Begin

The Growly Trilogy #1

by Philip Ulrich, Erin Ulrich, Annie Barnett (Illustrator)

For centuries the bears of Haven have lived quiet lives, high in the mountains at the edge of the great Precipice. That all changes for a young cub named Growly when he receives a mysterious message. With just his backpack and glider, Growly sets out on a desperate journey to find his grandfather's long lost friend . . . and to find a way back home.

Begin is the first book in The Growly Books series. Written for the 8-12 year old reading level, it is also a captivating read aloud for younger children. The book contains 35 chapters and 13 illustrations.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Chapter Books, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Animals, Young Adult

260 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 5, 2013

About the author

Philip and Erin Ulrich live in South Carolina with their two daughters. They enjoy adventures in the wild, as long as they can be home in time for dinner. Being Australian, Phil probably has natural-born abilities to hunt and wrestle dangerous creatures. He has used these natural abilities to finish in the top four in family balloon volleyball. An avid reader at heart, Erin loves to sit with a warm cup of coffee on a comfy chair and wishes these amenities were easier to find in the wild.

When they aren't writing stories, Phil & Erin run their own business, Design by Insight (designbyinsight.net), a website and book design company. Erin is also the author of Self-Publish: Moving from Idea to Product. Phil and Erin are currently at work on the continuing adventures of Growly.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very sweet little book. It was written for that in-between crowd--strong readers who are still very innocent. It definitely hits the "innocent" mark, perhaps a little too well for a jaded adult like me (haha). I kept expecting a betrayal or something (told you, jaded) but nothing of that sort ever happened, at least not in the first book. There are strong themes of family, friendship, loyalty, service, and perseverance in the face of great obstacles. There are hints of "romance" in that Growly and his friends are coming of age. They are looking forward to beginning their own families in the future, and Growly realizes over the course of the book that he has come to love his best friend in a way that means that he wants to marry her and share his life with her. Again, all very sweet and innocent.

I'd probably rate it 3.5 out of 5. It was a little too sweet and simple for my preferences, but I absolutely feel comfortable handing it to my children who are strong readers. My son read it a few months ago and loved it. He thought it was a fun adventure story and was more invested in the characters than I was. This book would be appropriate for a family read-aloud, but I think I will prefer to save it for strong readers to read independently, and save my read-aloud voice for books with a little more texture.

[Christine Kallner · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE this book so much! A fantastic read-aloud for my adventure-loving 5 (almost 6) year old. This really held his attention, despite it being on the longer side (for him) and very light on the illustrations. There was quite a bit of description, but plenty of action as well. The action was mildly frightening in one section only because my son was so attached to the main characters and nervous something would happen to them. There were some suspenseful parts and lots of “Moooooommmm, we can’t stop there!?” groans at bedtime, which only made him eager to pick the book back up the next day. We are both excited to continue with the rest of the series.

[Blythe · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hate to say it, but this book was a waste of time. First of all, it should have been half the length it is. The gist of the story is that an adolescent bear leaves home to go on his coming-of-age adventure and decides to try to find his grandpa’s best friend who went missing on his own adventure years ago. He encounters folks who knew the friend and has life-threatening adventures. And after 234 pages, he does not find the friend and seems no closer to doing so.

The editing was very poor—the pacing is inconsistent, the descriptions are elaborate, over the top, and don’t add meaning to the story. The character development is nil, and the plot is boring. Plus, there are several typos, and despite the pages of description, the author doesn’t address obvious questions, like how do Growly and Chippy go to the bathroom when they’re on their boating trip down the river for several days?

We read a Beverly Cleary book at the same time, and the contrast was stark regarding the authors’ understanding of children, ability to tell a fun story, and ability to develop characters.

We will not be reading any more books in this series. We only hung on with this one to find out what happened. Super disappointing.

[Cassiejoan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bought and read this based on a trusted source's recommendation of it but it just fell flat in my opinion. One kid did get into it and the other kid says he wants to ready the next in the series, so apparently the kids are bigger fans than I am :) This book has an "old soul," with lots of emphasis on friendship and family ties and it is squeaky clean...I can't imagine anyone having an issue with it. But, it seems like it is too realistic to be fantasy yet talking bears and monkeys aren't the stuff of "realistic" fiction either. It just seemed to me like it wanted to be fantasy but didn't quite get there. Also, it bothered me that the main characters that my young kids were supposed to relate to were thinking of marriage. I have read lots of good things about this one, so I think my low opinion is in the minority, but this just fell flat for me.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

