Based on historical events, this is a heartfelt tale with plenty of middle-grade appeal.' 'Fletcher ( Falcon in the Glass, 2013) blends high-seas action-adventure with a heartwarming animal-human friendship. * 'A stupendous coming-of-age tale stuffed with adventure and laced with deeper questions.' William Alexander, National Book Award Winning author of Goblin Secrets 'I loved every single thing about this large-hearted and riveting medieval adventure.'

Kirby Larson, Newbery Honor Winning author of Hattie Big Sky Every reader will want to be Arthur, bonding with that exquisite bear, in their search for true freedom.” “Master storyteller Susan Fletcher creates a breathtaking adventure. Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal Winning author of The One and Only Ivan But it’s the unlikely tender friendship between a lonely boy and a polar bear that makes this a story to cherish. It has it all: gorgeous prose, fascinating history, riveting adventure. When pirates attack, Arthur must make a choice-does he do everything he can to save himself, or does he help the bear to find freedom?īased on the real story of a polar bear that lived in the Tower of London, this timeless adventure story thoughtfully looks at the themes of freedom, captivity, and the bond between a boy and a bear. But the journey holds many dangers, and Arthur knows his own freedom-perhaps even his life-depends on keeping the bear from harm. Tasked with feeding and cleaning up after the bear, Arthur’s fears slowly lessen as he begins to feel a connection to this bear, who like him, has been cut off from her family. So Arthur finds himself taking care of a polar bear on a ship to England.

Yet, strangely, she doesn’t harm him-though she has attacked anyone else who comes near. The first time Arthur encounters the bear, she terrifies him. The polar bear is a royal bear, a gift from the King of Norway to the King of England. “A breathtaking adventure.” -Kirby Larson, Newbery Honor–winning author of Hattie Big SkyĪ runaway boy befriends a polar bear that’s being transported from Norway to London in this “stupendous coming-of-age tale stuffed with adventure” ( Kirkus Reviews, starred review). “ large-hearted and riveting medieval adventure.” -William Alexander, National Book Award–winning author of Goblin Secrets “A lovely little miracle of a book.” -Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal–winning author of The One and Only Ivan

Walk Across the Sea by Susan Fletcher