Author: Ben Queen
Genre: graphic novel
Similar books: Edison by Torben Kuhlmann
Trash Mountain by Jane Yolen
Rating:
a fascinating combination
Summary (provided by publisher): Bear is a guide dog who would do anything for his owner Patrick - and embarks on an epic quest from the forest to the city to regain his sight so he can protect his best friend.
Bear is a service dog who would do anything for his owner and best friend Patrick who is blind. But when Bear suddenly loses his vision, he worries he’s lost his purpose in life—protecting Patrick! Following the misguided advice from some self-serving raccoons, Bear embarks on a transformative journey to regain his eyesight. Out of both necessity and survival, he learns to tap into his other senses and begins to see the world from a new perspective that is at times more rich and colorful than the world he’s always known.
My opinion: We see stories about animals separated from their families. Stories about relationships between guide dogs and their human companion. Not often do we find an intersection between the two concepts. Even more rare is the idea that the guide dog finds himself suddenly impaired. This complication allows Queen to explore a number of ideas. Bear is question his role in Patrick's life. If he cannot see, cannot guide, what is his purpose? Through his adventure he learns new ways of navigating and understanding the world, just as Patrick had to do. We also have an exploration of perception. When he cannot see, he interprets life based on what he hears, smells, remembers, and imagines. A solid story with some bits of animal biology and sociology interspersed.
More information: Bear releases August 18.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
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