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The Teddies Saga #1
They Threw Us Away
"Buddy wakes up in the middle of a garbage dump, filled with a certain awareness: he’s a teddy bear; he spent time at a Store waiting for his future to begin; and he is meant for the loving arms of a child. Now he knows one more thing: Something has gone terribly wrong.
Soon he finds other discarded teddies—Horace, Sugar, Sunny, and Reginald. Though they aren’t sure how their luck soured, they all agree that they need to get back to the Store if they’re ever to fulfill their destinies. So, they embark on a perilous trek across the dump and into the outer world. With ravenous rats, screeching gulls, and a menacing world in front of them, the teddies will need to overcome insurmountable challenges to find their way home.
Soon he finds other discarded teddies—Horace, Sugar, Sunny, and Reginald. Though they aren’t sure how their luck soured, they all agree that they need to get back to the Store if they’re ever to fulfill their destinies. So, they embark on a perilous trek across the dump and into the outer world. With ravenous rats, screeching gulls, and a menacing world in front of them, the teddies will need to overcome insurmountable challenges to find their way home.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2020
44 people are currently reading
2871 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Kraus
76 books1,342 followers“Kraus brings the rigor of a scientist and the sensibility of a poet.” – The New York Times
DANIEL KRAUS is a New York Times bestselling writer of novels, TV, and film. WHALEFALL received a front-cover rave in the New York Times Book Review, won the Alex Award, was an L.A. Times Book Prize Finalist, and was a Best Book of 2023 from NPR, the New York Times, Amazon, Chicago Tribune, and more.
With Guillermo del Toro, he co-authored THE SHAPE OF WATER, based on the same idea the two created for the Oscar-winning film. Also with del Toro, Kraus co-authored TROLLHUNTERS, which was adapted into the Emmy-winning Netflix series. His also cowrote THE LIVING DEAD and PAY THE PIPER with legendary filmmaker George A. Romero.
Kraus’s THE DEATH AND LIFE OF ZEBULON FINCH was named one of Entertainment Weekly‘s Top 10 Books of the Year. Kraus has won the Bram Stoker Award, Scribe Award, two Odyssey Awards (for both ROTTERS and SCOWLER), and has appeared multiple times as Library Guild selections, YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults, and more.
Kraus’s work has been translated into over 20 languages. Visit him at danielkraus.com.
DANIEL KRAUS is a New York Times bestselling writer of novels, TV, and film. WHALEFALL received a front-cover rave in the New York Times Book Review, won the Alex Award, was an L.A. Times Book Prize Finalist, and was a Best Book of 2023 from NPR, the New York Times, Amazon, Chicago Tribune, and more.
With Guillermo del Toro, he co-authored THE SHAPE OF WATER, based on the same idea the two created for the Oscar-winning film. Also with del Toro, Kraus co-authored TROLLHUNTERS, which was adapted into the Emmy-winning Netflix series. His also cowrote THE LIVING DEAD and PAY THE PIPER with legendary filmmaker George A. Romero.
Kraus’s THE DEATH AND LIFE OF ZEBULON FINCH was named one of Entertainment Weekly‘s Top 10 Books of the Year. Kraus has won the Bram Stoker Award, Scribe Award, two Odyssey Awards (for both ROTTERS and SCOWLER), and has appeared multiple times as Library Guild selections, YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults, and more.
Kraus’s work has been translated into over 20 languages. Visit him at danielkraus.com.
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September 7, 2020
* I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review *
I’m not sure what to make of this book, but there are several significant issues that made me rate it lower than I wanted to. I was surprised at how much these issues interfered with how much I was able to enjoy it. I’m especially disappointed because I’ve enjoyed this author’s adult horror collaborations with del Toro, and the fact that they’re a Bram Stoker level horror author. So here’s what interfered with a higher rating, for me.
As ever, your mileage may vary.
First issue — it’s unclear what age group this book is intended for. It’s a “kids book” the same way Watership Down, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH or Lord of the Flies is a kids book — and by that I mean, even though it’s teddies, there’s some pretty graphic violence and teddy death, Because I wasn’t sure if it was intended for under 10, tween/teen, or older — the violence (that as an adult reader I was ok with, but could see a 9 year old being pretty upset by) kept pulling me out of the story.
Second issue — I think this would have read much smoother as a script or a graphic novel. In fact, that’s what I thought it was when I requested the ARC. The text of the novel falls into a lot of Tom Swift-ish turns of phrase, what with people grinning wryly, chuckling deviously, exclaiming loudly, proclaiming boldly, interjecting sardonically, querying gently, etc. Again: I realize that for an adult reader, this may be more of a problem than for an 11 year old reader. But it is very heavy on adverbs and thesaurus words for “said”. Part of the reason for this is the number of teddy characters, and the need to differentiate who’s speaking. In a script or graphic novel, this would be a much easier end to achieve.
Third issue — how girl characters are treated in terms of characterization and narrative arc. This story’s narrative is basically a variation on the standard Hero’s Quest, so we immediately know that as a reader, we’re supposed to align with Buddy, because he’s the “hero.” O.K., fair enough, though it’s the 21st century and we could mix it up, that’s not necessarily my issue. My issue is that the primary girl teddy, Sunny, who’s supposed to be Buddy’s complement, is presented as a thoroughly unlikeable character. This is further complicated by the fact that she is ALSO presented as smart and capable. Do you see the issue yet? As an adult female reader, I am able to reconcile the fact that a female character can be competent and smart WITHOUT also being mean, but an 11 year old girl might infer from this story that you can only be one or the other — that to be nice, you have to dial down your intelligence, or that to have your capability taken seriously, you have to be a b**ch. And make no mistake: she IS. I started marking the pages where Sunny’s action verbs had a negative connotation, just to compare against the other teddies. Sunny does not go a SINGLE PAGE for most of the book without growling, hissing, snapping, shouting, snarling, barking, or yelling. She is condescending to the other teddies and calls them “numbskulls” on multiple occasions. I think she’s *supposed* to read like Princess Leia, but she is much, much, MUCH less charming. Really, she was the most unpleasant part of reading the book, and as a female reader, she’s who I’m supposed to align with. Sugar, the other main girl teddy, is “damaged merchandise” and thus her character reads a little bit like Delirium from Sandman, except not as pleasant to read. The author has chosen to make her main characterization center on the fact that she rhymes words that aren’t generally rhymed ( “cozy-woozy,” “teddy-weddings”, “flushy-wushy” etc.) Again, I recognize as an adult reader this is probably more irritating to me than it might be for a younger reader... but this is really the only character trait that Sugar gets. The other 2 female teddies we meet — Pookie and Mad, are similarly dislikeable, even as they move the plot along. The boy teddies, however, get to be wise, selfless, empathetic, and the leader of the quest. The girl characters are irritating, grating, expendable, or evil. The worst part is that I don’t think any of it was intentional. I think that’s just how internalized casual misogyny is. Anyway, as an adult female reader that bothered me a lot and made me decide that I had no desire to send that message to the young female readers in my life. There are LITERALLY HUNDREDS of Hero’s Quest stories she’ll have to read in the course of her education that will do that.
