The Killer Bear

Sugar Creek Gang #2

by Paul Hutchens

The tales and travels of the Sugar Creek Gang have passed the test of time, delighting young readers for more than fifty years. Great mysteries with a message for kids, The Sugar Creek Gang series chronicles the faith-building adventures of a group of fun-loving, courageous Christian boys. Your kids will be thrilled, chilled, and inspired to grow as they follow the legendary escapades of Bill Collins, Dragonfly, and the rest of the gang as they struggle with the application of their Christian faith to the adventure of life.  In this book, "Circus" Brown's father makes a life-changing decision at a revival meeting. Will he be able to stay on the narrow path? Back in the woods, the mean Till boys and the Sugar Creek Gang wrestle over a patch of wild strawberries. This leads to an encounter with an angry black bear. Join the gang as they learn to apply the lesson of forgiving seventy times seven in the face of great danger.

Genres: Fiction, Christian Fiction, Childrens, Christian, Middle Grade, Mystery, Faith

88 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1940

Reviews

[Cindy Rollins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently read this updated version aloud to a student who is 7. He loved it. I am not a fan of updating old books but this turned out okay. The originals are better, but this, at least, managed to keep the boyish tone.

These are moralistic, yes, but they somehow pull it off without being preachy. The good in these books for young boys outweigh the moralism in my opinion.

[Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5
Because a family be came Christians

[R.J. Rodda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This whole series is a great mix of things boys love and the Christian message. This particular book has an enraged bear (that is shot by one of the boys) and a group fight as well as a tent meeting where significant characters get saved. I love the narrator's boy voice and enjoy reading this out loud to my sons.

[Angie Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved the spiritual emphasis in several different places, the various lessons in different places, and the way it was all wrapped up in a very sweet yet true-to-life story. I like the fact that our "heroes" aren't perfect (although some of them come dangerously close <3) and the emphasis on honoring/obeying parents even when it gets in the way of time with the gang. I also like the way that the boys encourage each other in their Christian walk (or in beginning one) both consciously and unconsciously.

Content--boys threatened by a bear; a bear is shot; mentions of drinking and swearing (condemned); some fights; disobedience/disrespect to parents (corrected)

[Carolyn Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up listening to the Sugar Creek Gang radio series on weeknights, which was my introduction to this great Christian series. I'd highly recommend for parents looking for "safe" reading material for their kids to burn through.

[Jess Combs · Rating 4 out of 5]

My kids are loving this series! They all have their favorite sugar creek gang member and laugh and ask lots of questions as we read together. It’s a great series so far.

[Elease · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is an 88-page chapter book with no pictures (i.e., plenty of writing/text going on here). On page 77, the chapter begins, "Now for the bear story!" I kid you not. The author even acknowledges the lack of promised action on page 63: "If I don't watch out, I'll get to the end of this story without telling you how Little Jim killed the bear." And on the same page, the author shows his hand: "Besides, the bear isn't the only important thing in this book, not by a long shot."

So, here's the skinny: This book is NOT about a killer bear. False advertising all the way. This book is about Hutchens sharing--in story form--a lot of his views on Christianity. I personally was raised Southern Baptist but have been a member of an Orthodox Presbyterian Church for about 8 years now. I grew up in Georgia in SBC churches, and I went to my fair share of revivals (although, sadly, never in a tent... Funny enough, my current OP church just bought a tent so that we can do services outside in the midst of pandemic precautions. Finally, the frozen chosen--of all people--will give me a tent meeting! ...but I digress.). Anyway, I get it. We need people to hear about Jesus. We need people to understand the addictive nature of sin. I think my review that I wrote following reading the first book in this series accurately captures the undertones of the gospel that I heard from Hutchens both there and in this book.

I was having to do a lot of unraveling and reteaching as I read this book aloud to my 8- and 6-year-old kids:
-We do not think that "one drink is the devil's bait to get you to walk into his trap" [of becoming an alcoholic] (p. 62)
-We do not think that our kids' unchurched friends in the neighborhood fall into the blanket statement that, "when a boy gets about half grown up and doesn't go to Sunday School or church, he thinks every boy who does go is a sissy" (p. 65). My son's friends do not think he is a sissy because he goes to church. Maybe that's how it was in 1940?? I don't know. But in Frederick, Maryland, in 2020, kids can go to church, mass, synagogue, mosque, or no where, and there's not a stigma. We live, rather, in an age of over-tolerance and "your truth is your truth; my truth is my truth" relativism that leads kids not to pick on each other over their faith. At least not where we live. I allow that others may have a different experience. Anyway, the last thing I need is for a book to tell my son that his friends think he's "a sissy" because he goes to church.
-We do not think that it's okay to lie to parents or to fight. When Bill comes home from the fight, he purposefully lies to his mother, even though he internally thinks, "I knew that before long, I'd have to tell her about the fight, though" (p. 71). But he never does! And, if his parents suspect the fight (I honestly can't tell from the wink-wink conversation with the mom and dad), they don't challenge him about it or discuss that fighting is not okay! These kids fought over rights to a strawberry patch that they had basically been given an easement to by Old Man Paddler. It wasn't even theirs! And even if it were, what about "turn the other cheek" and "love your enemies" and "do good to those who hate you." (quotes by Jesus!) There is NO plot repercussion or authorial censure of this whole fight scene.
-We do not think that spiritual moments are all the product of high emotion. Yes, these moments can be emotional at times, but Isaiah 30 tells us that "in repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength." We don't always have to be in tears or have an emotional moment to pray.
-We don't decide that we only want certain people to know the Lord. What of the other Till boy and the rest of the "town gang"? Bill doesn't pray for them. Nope. Only for the two who already are showing an interest in Jesus by sneaking into the tent revival. When he sees them there, Bill agrees with Little Jim, who writes, "I don't hate them anymore. I'm going to pray for them" (p. 75). Implying, to me, "Screw the rest of those losers! They're still on my list and can go to hell!" (No...that one is not a quote from the book)

