Mēness lācis

by Gill Lewis, Džila Lūisa, Kristīne Dudareva (Translator)

Divpadsmit gadus vecais Tems tiek nosūtīts darbā uz pilsētas lāču fermu, kur viņš jūtas tik vientuļš, kā nekad. Temam derdzas noraudzīties cietsirdīgajā attieksmē pret lāčiem, taču viņš nedrīkst iebilst, lai nezaudētu darbu. Ja Temam nebūs naudas, ko sūtīt uz mājām, kā gan viņa ģimene izdzīvos? Kad fermā nonāk slims lācēns, Tems par to slepeni rūpējas, līdz tas atveseļojas, un starp viņiem izveidojas nepārraujama saikne. Tems nosolās palaist iemīļoto lācēnu atpakaļ savvaļā, taču kā gan lai viņi atrod ceļu uz brīvību?

Genres: Animals, Middle Grade, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, International

240 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2013

About the author

Before she could walk, Gill Lewis was discovered force-feeding bread to a sick hedgehog under the rose bushes. Now her stories reflect her passion for wild animals in wild places. She draws inspiration from many of the people she has had the fortune to meet during her work as a vet, both at home and abroad. Gill Lewis has a masters degree in Writing for Young People from Bath Spa University and won the 2009 course prize for most promising writer. Her first novel was snapped up for publication within hours of being offered to publishers. She lives in Somerset with her young family and a motley crew of pets. She writes from a shed in the garden, in the company of spiders.

Reviews

[Claudia Smallman · Rating 5 out of 5]

No book should be judged for the audience it's aimed at.
Whether it's an adorable picture book with stunning illustrations, or a thick novel being a feat of classic literature - I love books regardless of whom they're written for. Maybe it's childish for me to enjoy simplistic picture books, or children's novels - but every so often I come across a gem of a novel, one that can not only entertain kids but also compel adults. Moon Bear is one of these gems.


Moon Bear is the definition of a well-written, emotive children's novel. It can be enjoyed and read by anyone - whether you're a kid, teen or adult. I've always maintained you cannot judge a book by its cover - nor its intended audience. Moon Bear is convincing and emotional - packed to the brim with hope, a slight tinge of comedy, but never shying away from the brutality of bear bile farming. Moon Bear evokes emotion from the reader - happiness, sadness, anger. Anger for the Doctor, whom keeps the bears in terrible conditions all in the hope of making a quick dollar; hope for little cub Sook-dii, and Mountain Boy Tam; and sadness for the sick young girl whom Tam befriends.

There's enough here for everyone. The writing is easy enough for children to read, though it flows and contains enough depth to capture the attention of older audiences. There's some very interesting information about - not just moon bears - but Laos in general.

Moon Bear is a unique children's novel. I found it entertaining, emotive and unique - if you see it in your library, definitely consider giving it a read.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

When twelve-year-old Tam's father is killed, he is sent to work on a "bear farm" in the city where bears held captive in cages are subjected to the barbaric practice of "milking" their bladders of bile, which is sold for medicinal purposes.. Tam develops a close bond with a newly arrived bear cub and is determined to save it from this horrific fate. A compelling, heart-rending story of cruelty and compassion.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book hurt my heart. I didn't realize what the bear farms were for in the beginning (I obviously knew they'd be horrible, torturous places). Man. It hit my sensitive spot because I believe we need to take care of animals and treat them properly and humanely. (A side note: I still love meat and often putting an animal to sleep is the best choice for it. So I'm not a crazy animal activist and I hate being called that but I am all for rescuing, helping, and humanely treating animals! )

Anyway! Tam is a young boy who suddenly finds himself needing to work in order to support his family. When he finds out what his job is, he's shocked and has no idea what to do. He wants to stop the Doctor and his evil plans for the bears each day, but he also wants to be able to work to send money to his mother and sisters who are struggling to keep their house. Over the period of time working in the nasty "farm," he grows close to a very young cub who was stolen from his mother. Still nursing, the cub is totally depending on Tam to keep him alive.

While there are rarely any good endings to books like this, the ending on this one was sort of good because I needed to know that in the end the bears were given a better, safe place to live out the rest of their lives without having to be afraid of the next time they were milked. So scary. So I'm glad for them that these group of bears managed to get out of it. But most bears don't. Most bears die like Mama bear did.

"Who will speak for the bears, Savanh? Who will speak for them, when they have no voice of their own?"