Now in to the good — because it’s really a shame that for me, the good parts of this novel were so deeply overshadowed by the parts I liked less. There’s some great kids-level ethics treated really well — most notably the line, “Once you see a group as individuals, it becomes harder to hurt them.” I wasn’t sure if The Mother/Proto characters were an overt religious analogy, or if the Creator/Creation dynamic is so recognizable for most religions of the book that most readers will be able to relate to it. Most of the Mother/Proto stories within the larger narrative read like religious parables, which, as we know from the Narnia books, is not necessarily a terrible thing, but there were definitely a few moments where I was struck with the thought, “Is this a sneaky Jesus book?” — I never could decide, but I did like the way that the ethics and moral themes in the story were presented in a way that I felt a 10 year old reader could relate to and understand.
There’s also some low-key social commentary on subjects ranging from environmental issues (a lot of the story has to do with trash) and capitalism (Yellow Plastic Hills, the TM of Furrington Teddies, how The Voice calls Buddy by his patent number, etc.) These ideas are presented to a younger reader much like Murikami movies present complex, adult issues to kids in a way they understand. These parts of the book, I really enjoyed and I’d wished there had been more of that.
In short: I wish I liked this book more than I did. If it were adapted into a movie or Netflix series, I would watch it. If it were adapted to a graphic novel along the lines of We3, I would read it. I’m not sure if I could pick up another novel and face the onslaught of adverbs, awkward rhymes, and well, SUNNY, but that’s another story.
There’s a lot of potential here, and the good parts are really good. They’re just not (for me, anyway) good enough to balance out the parts that I didn’t like.
I’m not sure what to make of this book, but there are several significant issues that made me rate it lower than I wanted to. I was surprised at how much these issues interfered with how much I was able to enjoy it. I’m especially disappointed because I’ve enjoyed this author’s adult horror collaborations with del Toro, and the fact that they’re a Bram Stoker level horror author. So here’s what interfered with a higher rating, for me.
As ever, your mileage may vary.
First issue — it’s unclear what age group this book is intended for. It’s a “kids book” the same way Watership Down, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH or Lord of the Flies is a kids book — and by that I mean, even though it’s teddies, there’s some pretty graphic violence and teddy death, Because I wasn’t sure if it was intended for under 10, tween/teen, or older — the violence (that as an adult reader I was ok with, but could see a 9 year old being pretty upset by) kept pulling me out of the story.
Second issue — I think this would have read much smoother as a script or a graphic novel. In fact, that’s what I thought it was when I requested the ARC. The text of the novel falls into a lot of Tom Swift-ish turns of phrase, what with people grinning wryly, chuckling deviously, exclaiming loudly, proclaiming boldly, interjecting sardonically, querying gently, etc. Again: I realize that for an adult reader, this may be more of a problem than for an 11 year old reader. But it is very heavy on adverbs and thesaurus words for “said”. Part of the reason for this is the number of teddy characters, and the need to differentiate who’s speaking. In a script or graphic novel, this would be a much easier end to achieve.
Third issue — how girl characters are treated in terms of characterization and narrative arc. This story’s narrative is basically a variation on the standard Hero’s Quest, so we immediately know that as a reader, we’re supposed to align with Buddy, because he’s the “hero.” O.K., fair enough, though it’s the 21st century and we could mix it up, that’s not necessarily my issue. My issue is that the primary girl teddy, Sunny, who’s supposed to be Buddy’s complement, is presented as a thoroughly unlikeable character. This is further complicated by the fact that she is ALSO presented as smart and capable. Do you see the issue yet? As an adult female reader, I am able to reconcile the fact that a female character can be competent and smart WITHOUT also being mean, but an 11 year old girl might infer from this story that you can only be one or the other — that to be nice, you have to dial down your intelligence, or that to have your capability taken seriously, you have to be a b**ch. And make no mistake: she IS. I started marking the pages where Sunny’s action verbs had a negative connotation, just to compare against the other teddies. Sunny does not go a SINGLE PAGE for most of the book without growling, hissing, snapping, shouting, snarling, barking, or yelling. She is condescending to the other teddies and calls them “numbskulls” on multiple occasions. I think she’s *supposed* to read like Princess Leia, but she is much, much, MUCH less charming. Really, she was the most unpleasant part of reading the book, and as a female reader, she’s who I’m supposed to align with. Sugar, the other main girl teddy, is “damaged merchandise” and thus her character reads a little bit like Delirium from Sandman, except not as pleasant to read. The author has chosen to make her main characterization center on the fact that she rhymes words that aren’t generally rhymed ( “cozy-woozy,” “teddy-weddings”, “flushy-wushy” etc.) Again, I recognize as an adult reader this is probably more irritating to me than it might be for a younger reader... but this is really the only character trait that Sugar gets. The other 2 female teddies we meet — Pookie and Mad, are similarly dislikeable, even as they move the plot along. The boy teddies, however, get to be wise, selfless, empathetic, and the leader of the quest. The girl characters are irritating, grating, expendable, or evil. The worst part is that I don’t think any of it was intentional. I think that’s just how internalized casual misogyny is. Anyway, as an adult female reader that bothered me a lot and made me decide that I had no desire to send that message to the young female readers in my life. There are LITERALLY HUNDREDS of Hero’s Quest stories she’ll have to read in the course of her education that will do that.
Now in to the good — because it’s really a shame that for me, the good parts of this novel were so deeply overshadowed by the parts I liked less. There’s some great kids-level ethics treated really well — most notably the line, “Once you see a group as individuals, it becomes harder to hurt them.” I wasn’t sure if The Mother/Proto characters were an overt religious analogy, or if the Creator/Creation dynamic is so recognizable for most religions of the book that most readers will be able to relate to it. Most of the Mother/Proto stories within the larger narrative read like religious parables, which, as we know from the Narnia books, is not necessarily a terrible thing, but there were definitely a few moments where I was struck with the thought, “Is this a sneaky Jesus book?” — I never could decide, but I did like the way that the ethics and moral themes in the story were presented in a way that I felt a 10 year old reader could relate to and understand.
There’s also some low-key social commentary on subjects ranging from environmental issues (a lot of the story has to do with trash) and capitalism (Yellow Plastic Hills, the TM of Furrington Teddies, how The Voice calls Buddy by his patent number, etc.) These ideas are presented to a younger reader much like Murikami movies present complex, adult issues to kids in a way they understand. These parts of the book, I really enjoyed and I’d wished there had been more of that.
In short: I wish I liked this book more than I did. If it were adapted into a movie or Netflix series, I would watch it. If it were adapted to a graphic novel along the lines of We3, I would read it. I’m not sure if I could pick up another novel and face the onslaught of adverbs, awkward rhymes, and well, SUNNY, but that’s another story.
There’s a lot of potential here, and the good parts are really good. They’re just not (for me, anyway) good enough to balance out the parts that I didn’t like.
September 15, 2020
A few months after reading and reviewing THE LIVING DEAD by Daniel Kraus, I have finished his newest release, THEY THREW US AWAY, a story where Kraus trades his zombies for teddy bears.
