
Point Value: 8
Interest Level: Middle Grade
Quiz #/Name: 511012 / Water Bears