Content:
Language: N/A
Sexy Stuff/Romance: N/A
Violence/Disturbing content: the farmed bears are very abused and this can be pretty upsetting to sensitive readers. It upset me a lot and my gut twisted every time the Doctor went to "milk" the bears. One bear mauls a character (only describes the bear leaping at the character but we find out the aftermath later).

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

An utterly compelling book. I was transported to Laos, and read this with my heart in my throat, and a tight knot in my stomach - it's exciting, and shocking, and fascinating, and heart breaking.

[Toryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stayed up WAY too late finishing this book—it was that kind of suspense where literally EVERYTHING is going wrong for the main character and you just can’t put it down at a sad spot, and you’re just hoping and hoping that in the next chapter something good will happen, and but then it all goes wrong. This is a beautiful, heart-wrenching book. I almost cried.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am the 6th grade daughter of Tammy and i just finished this book after 3 to 4 days of reading it. I never thought it would be so interesting because I never took to much interest in books about saving animals, it just sounded too animal emotional and i did not like reading about that. But i realized that it just is not about saving a bear, or animal it had a story behind it. a story of how a 12 year old kid had to be parted from his family to work for money only to find out he is not getting paid for but, he still works. This is all because one little moon bear cub shows up in his life, Sook Dii and he is on a mission to rid Sook Dii of a horrible life in a cage.

[Christina Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how Gill Lewis takes important issues and builds stories around them which show humans and our world in all their imperfection and complexity. This story follows a young boy, Tam, as he grows up in Laos and his life changes unrecognizably when his family moves from their forest home and his father encounters a bomb left over fro an older conflict. The author touches on so many important issues that any reader will be eager to find out more, yet she does it without preaching. These are the kinds of books I would like my children to read in the future to help them to grow up as informed and responsible world citizens.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children's bookseller review: Read it in about 2 hours: I cried like a baby, I smiled, I giggled and I got REALLY cross, any book that can do that is worth reading. everyone, child and adult alike should read this one, I was oblivious to topics in this book, not only have I gained an understanding but a charity has gained a supporter and an author a fan. Right, onto sky hawk and white dolphin!

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book quite distressing and can't say I really enjoyed it but had to keep reading. I know that animal cruelty happens in the world but I didn't enjoy reading about the procedure of bile extraction from bears. A well written book bringing attention to this practice but at this particular time I would like to read a feel good escapism.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

and they all lived happily ever after... Sorry, too sweet of an ending for me. Learned a lot though.

[Jo Reason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quote
¨I was glad of the darkness, because in the darkness no one can see you cry¨

¨I had to¨, I said, I spat a lump of blood from my mouth onto the floor. I looked up at her. ¨Who will speak for the bears, Savanh? Who will speak for them, when they have no voice of their own?”


My Review
This is a fantastic book, you will see that from the amount of stars I gave it, but it is not for the faint hearted, I have a fairly strong disposition, but this was tough, and also something I had no idea about until reading this book, milking bears, but not for their milk as in a cow or a goat, this is for bear bile, I won't go too depth in this as this is not what this review is about, but if you are interested in finding out more click the link in the description below, if you do decided to investigate more, just be aware of the disturbing graphics you might see.

This book does transport you nicely to Laos, into a world which I have no idea about and it is a very sad, but enlightening novel. Full of emotion and morals, but I think you need to be aware of the subject before considering a young person reading this, but if you do decide to read this with your young ones, there is plenty to discuss during and after finishing reading.

It is quite graphic with the descriptions of how the milking is done but once you get over the fact you might find some of this novel disturbing, this is a very good novel, very well written, as it is for younger readers it is very easy to read if you are an adult, but it is no only about bears and their mistreatment, it is also about mistreatment of young children which, although not directly mentioned here, it is very obvious, especially to an adult. There are also the unpleasant details of country life in Laos, of logging to send the wood overseas.

So, you might think, all this is very sad, why read it, well the writing, the details, friendship, character development, the nice drawings at the beginning of some chapters and I would have liked more.

The ending is very happy, for me, expected really, but when I was looking on the internet about this subject, I came across a foundation looking after the bears who have managed to survive their ordeal as milk bears and it was just as described in the book, (link in the description below)
I do think the cover could have been different, I prefer the alternative cover shown here.

I am giving this book 5 stars.

The next country we are visiting in my round the world challenge is Chile, see you in the next country.