This is the first book in The Teddies Saga and I will tell you with full assurance of this reader’s enthusiasm, I am here for this series. Let me start by comparing this book to two iconic stories from my childhood: WATERSHIP DOWN and THE SECRET OF NIMH (Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH). When I think about those books and their movie adaptations, I immediately get these very familiar feelings of nostalgia, tone, and mood. THEY THREW US AWAY now joins them.
Buddy is a specialty teddy bear. One morning, instead of waking up on the shelves of the department store, he finds himself in a garbage dump. Buddy is full of all kinds of feelings. Readers are inside Buddy’s head as he sorts through this unexpected dilemma and eventually encounters other teddy bears like himself. The stuffies form an unlikely fellowship and brave many threatening situations together, despite their conflicting personalities and attitudes toward their situation.
Even though this book is clearly for Middle Grade readers, the trope of toys or animals taking on human emotions never fails to entertain people of all ages. One of my favorite movie franchises of all time is TOY STORY. There’s just something remarkably endearing about stories of the human condition as told through anything but humans (I’m also thinking of THE BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER). Kraus lends his unique storytelling voice to this book, making everything just a shade darker than your average children’s book and the illustrations are a delight.
I absolutely love this book and I will continue on with this series as a huge fan. Note to other horror authors: Illustrated children’s books with a unique/subtle horror slant is a big ‘yes’ from me.
This is the first book in The Teddies Saga and I will tell you with full assurance of this reader’s enthusiasm, I am here for this series. Let me start by comparing this book to two iconic stories from my childhood: WATERSHIP DOWN and THE SECRET OF NIMH (Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH). When I think about those books and their movie adaptations, I immediately get these very familiar feelings of nostalgia, tone, and mood. THEY THREW US AWAY now joins them.
Buddy is a specialty teddy bear. One morning, instead of waking up on the shelves of the department store, he finds himself in a garbage dump. Buddy is full of all kinds of feelings. Readers are inside Buddy’s head as he sorts through this unexpected dilemma and eventually encounters other teddy bears like himself. The stuffies form an unlikely fellowship and brave many threatening situations together, despite their conflicting personalities and attitudes toward their situation.
Even though this book is clearly for Middle Grade readers, the trope of toys or animals taking on human emotions never fails to entertain people of all ages. One of my favorite movie franchises of all time is TOY STORY. There’s just something remarkably endearing about stories of the human condition as told through anything but humans (I’m also thinking of THE BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER). Kraus lends his unique storytelling voice to this book, making everything just a shade darker than your average children’s book and the illustrations are a delight.
I absolutely love this book and I will continue on with this series as a huge fan. Note to other horror authors: Illustrated children’s books with a unique/subtle horror slant is a big ‘yes’ from me.
September 29, 2025
I read several of Daniel Kraus’s books meant for adults. I found them gory and disturbing, but excellent. I purchased this one when searching for more of his stories. I don’t know which age group is its intended audience. It focuses on Teddy Bears that have been discarded in a garbage dump, still in their original boxes. Their aim is to escape from the landfill and end up in the arms of loving children. Then they go into a ‘forever sleep,’ losing their present awareness. Bad idea. Their journey is filled with danger and would be too worrisome for younger children. One must await two sequels for a resolution. Two of the teddies are female and inferior to the brave male bears. One is annoying, and the other was damaged in the box and is mentally ill. For YA and adult readers, the writing is dry and slow-paced. It could have used more humour. DNF after much skimming
October 27, 2020
I definitely wasn’t expecting this book to make me FEEL so much. I know it’s supposed to be a middle grade novel but I think people of all ages would love this story. It reminded me of a beloved childhood classic of mine, Toy Story and the whole toys come to life trope is one I absolutely adore. This book does that trope so well and I fell so hard for this story. It made me feel so many different things, from sadness to laughter to horror to that warm little fuzzy feeling in my stomach. I really love that it’s a children’s story at the heart of it but it has that little darker horror-ish side to it, I’m a HUGE fan of that and everything else about this book! And I can’t leave this review without mentioning the illustrations of course. They are just stunning and I really wish more books had little illustrations like these sprinkled throughout, it adds so much depth to a story for me and upped my enjoyment of this story so much.
January 25, 2024
This book has been sitting on my shelf patiently waiting for me to read for an embarrassingly long time. It was a really unique story - it’s middle grade and still somewhat horrific. It felt like a teddy bear apocalypse story. Buddy wakes up and finds himself in a garbage dump and freed from his box for the first time he can remember. He doesn’t know how he got there but he quickly finds 4 other teddy bear boxes so he frees those teddy bears and they all try to find a way to be safe. While they adventure for safety they also try to figure out why they were thrown away and slowly remember the origin stories of the teddy bears. The book definitely ends leaving the reader wanting a second book.
October 21, 2021
Really weird, didn’t really care. The illustrations were beautiful and kinda disturbing though 🤣
June 21, 2024
This book is a hard one for me to rate. There were many times I wanted to quit as it did not fully hold my attention. Yet, there was this other part of me that wanted to see what happens. So, I kept on. I struggled with this throughout the whole book. Now, that it has ended, I'm struggling on whether I want to read book two or not. I still haven't decided. There are things I want answers to but not sure how bad I want them. It is a dilemma.
**Note: This is a children's book but there are a lot of bad/creepy things that happen to these teddy bears. A sensitive child might not handle it well at all. Please tread lightly if reading/giving to a child.
**Note: This is a children's book but there are a lot of bad/creepy things that happen to these teddy bears. A sensitive child might not handle it well at all. Please tread lightly if reading/giving to a child.
August 22, 2020
They Threw us away is a book of endless suffering.
Buddy is a teddy bear who together with his three friends finds themselves trapped in a garbage dump. Together they will find adventures in order to find a child who will hug them and make them enter the forever sleep.
This was very sad to read is a mix of the movie Toy Story with Wes Anderson Isle of dogs.
Since it's the first book in a series, the ending left me wanting to know what was going to happen to Buddy and his friends. It's a sad story but it leaves you wondering that maybe Buddy and his friends will find the happiness and sleep they want so much.
In spite of that, I will wait to see what will happen in the next one.
3.5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this ARC.
Buddy is a teddy bear who together with his three friends finds themselves trapped in a garbage dump. Together they will find adventures in order to find a child who will hug them and make them enter the forever sleep.
This was very sad to read is a mix of the movie Toy Story with Wes Anderson Isle of dogs.
Since it's the first book in a series, the ending left me wanting to know what was going to happen to Buddy and his friends. It's a sad story but it leaves you wondering that maybe Buddy and his friends will find the happiness and sleep they want so much.
In spite of that, I will wait to see what will happen in the next one.
3.5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this ARC.
October 26, 2020
3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2020/10/25/...
Described as equal parts Toy Story and Lord of the Flies, They Threw Us Away is the first book of a middle grade trilogy about a group of teddy bears who wake up lost and confused in a garbage dump, unsure why they’ve been discarded. Now if that isn’t the most heartbreaking thing I’ve ever read, I don’t know what is! Our main teddy Buddy is the first to come to awaken, and finding himself out of his box, his initial thought is that he’d been claimed by a child—a goal that every Furrington brand bear aspires to. But very quickly, he realizes that cannot be the case, or else he would have entered Forever Sleep, the inanimate peaceful state teddies are said to fall eternally into the first time they are hugged by a kid who loves them.