We were a little slow getting into this story, but once we did get into it, the kids were always excited to hear another chapter in the adventure of young Growly. Upon finishing the book, they immediately asked to begin the next book in the trilogy. I like how the story has characters that are determined to keep going no matter what hard circumstances come their way, but it doesn’t minimize feelings of discouragement or anxiety. The characters are noble and true, but also funny and real. I would call them human, except that the main characters are bears and monkeys. :) This books deals with overcoming challenges and the power of friendship in simple, innocent ways without exposing young children to unnecessary darkness for their age.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

We loved this book! I loved all the adventure, that there was no scary villain, and how kind and positive everyone is in the story. I also loved Growly’s perseverance and determination. The kids were often on the edge of their seats and begged to read just one more chapter. The only negative thing I have to say is that it takes a long time for the story to get going. And there are long stretches where nothing is happening in between short action scenes. I wish there had been a little more action and a little less world-building. But overall, this one is a winner!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series has been a huge favorite with both our kids but especially our oldest. I’m still reading this one slowly to his little sister but had to hurry up and read ahead on my own time too because big brother and daddy are in book #3 and big brother is desperate to discuss the later books with me. 😂

There were quite a few punctuation/spacing mistakes, and some chapters were kind of slow, but I loved the characters and story of the book, and the friendship and and courage and determination shown. And the last chapters were really exciting! Very much enjoyed it and would recommend it without hesitation.

[Heather Hyndman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet and innocent adventure story, good for an early reader. It lacked a really gripping conflict/villain and felt a little too vanilla. Jonah seemed to love it so I may hand him the rest of the series to read on his own, rather than read them aloud with the whole family.

[Lilac Mohr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adventure, young bear! My kids (5 & 7) really enjoyed hearing the story at bedtime. It's a sweet, wholesome tale and the only complaint I heard was that the book didn't have a satisfying ending ("It's like a commercial to make you buy the next book," said my daughter). By popular request, we've already started the second book in the trilogy :)

[Katey Magill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars. My seven and four year old loved this book as a read-aloud. The author knows just what kinds of things delight kids in an adventure book. Nice life lessons about disappointment, perseverance and friendship. Some of the writing really drove me crazy though. Felt a little like a bedtime story a parent might devise on the spot with some far-fetched twists in the plot and sentimental descriptions that almost tell the reader how to feel instead of letting things unfold naturally.
We'll definitely be reading the next book in the series though...everybody's eager to find out what happens next.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really sweet adventure story. My boys asked for a second chapter almost every day, so that's always a sign of a well loved book. Also the authors end many of the chapters with a mild cliff hanger that left them guessing and talking about the story throughout the day. This one is great for younger readers, mix of ages, or more sensitive kiddos. Now I need to order the next in the series because my boys are not ready to be done with Growly.

[Cecily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet and entertaining book! A really fun adventure story that kept me engaged. But it wasn’t too intense or scary and I think Lucy will be ready to read it on her own. It will be a good intro into adventure stories for her. can’t wait to read more of the series.

[Gina Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a cute little story, my younger two especially seemed to enjoy it. I didn’t dislike it at all but it didn’t leave me needing to read more either. Grace (10) and Zane (9 as of today!) both want me to get the next book.

[Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good book

[Stacy Kooker · Rating 4 out of 5]

My oldest devoured this series and it is fun to be diving into Growly’s world now with him. The scenery and constant adventure are delightful.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really fun read aloud with the kids! Cute characters and just the right amount of adventure for their level.

[Fabulous Fork · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sweet.

[Desiray Schultz hayner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable out loud read with lots of lessons and virtues.

[Rachael Stoldt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good read aloud for me and boys. Reading stores where the characters are animals is such fun, even for an old person like me.

[Jessica Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading this to my boys and we all absolutely loved it. Wholesome story with lessons on family, friendship, teamwork and growing up. No villains and no bad words/potty talk. Amazing detail in the writing. Goes at a slower pace than some other books my kids have enjoyed but this held their attention and they were always begging for another chapter. We are starting book 2 today.

[Patricia Tiffany Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Endearing story

An endearing story that captures childhood with lovable bears and an adventure, curiosity and passion. Loved this story and the characters.

[Amy Kannel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to adore this. It started off so promising, and my boys were really interested. But eventually they bailed, and I was disappointed that it ended as a cliffhanger. I get that with a series there's going to be some level of "to be continued"--but I want there to be SOME level of closure to the story. It seems like with most great series I love, each book has a complete story with an ending. With this, it felt like the entire book was buildup without real resolution at the end. That made it feel slow in the latter half, and somewhat frustrating.

