by Jean Little
First published 2009
Kallik and Taqqiq have found each other at last. The polar bear siblings now travel with black bear Lusa, grizzly Toklo, and the enigmatic Ujurak, who can shift between bear and human forms. The five companions believe they have discovered the location of their ultimate goal: the Last Great Wilderness. But reaching this promised land requires crossing the Smoke Mountains, where fires rage and dangers lurk beyond anything they have encountered. Each step forward tests their bonds and their resolve. The mountains hold perils that could destroy them before they reach their destination. Together, these unlikely allies must face their greatest challenge yet, driven by hope for a place where all bears can find sanctuary.
Genres: fiction, animals, adventure, fantasy
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: found-family, unlikely-allies
Setting: Smoke Mountains
288 pages · Hardcover · HarperCollins