There was just too much here to offset the very few good moments of running from bees and dealing with the bear. Although, really, the resolution of the bear story is actually graphic and tragic. It's also incredibly unrealistic and ridiculous that Little Jim gets the baby bear cub as a pet. WHAT?! I'm done with this series. Any recommendations for other books that have young boys going on adventures??

[August Maclauchlan]

Too mature for the boys. Maybe in a couple of years we will try again.

[Katja Labonté · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars & 4/10 hearts. I enjoyed this book more than the first book. Hutchens did a very good job writing from a boy’s perspective. There is a hint at boys swimming together without clothes on.

*I read the Moody Press abridged version, but I have read some of the original copies of this series and I much prefer those, as being more vintage.*

A Favourite Quote: “It was a rule in our house not to talk about anything unpleasant at the table[.]”
A Favourite Humorous Quote: “The picture I drew of myself was sad all right, only it looked more like a lonesome cow than it did me.”

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This time, the Sugar Creek Gang has a lot more to deal with than a bear. I like the very strong lesson about how God forgives us when we do something wrong. All we have to do is ask. And so do our parents. :) It also reminds us that even though we are saved, sometimes we still struggle with temptations. I've got a long way to go, but so far, this is my favorite of the stories. Very well done!

[Debra Hahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great sugar creek story. One about the decisions we make and
the repercussions we suffer from the consequences of them. Then how they resolved the weak moment in Circuses dad weak moment to alcohol
tmptation.The the big surprise to the gang in the revival tent. Even when two mean boys snuck in to hear the word of GOD. Also the life and death
Situations that helped to save lves. What adventures the boys had in this
book.
Debra H.

[Chesha Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book more. Definitely not a fan of the drinking being mentioned and fighting over it. I get it’s a part of life but I hate the fact it seems prohibition of it or you’re a drunk. Listen I’m a recovering alcoholic of 10 years but that doesn’t mean I think drinking at all for some ppl is a sin. It seems a little like propaganda and it’s been mentioned in the 1st and 2nd books. Anyways, otherwise and some other things irked me but weren’t a big deal. It was okay.

[Lara Giesbers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, faith based read for kids and takes you back to your childhood when riding bikes without helmets, playing in the woods after dark, and swimming in the local swimming area was the thing to do on a hot summer day.

[Richard Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the Christian message and advised everyone to put their faith in Jesus Christ. But again much like the other book, too much time was spent on random stuff. Did not get the bear plot it was so random. Also what happened to the missing pigs??

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a part a series about a small gang of boys and the adventures they face. This time it involves a black bear. This book teaches Christian values.

[Katrina Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

These aren't quite as exciting as when I was young, but still a fun quick read.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminds me of my childhood!

[LaceyD · Rating 5 out of 5]

An oldie but goodie! I love that I've been seeing a re-emergence of these great stories that I read as a kid decades ago!

[bear.hare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read aloud

[LadyHague · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great audio book that kept the kids and I enthralled! Love the christian focus woven In as normal!

[Kari McDowell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling but certainly for total abstinence from alcohol as the only Christian position. Pretty preachy that way.

[Joelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read aloud Oct. 9-17th 2024 to W., N., M-S., & A.

[Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christian Middle Grade Fiction
For boys (or girls ;)
I love how the boys are just the right blend of taking their faith seriously while also being wild and dumb 10 year olds. Very enjoyable!

[Caleb · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was good

[Rakayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun story!

[Dharia Scarab · Rating 3 out of 5]

My love of reading started when i was young, and it gives me immense pleasure to provide books to Spread the Word Nevada, an organization that passes them on to children in the community. They are a terrific organization supporting an important cause. If your local I encourage you to check them out. For those living further a field, look in your own community, their may already be a similar program in place. And if not, you can always help start one.

http://spreadthewordnevada.org/

Myself, I go out on the weekends and
shop thrift store and bulk book lots to rescue books and donate them. Sometimes I'll find a book I remember reading when I was young and will read it again before passing it on.

I don't rate these books using my normal scale, instead I give most of them three stars. This isn't a Criticism of the book, simply my way of rating them as good for children.

[Someone · Rating 1 out of 5]

This very religious book never really lived up to its name, "The Killer bear" as the bear itself was only covered in about 3 chapters. It did however, managed to depict atheists as drunkards that are mean and satanic. If you want your child to be prejudice again all other religions than Christianity, then this is the book for them. The story itself wasn't too great. Too much crying and converting everyone into Christians in my point of view.

[Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised after reading this book how I knew I'd like reading it and the after feeling still being inspired with it.

[Tristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have learned that they are all the very religous type. They all have a certain names that are not there real names. The sugar creek gang is a wonderful series.

[Anna Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book-better if i was younger. The main character didn't really get the the killer bear story until the end of the book though.