So no, Buddy hasn’t found himself an owner. He’s not even at the toy store anymore. Around him, all he can see is trash, mountains and mountains of it, and among the piles of greasy pizza boxes and old rusted pots are other Furrington teddies, still brand new in their packaging, just waking up now as well. First there’s Sunny, the feisty yellow bear who believes it’s a “Teddy’s Duty” for them to help each other. Next is Horace, the green scaredy-bear. Then there’s Sugar, the pink teddy who was sadly damaged in her box, giving her a childlike demeanor, though she sure doesn’t let it get her down. And finally, there’s Reginald, the grey bear who had been sitting on the store shelves the longest, and those extra years have made him the smartest teddy who knows the most.
That said, even Reginald doesn’t know why the Furringtons have been unceremoniously dumped, but to a one, they agree they must not stop in their search for a child of their own. First though, they’ll need to flee the junkyard filled with horrors like monstrous dozers, or the merciless flocks of trash gulls ready to peck apart anything that moves. Even if they manage to escape, the teddies will need to endure hardships they have never faced before, as together they try to solve the mystery of why they’ve been throw away, all the while chasing the dream of Forever Sleep.
I confess I don’t read much MG, but when They Threw Us Away was pitched to me, I saw Daniel Kraus’ name and immediately accepted. I’ve read and enjoyed a few of his books, though they were either Adult or YA, and I was curious to see how he would handle a children’s novel, especially one with such a, shall we say, ah, grim premise? After all, Kraus made his name with a lot of his horror projects, and some of those talents have definitely spilled over in this one too. Don’t let the cute little teddies on the cover fool you; despite the intended age group, this story packs a pretty intense punch with content that can potentially disturb young readers.
What kind of content am I talking about? Well, take the scenes of the teddies getting their stuffing brutally torn out by vicious birds, for example, or of them falling into a dumpster full of disembodied teddy parts—the heads and limbs of their former comrades, gah! Bear in mind (sorry, I just couldn’t help myself), Kraus spends a considerable amount of time anthropomorphizing the totally adorable Furringtons, establishing them as living, breathing characters with individual personalities, values, and behaviors. Not surprisingly, it’s like a knife in the gut when bad things happen to them, and I can see how some of the stuff here can get a little rough and quease-inducing for more sensitive readers, no matter the age.
Concurrently though, the language in the book makes it clear this can be nothing else but a MG novel. The style is childish, clearly written for kids in the 8-12 range. Adult readers might grow frustrated with the simplistic storytelling or the cutesy-wootsy speak of the teddies. At times, this gave the book an air of confusion, with the sunny saccharine dialogue clashing horribly with some of the story’s darker macabre themes.
Still, in the end I enjoyed the book, even with its loopy ups and dumpy downs. Daniel Kraus has started something very special and interesting here in They Threw Us Away, and with my curiosity piqued over the mystery of why someone would want to destroy the hapless Furringtons, I’m definitely open to reading more!
Described as equal parts Toy Story and Lord of the Flies, They Threw Us Away is the first book of a middle grade trilogy about a group of teddy bears who wake up lost and confused in a garbage dump, unsure why they’ve been discarded. Now if that isn’t the most heartbreaking thing I’ve ever read, I don’t know what is! Our main teddy Buddy is the first to come to awaken, and finding himself out of his box, his initial thought is that he’d been claimed by a child—a goal that every Furrington brand bear aspires to. But very quickly, he realizes that cannot be the case, or else he would have entered Forever Sleep, the inanimate peaceful state teddies are said to fall eternally into the first time they are hugged by a kid who loves them.
So no, Buddy hasn’t found himself an owner. He’s not even at the toy store anymore. Around him, all he can see is trash, mountains and mountains of it, and among the piles of greasy pizza boxes and old rusted pots are other Furrington teddies, still brand new in their packaging, just waking up now as well. First there’s Sunny, the feisty yellow bear who believes it’s a “Teddy’s Duty” for them to help each other. Next is Horace, the green scaredy-bear. Then there’s Sugar, the pink teddy who was sadly damaged in her box, giving her a childlike demeanor, though she sure doesn’t let it get her down. And finally, there’s Reginald, the grey bear who had been sitting on the store shelves the longest, and those extra years have made him the smartest teddy who knows the most.
That said, even Reginald doesn’t know why the Furringtons have been unceremoniously dumped, but to a one, they agree they must not stop in their search for a child of their own. First though, they’ll need to flee the junkyard filled with horrors like monstrous dozers, or the merciless flocks of trash gulls ready to peck apart anything that moves. Even if they manage to escape, the teddies will need to endure hardships they have never faced before, as together they try to solve the mystery of why they’ve been throw away, all the while chasing the dream of Forever Sleep.
I confess I don’t read much MG, but when They Threw Us Away was pitched to me, I saw Daniel Kraus’ name and immediately accepted. I’ve read and enjoyed a few of his books, though they were either Adult or YA, and I was curious to see how he would handle a children’s novel, especially one with such a, shall we say, ah, grim premise? After all, Kraus made his name with a lot of his horror projects, and some of those talents have definitely spilled over in this one too. Don’t let the cute little teddies on the cover fool you; despite the intended age group, this story packs a pretty intense punch with content that can potentially disturb young readers.
What kind of content am I talking about? Well, take the scenes of the teddies getting their stuffing brutally torn out by vicious birds, for example, or of them falling into a dumpster full of disembodied teddy parts—the heads and limbs of their former comrades, gah! Bear in mind (sorry, I just couldn’t help myself), Kraus spends a considerable amount of time anthropomorphizing the totally adorable Furringtons, establishing them as living, breathing characters with individual personalities, values, and behaviors. Not surprisingly, it’s like a knife in the gut when bad things happen to them, and I can see how some of the stuff here can get a little rough and quease-inducing for more sensitive readers, no matter the age.
Concurrently though, the language in the book makes it clear this can be nothing else but a MG novel. The style is childish, clearly written for kids in the 8-12 range. Adult readers might grow frustrated with the simplistic storytelling or the cutesy-wootsy speak of the teddies. At times, this gave the book an air of confusion, with the sunny saccharine dialogue clashing horribly with some of the story’s darker macabre themes.
Still, in the end I enjoyed the book, even with its loopy ups and dumpy downs. Daniel Kraus has started something very special and interesting here in They Threw Us Away, and with my curiosity piqued over the mystery of why someone would want to destroy the hapless Furringtons, I’m definitely open to reading more!
April 1, 2021
We all must’ve had teddy bears to hug and snuggle to as children. But this story see teddies without children to be with. The story follows abandoned teddy bear Buddy and other teddies, after waking up to find himself in a garbage dump, who must embark on a grueling journey to find his way back home called the Store.
