Description
The powerful, humorous yet sensitive story of Jasper, a talented young artist, who learns to face his anger.
Jasper Robinson-Woods is not okay - his name is too long, his mum has an annoying boyfriend, he never sees his dad, and he can't sleep because of a terrifying nightmare. Oh, and to top it off, his goldfish is dying.
Jasper is overwhelmed with bad thoughts. Are they a sign of disaster to come? The only place he feels safe is in the tree in his front yard.
But then the unimaginable happens: his nightmare comes to life and everything spirals out of control. Jasper decides it's finally time to face his nightmare.
Bear is a moving, often laugh-out-loud funny story showing that even when you hit rock bottom, you never know what, or who, is around the corner.
Review
Thirteen-year-old Jasper is not doing well. His beloved grandparents have passed away, his parents are divorced, and his Dad hardly ever makes contact. He has no real friends at school, and now his Mum wants her boyfriend to move into their house. And now his pet goldfish, Han Solo, is sick and his days are numbered!
But the worst thing Jasper faces is the nightmares, where the frightening Bear is always ready to ruin his life - well, ruin his life more, if that is even possible.
But he has a few bright lights. He is a wonderful artist, and he is developing a relationship with Nina from school, but even she turns away from him in fear after he assaults another student.
Jasper’s world is falling apart, and anger and aggression are ruining him. But finally, with the help of the school counsellor, he starts to realise that it is up to him to start to take control both over his fears and his feelings. But is it too little, too late?
This is a powerful and inspirational read. It has a great cast of characters and a story that needs to be told. It deals with grief, fear, depression, anxiety, self-worth, changing family dynamics and learning to face your demons. It is a terrific novel, that I highly recommend for all readers aged from 12 to 15 years.