My boys (11 and 8) may have lost interest in part because our reading time was so spotty, so it really felt like it was taking forever to get anywhere. Maybe we would have enjoyed it more if we'd taken more time to read it over a shorter period. I liked the characters, and again, it seemed so promising...alas. I'll likely pick up #2 at some point, but not immediately.

[Allison Gaspar · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids really loved this book, the storyline was engaging from the beginning. I would say that the audiobook version (read by author) falls a bit flat however. There is not much animation with the narration which makes it not as exciting to follow. But the story is great, looking forward to the next book.

11/2023: Second read through, still a favorite. I wish they made the rest in audiobook format as well.

[Chesca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I didn’t finish it, but it’s pleasant. I intend to try it as a read aloud with my little boys (4 and 6). It has a very innocent, positive tone that will probably make very nicely for a sleepy bedtime story (yawn). But my adult self likes a little more adventure or something…apparently.

[Amy Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was absolutely delightful! I'd like to own it, and have the rest of the series. I'll read it aloud if I can get the whole series. Rate at 4.5.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super sweet, cute story for ages up to 10 or 12.

[Jessica Richards · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was a revolt in my house tonight when we finished this book; the kids found out that Growly doesn’t find C.J. (which I knew from the reviews and was worried about their reactions!). I suppose this is my kids’ first lesson on how book series are written, but the lesson fell flat. They were really disheartened that it took 230+ pages to reach the end of the book only to have no resolution (they are 9 and 7). They always asked for “one more chapter,” but sadly, they did not ask me for the next book. We will be moving on to more happier pastures.

However, the two stars is not for the above situation. I’m not quite sure who the intended audience was for this book, but the sweeping narratives of the landscape and Growly’s internal thought life every other page were really difficult for the kids and I to appreciate. I ended up skipping those paragraphs because they were repetitive and didn’t add value overall to the story. This book easily could have been condensed.

While I found the story sweet and lacking in questionable content, I found it to be a rather boring story. I can’t put my finger on exactly why it didn’t grip us since it’s an adventure story. Yes, my kids would ask for one more chapter, but there wasn’t an excitement in the asking for it to be read that night. I think we all tried to endure to the end and even that led us to disappointment.

I would never dissuade my kids from picking up the story on their own, but as a family read aloud, I think we have other stories to read.

[Joy Becker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oof. This was a tough one to get through. I would have dropped it around page 100, but I was reading it aloud to my kids and they liked it more than I did, so we plowed through—which took two months! Way longer than it ever takes us to read a book.

This is a sweet story, but this book should have been half as long. There are paragraphs and paragraphs of detailed description that add nothing to the story and actually caused me to zone out. The characters are likable but not memorable. (If you're looking for a sweet story with likable characters, I would go for The Very Far Far North a hundred times over!) This book ends with a cliff hanger that is meant to propel you into reading the next two books in the series, but even these unanswered questions are not enough motivation for me to pick up the next book.

I should note that my children (ages 7 and 9) feel somewhat differently and think my 2 star rating is too harsh. They said they want to read the next book, but I could tell they lost interest quite a few times. They were not begging me to read each night the way they are with most books, and they haven't mentioned the sequel since we finished—which is pretty telling.

[Ashley Jacobson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun Adventure Story!!

This was a fun adventure story that I will share with Kai on a couple years! Growly is going through a rite of passage for young bears on the cusp of adulthood- a solo adventure. Things don’t go as planned and he ends up on an even bigger adventure than he could imagine. There are various animals and people- different villages and clans- which are a lot of fun. There is a focus on friendship, family, hope, determination, loyalty, perseverance, hard work, and more. The only thing I had a hard time with was the love story, which wasn’t a perfect fit in a story for kids. Growly left his best friend and (hopefully) future wife behind when he left. She is going on her own adventure soon. But the talk of love and a future together just seemed a little out of place in a children’s book. Other than that, I enjoyed it! I was trying to figure out how they would wrap things up as I got toward the end. Then I remembered it was a trilogy! This definitely ends in the middle of a story with new adventure awaiting our friends!

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not what I would typically pick as a 4-star read, but for my kids, it was a 4-5 star read. It is a calm story--not crazy action-packed. We read a couple of chapters a night before bed and for my anxious 7- and 4-year-old, this was a great read. Nothing scary, but a few things that are a bit suspenseful. Nice story about friendship. Everything works out. The description and language is soothing. We've read all three books in the trilogy now and recommend it for kids who like calmer stories.

I will note, however, that the 2nd and 3rd books in the series have a lot of typos. We were reading it out loud and could correct the typos as we read, so it still made sense to the kids. But if your child is reading this on his/her own, it may be a bit frustrating.

We look forward to reading the companion novel, Haven.