It’s a story that feels dreary and sad like any abandoned toy would feel. It’s pretty much like a more harsher “Toy Story” but with teddy bears, and having similar feels of other stories like “Edward Tulane” and “The Velveteen Rabbit”. Still a good start with a small ray of hope in the end. B+ (83%/Very Good)
It’s a story that feels dreary and sad like any abandoned toy would feel. It’s pretty much like a more harsher “Toy Story” but with teddy bears, and having similar feels of other stories like “Edward Tulane” and “The Velveteen Rabbit”. Still a good start with a small ray of hope in the end. B+ (83%/Very Good)
August 30, 2022
In the opening pages of They Threw Us Away, a teddy bear wakes up in the middle of the garbage dump, far away from the shelves of the store he once called home. What follows is a deeply moving adventure undertaken by a few lost teddies who desperately search for a place to belong.
If you’re like me, after reading a brief summary you might be thinking, ‘wow this sounds like Toy Story!’ But let me assure you, it is not. This is not a book for kids. They Threw Us Away is really for adult readers who love the tropes kids’ fiction but want to be challenged by existential thought.
It shows ways in which we can surprise ourselves with our strength, but also surprise ourselves with dark, challenging moments of weakness.
It masterfully articulates that feeling of futility that comes with realising that sometimes the people/things you want most in the world don’t want you back.
It toys with the idea of what it means to be “damaged” and how difficult it can be to stay true to yourself in moments of unimaginable hardship.
These themes are subtly illustrated through imagery that is disturbing and intense in a way that I don't think I can accurately describe. For this reason, it’s not a book I would recommend to anyone. I think it needs to find its readers on its own. Nevertheless, I got a lot out of this book and these brave little teddies came into my life at just the right time. 5 stars.
If you’re like me, after reading a brief summary you might be thinking, ‘wow this sounds like Toy Story!’ But let me assure you, it is not. This is not a book for kids. They Threw Us Away is really for adult readers who love the tropes kids’ fiction but want to be challenged by existential thought.
It shows ways in which we can surprise ourselves with our strength, but also surprise ourselves with dark, challenging moments of weakness.
It masterfully articulates that feeling of futility that comes with realising that sometimes the people/things you want most in the world don’t want you back.
It toys with the idea of what it means to be “damaged” and how difficult it can be to stay true to yourself in moments of unimaginable hardship.
These themes are subtly illustrated through imagery that is disturbing and intense in a way that I don't think I can accurately describe. For this reason, it’s not a book I would recommend to anyone. I think it needs to find its readers on its own. Nevertheless, I got a lot out of this book and these brave little teddies came into my life at just the right time. 5 stars.
November 18, 2021
DNF at 49%
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.
I was really intrigued by the concept for They Threw Us Away, and thought it would be an interesting book to read with my son, but I was WRONG. This book is morbid. It's not just creepy and disturbing, but seriously screwed up. I honestly don't think anyone should read this to their child, or let their child read it on their own. Maybe once they're older... MAYBE. If an author wants to address mental health in a book, I support that 100%. Unfortunately, it felt like the author was going for shock value instead of representing a character's mental illness in a way that children would understand.
If you've read this book, you know I'm talking about Sugar. Her box was damaged somehow which resulted in her head being dented on one side. The damage wasn't just physical, but also mental. She very clearly struggled during conversations, and the other bears had to prevent her from getting hurt, and occasionally stop her from hurting herself (which she does in a VERY disturbing way). My husband and I try to be honest with our kids about everything (even when we have to simplify it for their ages), but there was no good way for me to explain to my son why she Sugar's self-harm may have been the worst part of this book, but there were a lot of other scenarios that required lengthy explanations on my part. It simply wasn't worth the effort, so we moved on to something else.
The story also wasn't believable. The bears could smell and see, but they couldn't feel when they were being devoured by ants? Why were they sentient? What were the rules? Where were the explanations? There were too many questions and not enough answers. You would really have to suspend your disbelief to get through most of this book, and just ignore all of the inconsistencies and contradictions. I wish the author had developed the story more, so the bears being alive made sense. Side note: the concept of "forever sleep" was disturbing, and I have no idea why the bears wanted it to happen. (★★☆☆☆)
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I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.
I was really intrigued by the concept for They Threw Us Away, and thought it would be an interesting book to read with my son, but I was WRONG. This book is morbid. It's not just creepy and disturbing, but seriously screwed up. I honestly don't think anyone should read this to their child, or let their child read it on their own. Maybe once they're older... MAYBE. If an author wants to address mental health in a book, I support that 100%. Unfortunately, it felt like the author was going for shock value instead of representing a character's mental illness in a way that children would understand.
If you've read this book, you know I'm talking about Sugar. Her box was damaged somehow which resulted in her head being dented on one side. The damage wasn't just physical, but also mental. She very clearly struggled during conversations, and the other bears had to prevent her from getting hurt, and occasionally stop her from hurting herself (which she does in a VERY disturbing way). My husband and I try to be honest with our kids about everything (even when we have to simplify it for their ages), but there was no good way for me to explain to my son why she Sugar's self-harm may have been the worst part of this book, but there were a lot of other scenarios that required lengthy explanations on my part. It simply wasn't worth the effort, so we moved on to something else.
The story also wasn't believable. The bears could smell and see, but they couldn't feel when they were being devoured by ants? Why were they sentient? What were the rules? Where were the explanations? There were too many questions and not enough answers. You would really have to suspend your disbelief to get through most of this book, and just ignore all of the inconsistencies and contradictions. I wish the author had developed the story more, so the bears being alive made sense. Side note: the concept of "forever sleep" was disturbing, and I have no idea why the bears wanted it to happen. (★★☆☆☆)
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May 26, 2021
Well, you know I couldn’t pass on a horrific teddy bear survivalist story!
Daniel Kraus, who often writes adult horror, switched gears effortlessly, capturing the necessary tone for a middle grade novel quite well. Despite its fluffiness, he managed to weave in some scary scenes that will thrill young fright seekers! I loved how supportive these teddy bears were toward each other as they faced frightening challenges in a quest for safety. They cared for each other and willingly made sacrifices to demonstrate that. The descriptive writing was well-constructed and vivid.
That wasn’t enough to fully captivate me, though, which could arguably be because I’m an “old” person. While I’ve adored many middle grade novels, this one didn’t quite hold my attention well all the way through, although it had a strong beginning. I imagine the target age group would find it more exciting.
My biggest issue with this story pertains to gender stereotypes. This could have easily been a male heroic story that still presented females in dignified ways, but it didn’t really feel that way. While some females had limited redeeming qualities, it stood out that they were dopey, superficial, unkind, deceitful, naive, needy, and/or disposable. Although there was some implication that a couple were brave, it seemed more clearly conveyed that the males were courageous, level-headed and wise. As far as positive attributes go, this felt imbalanced, and there was a subtle, problematic message within that.
If you consider this for your own kids, know that there are scenes that could be really upsetting for young readers. If your child isn’t a fan of scary books, don’t let the teddy bear theme misguide you. This is exactly what it claims to be - a teddy horror - and not every bear will make it out in one piece. Some of the imagery is graphic, even though it’s not a blood and guts type of story, and that may be difficult for some children to process.
