First published 1998
Billy encounters Lorel, a polar bear from a new computer game, just as news breaks about a catastrophic oil spill devastating Arctic wildlife. The digital bear becomes surprisingly real, drawing Billy into an unexpected adventure that bridges the virtual and natural worlds. Through Lorel's guidance, Billy learns how the oil disaster disrupts the delicate Arctic food web, threatening creatures from tiny plankton to massive polar bears. Armed with this knowledge and aided by their school computer, Billy rallies his classmates to take meaningful action. Together they launch a campaign to help the struggling Arctic animals, discovering that even young students can make a real difference in protecting distant ecosystems. The story weaves together environmental education and childhood empowerment as Billy and his friends transform from passive observers into active protectors of the natural world.
Genres: fiction, adventure, contemporary, young-adult
Vibes: emotional, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: found-family, virtual-reality
Setting: Arctic
48 pages · Paperback · Egmont Childrens Books