by Rafi Zabor
First published 1997
The bear grips his saxophone and steps away from the circus ring forever. He refuses to play another note for laughing crowds who see him as a curiosity. This bear wants something more. He wants to make real music. He finds his way into jazz clubs where musicians judge him by his sound, not his species. His talent opens doors to recording studios and concert halls. It also brings complications he never expected. Police arrest him when his presence causes chaos. Record executives offer him contracts that could make him famous. A woman named Iris sees past his unusual appearance and falls in love with the artist inside. The bear discovers that breaking free from one cage can lead to others. Success brings its own traps. Fame creates new forms of captivity. Love demands vulnerability he struggles to give. The bear must choose between the safety of performance and the risk of authentic expression.
Genres: fiction, art, animals, literary-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary, adult-fiction, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
478 pages · Hardcover · W W Norton & Co Inc