The themes of supportive friendship and perseverance don’t necessarily outweigh the negatives, but they do provide something worth chewing on. I didn’t consider this to be an exceptional story and I won’t continue with the series, but I’m glad that I gave it a try!
Daniel Kraus, who often writes adult horror, switched gears effortlessly, capturing the necessary tone for a middle grade novel quite well. Despite its fluffiness, he managed to weave in some scary scenes that will thrill young fright seekers! I loved how supportive these teddy bears were toward each other as they faced frightening challenges in a quest for safety. They cared for each other and willingly made sacrifices to demonstrate that. The descriptive writing was well-constructed and vivid.
That wasn’t enough to fully captivate me, though, which could arguably be because I’m an “old” person. While I’ve adored many middle grade novels, this one didn’t quite hold my attention well all the way through, although it had a strong beginning. I imagine the target age group would find it more exciting.
My biggest issue with this story pertains to gender stereotypes. This could have easily been a male heroic story that still presented females in dignified ways, but it didn’t really feel that way. While some females had limited redeeming qualities, it stood out that they were dopey, superficial, unkind, deceitful, naive, needy, and/or disposable. Although there was some implication that a couple were brave, it seemed more clearly conveyed that the males were courageous, level-headed and wise. As far as positive attributes go, this felt imbalanced, and there was a subtle, problematic message within that.
If you consider this for your own kids, know that there are scenes that could be really upsetting for young readers. If your child isn’t a fan of scary books, don’t let the teddy bear theme misguide you. This is exactly what it claims to be - a teddy horror - and not every bear will make it out in one piece. Some of the imagery is graphic, even though it’s not a blood and guts type of story, and that may be difficult for some children to process.
The themes of supportive friendship and perseverance don’t necessarily outweigh the negatives, but they do provide something worth chewing on. I didn’t consider this to be an exceptional story and I won’t continue with the series, but I’m glad that I gave it a try!
June 30, 2025
Overall, I liked it. It was a bit slow at times, especially at the beginning. But I appreciated the sneaky religious themes it had. I thought Reginald's caution about learning more was suuuper interesting and reminds me of how people in fundamentalist religions will go out of their way to avoid any influence that may lead them to question their reality.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2022
Yes! What we all needed but didn’t know it. Teddy Bear horror! This fun middle grade book was nicely creepy. The second in the series comes out this week and I just might need to read it too.
September 4, 2021
Full review video to come, but this is a new favorite book.
December 31, 2021
I am weirdly intrigued by this book and might pick up the sequel? But honestly I wouldn't consider it a middle grade book but hey all kids are different so maybe?
It is very dark and touches self-harm amongst other more serious topic so if you are considering it for your kids maybe read it first...
It is very dark and touches self-harm amongst other more serious topic so if you are considering it for your kids maybe read it first...
September 10, 2020
3.5/5⭐
[I received a physical copy for an honest review]
Furrington Teddies DON'T
-Talk
-Walk
-Get in Trouble
-Be Mean
They Threw Us Away is a new middle grade novel by author Daniel Kraus. It follows 5 teddy bears who find themselves discarded at a trash dump and are determined to get back to their store shelves in order to be chosen by a child.
"Maybe that was the key to survival. Not to push fear away, but turn it into something else."
This story is not light and fluffy, it's dark and depressing. The story is told from the point of view of a teddy named Buddy. The teddy friends he finds in the dump are each unique. There's "girl scout" bear Sunny , "damaged merchandise" bear Sugar, Reginald the wise older bear, and the anxious and pessimistic bear Horace. The Bears have to survive vicious gulls, rats and man-made monsters like bulldozers and trucks.
"Buddy...they're not what teddies were built to do." He shook his head. "It makes me worry we're turning into things we weren't meant to be."
Daniel Kraus' writing is so descriptive and fantastic that the nasty trash heaps and filthy landscapes come to life in all their disgusting glory. The teddy bears' curiosity and feelings feel real as they struggle to survive the world. The story starts with 5 teddy bears with determination and hope but by the end they have each lost a good chunk of their innocence. Happy bears turn mean and cut-throat, not the type of teddies you want to bring home to your kids.
I really enjoyed They Threw Us Away by Daniel Kraus and I look forward to what other trails these teddy bears will have to endure in future books.
[I received a physical copy for an honest review]
Furrington Teddies DON'T
-Talk
-Walk
-Get in Trouble
-Be Mean
They Threw Us Away is a new middle grade novel by author Daniel Kraus. It follows 5 teddy bears who find themselves discarded at a trash dump and are determined to get back to their store shelves in order to be chosen by a child.
"Maybe that was the key to survival. Not to push fear away, but turn it into something else."
This story is not light and fluffy, it's dark and depressing. The story is told from the point of view of a teddy named Buddy. The teddy friends he finds in the dump are each unique. There's "girl scout" bear Sunny , "damaged merchandise" bear Sugar, Reginald the wise older bear, and the anxious and pessimistic bear Horace. The Bears have to survive vicious gulls, rats and man-made monsters like bulldozers and trucks.
"Buddy...they're not what teddies were built to do." He shook his head. "It makes me worry we're turning into things we weren't meant to be."
Daniel Kraus' writing is so descriptive and fantastic that the nasty trash heaps and filthy landscapes come to life in all their disgusting glory. The teddy bears' curiosity and feelings feel real as they struggle to survive the world. The story starts with 5 teddy bears with determination and hope but by the end they have each lost a good chunk of their innocence. Happy bears turn mean and cut-throat, not the type of teddies you want to bring home to your kids.
I really enjoyed They Threw Us Away by Daniel Kraus and I look forward to what other trails these teddy bears will have to endure in future books.
August 26, 2020
I'll be honest the comps and the following teddy bears got the better of me and I am so glad. This is one of the more violent middle grade books that I've read in awhile especially since it follows teddy bears. But with comps such as Toy Story and Lord of the Flies, it could only go so many ways. Additionally, there is artwork spread throughout at just the right moments. Seriously, if you're at all curious about this one, I say pick it up.
I received an ecopy of this through Netgalley; however, all opinions are my own.
I received an ecopy of this through Netgalley; however, all opinions are my own.
September 17, 2020
Review now up on Sci Fi and Scary: https://www.scifiandscary.com/they-th...
April 16, 2022
This book is essential. Dang.
So good. So dark. So fuzzy.
So good. So dark. So fuzzy.
July 16, 2024
this book was fantastic and so well done. it read almost like a children’s story, but incorporated so many adult themes and elements: creepiness, horror, responsibilities, lessons learned, but also correlated them with a lot of sad nostalgia that made it so much more personable and raw to the reader. very excited for the next book!!
April 28, 2021
Friends, this book is dark. Like, really dark. The cover hints at a darkness of Teddies, but nonetheless it did not prepare me for the graphic teddy bear violence within. And if you just giggled, I don't think you're ready to read this.
I'm imagining that Kraus watched Toy Story 3 and was inspired by Lotso (the mob boss teddy that controls the lives of all the other toys), and then binged Stephen King's entire catalog of books and movies, and this is the inevitable result.
It was horrifying.