[17reidc183 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book that was full of emotion, truth and morals. It is a brilliant book and i thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I loved this book because i shear similar views to the message the book gives of not mistreating wild life and their habitats and using it to get us money or an advantage and not that we should help and rehabilitate animals. When reading this story you feel very emotionally connected to the character of Tam and the bears in the bear farm. There are lots of different backstory to it that makes this even more interesting and helps us to understand the events in the book. The genre is fiction it is realistic but is only a story with morals. The ending was good but not entirely happy. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves animals and anyone who might not understand environmentalists point of view as the message will help explain it. It is exiting and sad at the same time which makes it really interesting.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is touching and make you feel the bear is your own pet.

[Khushi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a boy, Tam and his mother and father have to ecscape their home as it is set on fire. When he reaches his new home he is promised to have schools, electricity and much more.However, one day when his father was working on the field, he dies in a bomb attack. His dad was the earner of that family, to compensate his loss he goes to the city and work in a bear bile farm. His grandfather always said that bears are dark and creatures. Later he is accustomed to them and all the bears love him. But he always hated seeing the bears in pain when the doctor took out bile from them. A new bear cub comes to the bear farm and very small. Tam promises to save him and bring him to his home, the forest but would he be able to?

[Hannah Leeds · Rating 5 out of 5]

A childhood favourite, still a great story as an adult.

The character development and overall message of the book is written really well. The characters felt real and I really cared about what happened to them.

With hard hitting topics that probably went over my head when I was little, I was really happy to find that I enjoyed this just as much now as I did then!

Cudos to the author for bringing up real stories to kids is a digestable and intriguing way.

Still a favourite to this day!

[Whitley Clifton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was in elementary school and I still think about to this day. It was a beautiful and heartbreaking story.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the death of his father, twelve-year-old Tam is sent to the city to work on a bear farm, cleaning up their mess. The bears are kept in small cages so they can be milked for their bile. The bile is believed to have healing powers, so is sold at an exorbitant price.

Not long after starting work on the farm, a young bear cub, Sook-dii, is stolen from his mother and brought to the farm. Tam and Sook-dii form a close bond as the young cub relies on Tam to keep him alive.

Although written for younger readers, I found this novel equally interesting an horrifying. Like Tam, I hated the way the bears were treated and their fear of the milking procedure was palpable. When the doctor decided to milk Sook-dii, my heart was in my throat and I was disgusted at what cruelty humans will perform for a quick buck.

The author did not pull any punches when it came to describing the milking of the bears. It was graphic and quite disturbing, and I loathed the doctor for his cruelty and greed. I had no idea that these farms even existed but, sadly, wasn't surprised. Too many animal parts are used for 'medicine' in Asian countries.

Full of emotion and morals, and beautifully written, I found "Moon Bear a fascinating read, and I adored Sook-dii!

[Paula Street · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thoughtfully written book. I thoroughly recommend it for teens and adults, but the main focus of the story is the lived experiences of a trafficked child and the bears he is indentured to care for in an intensive bear farm, and therefore not appropriate for middle grade children. Our 9 year old has just discovered Gill Lewis and is working her way through all of the books by this author, and I am reading them alongside her, although she is a few books ahead of me. She is in the middle of White Dolphin, and I am very pleased that I took the opportunity and skipped ahead and read this one before her. It is a brilliantly written book, and is a heartbreaking experience to read. It includes Gill Lewis’ trademark beautiful descriptions of the natural world, but the descriptions of the experiences of the protagonists are so well done that the fear and the desperation are all too real. I am not ready to shatter the innocence of my children by sharing this book with them at this time. The time will come soon enough when they are mature enough for the experience of reading this book and we will then be able to discuss the themes together.

[Enchanted · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moon Bear is a childrens novel written to increase awareness of a few issues going on in todays world, the main issue in this novel is Bile farms and how the bears are kept in poor, unnatural conditions some involving having the bears locked in cages to small with no solid ground to stand on.

Tam is a boy that is taken from his home in the forest after being told he would have to work for his family, he is taken to the city and introduced to a small family who board him and a Dr who owns a bear bile farm. Tam ends up working as a cleaner and feeder to the bears and at first he doesnt think much to the job other than money for his mum, however after finding out the money isnt being sent home he soon begins to realize all is not well, the doctor doesnt care for the bears and beats them when he is confronted about the medicine not working on the generals daughter.

the story also addresses deforestation and the lack of trust a person should have in government promises such as new schools for the poor and better health care and well being.

