The Girl Who Speaks Bear by Sophie Anderson

Pages: 416

Publisher: Usbourne

Published: 5.9.2019

About: They call me Yanka the Bear. Not because of where I was found – only a few people know about that. They call me Yanka the Bear because I am so big and strong.

Found abandoned in a bear cave as a baby, Yanka has always wondered about where she is from. She tries to ignore the strange whispers and looks from the villagers, wishing she was as strong on the inside as she is on the outside. But, when she has to flee her house, looking for answers about who she really is, a journey far beyond one that she ever imagined begins: from icy rivers to smouldering mountains meeting an ever-growing herd of extraordinary friends along the way.

Interwoven with traditional stories of bears, princesses and dragons, Yanka’s journey is a gorgeously lyrical adventure from the best-selling author of The House With Chicken Legs.

Have you ever ready a book that gives you the hygge feeling that autumn brings?! This is that book. It has a blissful charm and peace that transforms itself into the comfiest blanket in the world. I was curled up for the best part of today with my cat on my lap and my cup of tea slightly chilled (because i forgot about it, it’s not how I like my tea) beside me.

The duality of a protagonist is not a new theme within the world of fiction, but Sophie Anderson takes a character of two world which feels comfortable and a little worn and spins it on its head, adds a little magic and an enchanting view of nature in order to give the reader an even better idea of a world they perhaps have never experienced.

The story builds as often a journey of discovery does: we meet new additions and some old ones, for those familiar with Anderson’s previous book. The imagery is not something I usually comment upon, but it’s too beautiful to let it pass by unchecked. It’s rooted it nature and greets you like a warm hug, or a cold tap depending on the scene. Either way it brings the elements closer to the reader.

I’ve never wanted this book to end. It hit me like a bought of nostalgia: I felt like a kid again, wanting one more chapter. The only thing more engaging than the main plot was the mini stories, signified by the glorious illustrations. They were flawlessly interwoven into the books plot and helped guide the reader to understand more about Yanka.

It’s a wonderful stand alone story, self contained and wrapped up with a heartwarming prologue. However, it also adds to Anderson’s amazing established universe and there is further scope for a sequel.