Buddy awakens in a landfill, and as he comes to terms with the dystopian world he is now in, he meets four other teddies. They work together to elude the Garbage Gulls and the Bulldozers, but they don't all make it. Those that do embark on a larger journey to the outside world, looking for Children who will love them and give them meaning, culminating in Forever Sleep (is this death? a spiritual death? a perpetual frozen state? no one knows). The hazards of the outside world are worse than those of the landfill: dead rats, fast cars, a teddy-shredding toy store employee, a teddy bear made of , and stabby garbage spikes.
Underlying all of this action is a layer of mysticism. Reginald (the gray teddy) seems to have a spiritual connection to their communal origins. Some woman named Mother made a selection of original teddies, and then went commercial. At some point, the teddies went bad and there was some kind of teddy massacre. Buddy and his friends are some of the survivors (or were they perpetrators? so much is not known). Buddy himself hears a Voice in his head that speaks to his patent number, and Sugar (the pink teddy) moves through the world like a prophet, especially after .
There is no good rating for this book. 5 stars for an imaginative and readable story, and for a sympathetic hero in Buddy. 0 stars for the very awkward lack-of-origin story that was not resolved by the end of the book. The terror factor was off the charts. In some ways this reminds me of Scary Stories for Young Foxes in its unconventional approach to horror, but without the clarity in the world-building.
This is what I get for grabbing a book because I really enjoyed the illustrator elsewhere. Rovina Cai did the illustrations for Elatsoe, which I loved. And I'm still impressed by the illustrations, but definitely shaken from this story.
I'm imagining that Kraus watched Toy Story 3 and was inspired by Lotso (the mob boss teddy that controls the lives of all the other toys), and then binged Stephen King's entire catalog of books and movies, and this is the inevitable result.
It was horrifying.
Buddy awakens in a landfill, and as he comes to terms with the dystopian world he is now in, he meets four other teddies. They work together to elude the Garbage Gulls and the Bulldozers, but they don't all make it. Those that do embark on a larger journey to the outside world, looking for Children who will love them and give them meaning, culminating in Forever Sleep (is this death? a spiritual death? a perpetual frozen state? no one knows). The hazards of the outside world are worse than those of the landfill: dead rats, fast cars, a teddy-shredding toy store employee, a teddy bear made of , and stabby garbage spikes.
Underlying all of this action is a layer of mysticism. Reginald (the gray teddy) seems to have a spiritual connection to their communal origins. Some woman named Mother made a selection of original teddies, and then went commercial. At some point, the teddies went bad and there was some kind of teddy massacre. Buddy and his friends are some of the survivors (or were they perpetrators? so much is not known). Buddy himself hears a Voice in his head that speaks to his patent number, and Sugar (the pink teddy) moves through the world like a prophet, especially after .
There is no good rating for this book. 5 stars for an imaginative and readable story, and for a sympathetic hero in Buddy. 0 stars for the very awkward lack-of-origin story that was not resolved by the end of the book. The terror factor was off the charts. In some ways this reminds me of Scary Stories for Young Foxes in its unconventional approach to horror, but without the clarity in the world-building.
This is what I get for grabbing a book because I really enjoyed the illustrator elsewhere. Rovina Cai did the illustrations for Elatsoe, which I loved. And I'm still impressed by the illustrations, but definitely shaken from this story.
April 1, 2023
3.75 stars. Five teddies who are only looking for the love of a child that will bring on the gift of forever sleep (a kind of eternal peace) find out that the world can be a dark and treacherous place. Can the teddies survive the dangers of junkyards, highways and more?
If you ever thought of your sutffies or stuffed animals as anthropomorphic or loved other stories about toys like (i.e. The Velveteen Rabbit, The Secrets of Eastcliff-by-the-Sea: The Story of Annaliese Easterling Throckmorton, Her Simply Remarkable Sock Monkey), this trilogy is for you. I know I am looking forward to reading book two, They Stole Our Hearts soon and the release of the final book, They Set the Fire this month (January 2023).
If you ever thought of your sutffies or stuffed animals as anthropomorphic or loved other stories about toys like (i.e. The Velveteen Rabbit, The Secrets of Eastcliff-by-the-Sea: The Story of Annaliese Easterling Throckmorton, Her Simply Remarkable Sock Monkey), this trilogy is for you. I know I am looking forward to reading book two, They Stole Our Hearts soon and the release of the final book, They Set the Fire this month (January 2023).
September 27, 2022
3.5 stars--The Care Bears this is not. When a group of teddy bears awaken to find themselves in a landfill, they set out on a peril-filled journey to find a child who loves them and maybe discover why they were thrown away in the first place.
I listened to the audiobook, and while I'd like to see how this story continues, I'm not sure if I'm so eager to hear the voices of two characters in particular, which I found particularly annoying.
As the cover art hints, this is a story geared toward middle school-aged readers who like darker, spookier reads. Our plush heroes encounter many dangers and scares in rapid succession, and characters experience injury and death. So it's not for everyone, but it will definitely have its fans.
THEY THREW US AWAY is a creative and decidedly unique read.
I listened to the audiobook, and while I'd like to see how this story continues, I'm not sure if I'm so eager to hear the voices of two characters in particular, which I found particularly annoying.
As the cover art hints, this is a story geared toward middle school-aged readers who like darker, spookier reads. Our plush heroes encounter many dangers and scares in rapid succession, and characters experience injury and death. So it's not for everyone, but it will definitely have its fans.
THEY THREW US AWAY is a creative and decidedly unique read.
July 17, 2020
I don't know how to rate or review this one. I really don't.
February 22, 2022
I'm not usually big on YA novels, but I really enjoyed this.. Well written characters and captivating story. Somewhat reminiscent of Watership Down or Miss Peregrine.
March 26, 2025
Obviously, I am not the target audience. But in recent months I have taken a liking to darker children's lit. More so the straight up picture books but first of all this has illustrations (my second time with the talented Rovina Cai) and second of all it is for sure dark and a bit disturbing in subject. Just a bit longer and I wonder if that was part of the problem. Because I didn't love this the way I thought I would.
I actually almost didn't finish this because I was kind of over this teddy adventure, for me it got very repetitive. We follow a group of Teddy Bears that were discarded, they wake up in a landfill and have to fight their way out of there to fulfill their destiny: finding a child, hugging it and with that going into what they call the Big Sleep. These teddies can't believe someone would have just thrown them out but apparently that's what happened, even worse, it seems people hate them now which is a big mystery within the novel as to what led to this change in attitude. On their quest the Teddies discover their distinct personalities (which is very un-teddy like), learn to fight for survival (again, not very teddylike) and form a bond (which teddies also shouldn't be doing).
This book can be harrowing and likely too much for some children. Teddies will die here and while not graphically described gruesome things happen to them. This is more for the crowd that appreciates a good "Watership Down" vibe to their kid's tales, and I would have been 100% one of those kids. As an adult I got a bit annoyed with the Teddies. I had it wrong in my head that these teddies would try to get revenge for being discarded but that would have been likely too far out there, in fact they are all very sweet and naive, each in their own distinct way. Too much sweetness for me, despite the harsh path that is put out for them (maybe in future books though?). Also, the portrayal of the bear Sugar was a bit funky as she was a "damaged" bear, meaning mentally disabled. A couple of things there didn't sit well with me, like her ability to have visions of the future to name one example.