Overall a well written story for younger readers and not to over bearing (excuse the pun) to read.

[Alex C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moon Bear is an inspirational story. It tells you of another culture in Laos, China. When Tam and his family move into their new home in the mountains, Tam wants to go back to the forest. But when his father dies by an underground bomb, Tam is sent to the city to work at a bear farm and earn money for his family. One day Tam's boss, the Doctor gets a new bear cub for the bear farm. When Tam sees the new bear he finds out that the new bear cub is the same cub that he saw when he was bear hunting with Noy. Determined to care for the cub, Tam gives the cub and the other bears special treatment with treats and hosing them with water. When Tam find out that the Doctor has only given Tam's family one payment after months of working at the bear farm, Tam makes the ultimate decision: bring the cub and himself home, even though he will risk whatever it takes to do it, even his own life.

[Amy-Jo Conant · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this moving and heartwarming tale readers will learn about a village forced from their homes under false pretenses. Promises of a better life are broken. Budding environmentalists will find interesting information throughout this fictional story set in Laos.

The story centers around young Tam who is forced into indentured servitude and must move away from his family to earn money in the city to send to them.

Readers will likely find it difficult to read about the severe mistreatment of the moon bears. This book does not shy away from challenging topics and manages to inform the reader.

This was a fast read and I very quickly connected with the characters. I will be purchasing a copy for the library. A story with multiple messages that will stay with you long after you are done reading.

[Hannah Jarman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a bit of a slow starter for me; I felt that the story took a while to get going but once it did I was hooked. I got really invested in the fate of Tam and his Moon Bear. The story was very moving and the ending was wonderful.

The subject matter might be quite difficult for younger children. I would say this is very much a book for upper ks2. There is some reference to drugs and gangs, so that might need to be managed in a classroom setting, but could also be an interesting topic of conversation for PSHE (e.g. "If a friend started to spend time with people who did illegal things, what would you do?")

[Devina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will forever be one of my all time favourites. I read this a good several years ago, but I’d be doing it injustice if I didn’t give it a review! It’s a pretty easy read, probably best for younger readers, and it’s great for raising awareness about moon bears and bile farming etc. It also portrays family life really realistically, and is a very eye-opening book about a very different way of life! Definitely makes you see things from a different perspective!

[Ainsley · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book really freaked me out. As someone who hates animal cruelty, I found it agonizing to read. In the book, bear bike is used as medicine, but this means painful ways of extracting the bile from the bears. Combined with the fact that I have a somewhat weak stomach and despise animal cruelty, this book was not my cup of tea. However, others who like a happy ending and contemporary reads may enjoy it.
*This is by no means intended to be a negative reflection of the author.

[RoxanneOlivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the meancholy tale of how a young boy witnesses the terrible treatment of the "Moon Bears" I had the sudden urge to start a campaign to help save the moon bears! This book is my all time favorite book. No I don't say that about every book because I can be quite picky. Overall, I want to read it over and over again it is so captivating!

[angel alexandrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Moon Bear was an amazing book with lots of information to take in. When my teacher was reading it to the whole class I was interested in what might happen. Sometimes I understood what was happening but sometimes I didn't. I loved this book and I especially loved the ending. After reading this book I learned a lot of how Moon Bears are in danger with all of whats happening around the world.

[Sunva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finally finished the book I bought as a eleven year old because I thought the cover was cute! I had no idea what I was getting into but while reading this I realized what an important topic this actually is. This is not a very known topic, at least not for me, so I really liked learning about it. I learned a lot reading this book and overall enjoyed the story a lot.

[diya lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book back in 6th grade and couldn't finish it. The story was both heart warming, breaking, wrenching, everything all at once. A real emotional rollercoaster that made me reflect on the world we live in. Just thinking about it brings back a wave of emotions. An amazing literary experience.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

My boys and I really enjoyed this book. I found it while searching for books set in Laos (which are few and far between). But this was a really good book, hitting on lots of different aspects of life in Laos and the history of Laos, with an engaging, interesting story. (We did predict quite a few of the plot turns, not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing though.)

[Joancollins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just beautiful like the bears themselves
What a wonderful writer who captures the horrors and beauty of all aspects of this story
Remarakable annalogies and prose that takes YA reading into literature
A tense thriller too
Highly recommend