Winter is the time for storytelling in the Anishinaabe tradition, so as the days get cooler and the darkness gets longer, this is the perfect time to discover a book like Bear Magic. Christopher Waite is an Ojibwe scholar of history and lover of stories and this, his first book in print, is a unique and highly enjoyable blend of fiction, traditional knowledge, fantasy, history, and a journey of self-discovery. It follows a young boy who was taken and raised by bears before reconnecting with his human family. His quest leads him to many magical characters and encounters with the stone people, a giant elk, a shape-shifting boy/sturgeon, a rock with ancient knowledge, and an engaging coyote who sometimes accompanies Bear-Child. His journey takes him forward and backward in time and through different dimensions as he discovers the world and himself. It is a book like few others and for readers of any age. Highly recommended.
-Angela Meady
5/5