There is a certain structure this story is told in where an obstacle or challenge appears and the Teddies have to grow internally and figure out how to get passed it to reach their goal. Very much fitting for a kid's story, I am not claiming Kraus was wrong in using this story structure but it read extremely rinse and repeat for me. I thought I would fly threw this but it took me over a week because I didn't always want to pick it up again.
What really bothered me was that this is only Vol. 1 and we end on a huge cliffhanger with none of the questions that arose during the story being answered. One could argue that that is not uncommon with a series but that is also why I often don't read series! Honestly, I kinda kept going to know and was truly bummed when this book tried to force me to read No. 2 to find out what happened. (I tried googling what the founder of the Furrington company did but I can't find an answer. My hunch is pedophilia but that would be truly a lot for a Middle Grade?!)
Thing is, this is a cool story. It has fantastic commentary on consumerism and throw away culture, a lot here is about trash and I think that is a great topic to put into a children's book. Especially without hammering the points home but letting the reader draw their own conclusions of how terrible it is that there's littered trash everywhere and landfills are beyond capacity. This also addresses things like life's purpose, identity and facing unexpected challenges. I am sure many readers, old and young alike, enjoyed this but I wasn't all that gripped. I can't even fully articulate why. Heart of stone? Too much distraction from the real world? Just not into peaceful teddies having their worst day? It didn't really work for me. Another book where I freely take the blame, it wasn't you, it was me.
So please, give this book to the right child that will get obsessed with the Teddies. Don't take my rating too harshly, it reflects my personal enjoyment and is by no means an objective evaluation of the book. But even with kid's books, sometimes it simply doesn't click and personally I find it ridiculous to always hand out nice ratings just because it's for children....
2.5*
I actually almost didn't finish this because I was kind of over this teddy adventure, for me it got very repetitive. We follow a group of Teddy Bears that were discarded, they wake up in a landfill and have to fight their way out of there to fulfill their destiny: finding a child, hugging it and with that going into what they call the Big Sleep. These teddies can't believe someone would have just thrown them out but apparently that's what happened, even worse, it seems people hate them now which is a big mystery within the novel as to what led to this change in attitude. On their quest the Teddies discover their distinct personalities (which is very un-teddy like), learn to fight for survival (again, not very teddylike) and form a bond (which teddies also shouldn't be doing).
This book can be harrowing and likely too much for some children. Teddies will die here and while not graphically described gruesome things happen to them. This is more for the crowd that appreciates a good "Watership Down" vibe to their kid's tales, and I would have been 100% one of those kids. As an adult I got a bit annoyed with the Teddies. I had it wrong in my head that these teddies would try to get revenge for being discarded but that would have been likely too far out there, in fact they are all very sweet and naive, each in their own distinct way. Too much sweetness for me, despite the harsh path that is put out for them (maybe in future books though?). Also, the portrayal of the bear Sugar was a bit funky as she was a "damaged" bear, meaning mentally disabled. A couple of things there didn't sit well with me, like her ability to have visions of the future to name one example.
There is a certain structure this story is told in where an obstacle or challenge appears and the Teddies have to grow internally and figure out how to get passed it to reach their goal. Very much fitting for a kid's story, I am not claiming Kraus was wrong in using this story structure but it read extremely rinse and repeat for me. I thought I would fly threw this but it took me over a week because I didn't always want to pick it up again.
What really bothered me was that this is only Vol. 1 and we end on a huge cliffhanger with none of the questions that arose during the story being answered. One could argue that that is not uncommon with a series but that is also why I often don't read series! Honestly, I kinda kept going to know and was truly bummed when this book tried to force me to read No. 2 to find out what happened. (I tried googling what the founder of the Furrington company did but I can't find an answer. My hunch is pedophilia but that would be truly a lot for a Middle Grade?!)
Thing is, this is a cool story. It has fantastic commentary on consumerism and throw away culture, a lot here is about trash and I think that is a great topic to put into a children's book. Especially without hammering the points home but letting the reader draw their own conclusions of how terrible it is that there's littered trash everywhere and landfills are beyond capacity. This also addresses things like life's purpose, identity and facing unexpected challenges. I am sure many readers, old and young alike, enjoyed this but I wasn't all that gripped. I can't even fully articulate why. Heart of stone? Too much distraction from the real world? Just not into peaceful teddies having their worst day? It didn't really work for me. Another book where I freely take the blame, it wasn't you, it was me.
So please, give this book to the right child that will get obsessed with the Teddies. Don't take my rating too harshly, it reflects my personal enjoyment and is by no means an objective evaluation of the book. But even with kid's books, sometimes it simply doesn't click and personally I find it ridiculous to always hand out nice ratings just because it's for children....
2.5*
September 15, 2020
I really enjoyed this book, it’s written as a middle grade book, but it’s darker and more complex and wouldn’t be uninteresting to an adult or teenager. The story takes on a Toy Story vibe, and we meet a very special bear who’s on a journey. This is very much in the vibe of a bear that was forgotten and has to survive on his own. We stick with Buddy as he tries to understand where he is, how he got there, and how he has to move on. If you’re a fan of any book that brings inanimate objects to life, and tugs on your heartstrings, then this is for you. I think it will bring the teens and adults back to remembering their favorite stuffed animal, and where they are now. We make a unique connection with stuffed animals, so the bears we meet in this story, especially a few special ones, really just hit you in the feels. I really think that Kraus is a special author because few authors can transition well from the straight horror genre into something so general and interesting as a middle grade book, but he successfully does it and I will be sharing this book with readers of all ages in my life. I really enjoyed it.
November 2, 2021
trigger warnings: addiction mention, violence, dead animals, abandonment, violence, physical injury
Not sure how to tag triggers when the main characters are teddy bears but I'm gonna assume we're projecting characters onto ourselves no matter the species.
Long story short, this book is grim and I cannot believe this is for children but also I can see exactly why this is for children. It really puts mortality and the meaning of life into digestible bits of storytelling so that kids are able to process it at their own age range.
The themes of finding a purpose in life, growing up, friendship, overcoming hardships, and so on are beautifully blended in this story and it's incredibly nuanced. Paired with the motifs of industrial waste, the grim realities of profit and loss in the children's entertainment industry, and more, this book is so so so mature.
Ends in a cliffhanger which is just... dude. Kids are gonna rage.
Not sure how to tag triggers when the main characters are teddy bears but I'm gonna assume we're projecting characters onto ourselves no matter the species.
Long story short, this book is grim and I cannot believe this is for children but also I can see exactly why this is for children. It really puts mortality and the meaning of life into digestible bits of storytelling so that kids are able to process it at their own age range.
The themes of finding a purpose in life, growing up, friendship, overcoming hardships, and so on are beautifully blended in this story and it's incredibly nuanced. Paired with the motifs of industrial waste, the grim realities of profit and loss in the children's entertainment industry, and more, this book is so so so mature.
Ends in a cliffhanger which is just... dude. Kids are gonna rage.
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