The Great Bear

The Misewa Saga #2

by David Alexander Robertson

Eli and Morgan journey once more to Misewa, travelling back in time.

Back at home after their first adventure in the Barren Grounds, Eli and Morgan each struggle with personal issues: Eli is being bullied at school, and tries to hide it from Morgan, while Morgan has to make an important decision about her birth mother. They turn to the place where they know they can learn the most, and make the journey to Misewa to visit their animal friends. This time they travel back in time and meet a young fisher that might just be their lost friend. But they discover that the village is once again in peril, and they must dig deep within themselves to find the strength to protect their beloved friends. Can they carry this strength back home to face their own challenges?

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Indigenous, Canada, Fiction, Audiobook, Adventure

Audiobook

First published September 28, 2021

About the author

DAVID A. ROBERTSON is a two-time winner of the Governor General's Literary Award, has won the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, as well as the Writer's Union of Canada Freedom to Read award. He has received several other accolades for his work as a writer for children and adults, podcaster, public speaker, and social advocate. He was honoured with a Doctor of Letters by the University of Manitoba for outstanding contributions in the arts and distinguished achievements in 2023. He is a member of Norway House Cree Nation and lives in Winnipeg.

Reviews

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

"To live in the hearts of others is not to die."

My niece and I enjoyed the second installment in this Indigenous fantasy by David A. Robertson.

Although the Cree foster kids are still at the center of this book, it’s slightly different as the portal takes them to an earlier time in Misewa’s history. Contrary to book one, more time is spent in Misewa.

Eli is also coming into his own in this book and he’s full of surprises. I loved seeing how his time in Misewa strengthened his ability to deal with ‘stuff’ back home.

The theme of fear and consequences is still highlighted, as is the positive foster home experience. Morgan and Eli’s foster parents try so hard to help them feel accepted and loved.

If you like epic battles and cliffhangers in your fantasy novels, this one’s for you!

I appreciated the glossary and pronunciation in the beginning pages.

[Mrs Heidrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC!

Wow! The Great Bear by @DaveAlexRoberts is excellent! Basically read this is a 24 hr period as it was so hard to put down. I didn't know where this was going to go based on where the previous book ended and I sure couldn't have guessed this!

An amazing adventure for Morgan and Eli where it seems the reader gets to know them even better and care for them a little more. One of the elements I loved were the important Indigenous/Cree teachings. So much for kids to discuss! Loved the connections between home and Misewa. And the ending!!! How long do I have to wait for Book 3 now?!

I don't want to give too much of the actual story away, so I won't say too much about plot, but if you enjoyed the first, this is a must read.

[Katy O. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as powerful as the first in the series!

[Cathie (ClassyLibrarian) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last year, after finishing book one, I asked when book two would be released. The happy day came and now, here I am, asking “when is book three coming out?”
You just can’t end a book like that!!!!
This series is just so good. The writing, character development…and now she has holes in her mocassins because she has been walking miles and miles in another person’s shoes (possibly) and now is needing a new pair and is choosing mocassins instead of a different type of shoe. Maybe I am reading to much into that but it resonated with me.
Highly recommend this series !

[Shaunna MacDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love this series!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two foster children enter a portal to another world.....great adventures.

[claresgotbooksagain · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Alexander Robertson when I FIND YOU!!!!!!! WHEN I FIND YOU!!!!!!!

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books so much - this instalment is just as warm, wise, and heartfelt as the first, and therefore felt like something to be cherished all the way through. It is always an absolute pleasure letting these characters steal my heart - already counting down the days to book three when they get to do it again 😍

[Bethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. Rare sophomore addition to the series that is better than the first. Morgan and Eli return to Misewa but in a different spoiler alert kind of way. Love how the kids discussed and handled it, love how they handled a problem back at home. Lots of cool story stuff here. 4 long months til book 3!

[Nicole - Kauffee Table Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

David A Robertson has done it again with The Great Bear. It was so wonderful to journey again with Morgan and Eli and I totally did not predict where this story went. What I loved was that we got to learn more about Morgan and Eli and make a stronger connection with these two. David has a wonderful way of adding elements of Indigenous/Cree teachings. This is what I loved about the first book and it was added in here and I cannot wait for the 3rd instalment. There is so much for the students to discuss and learn from. To me the power of a read aloud is that you take something away and ask questions. Canadian Author, Indigenous histories wrapped in an adventure for all. If you are a middle grade teacher or parent please put this series on your radar and share it with your kids and students!

Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC!

[Breanna Morin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid sequel to The Barren Grounds! Love the cliffhanger/ epilogue. Can't wait to read the third of book of this saga.

[Emily Dia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved book two just as much as book one. Such a shame that Durham ISD banned this amazing work recently.

[Lola Soojin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Great Bear is exceptional and leaves The Barren Grounds in the the dust. Everything about this instalment in Misewa is amazing. The plot flow, the character development, the teachings, all of it - absolutely amazing.

I highly recommend staying with this series as it seems to get better as it goes on. 5/5.

[Wendy Bamber · Rating 5 out of 5]

3 classes of 11-13 year olds are reading the first one as a read aloud and really enjoying learning something about Canada and indigenous cultures in general. This second one will be sought after when they all finish, and I will be waiting for the third as I waited for the second. A heart wrenching trip back in time with a favourite character that we know won’t make it eventually, and a big old bear that has to somehow undergo a complete character transplant for the first book that we just finished! Trying not to give spoilers, but the time travel aspect to this creates those tricky questions - do you warn people, do you somehow change history, or do you accidentally cause it and had been there all along! Oooo such questions. I love this series, I can’t wait for the first one to be available again so I can sell it to the next cohort.

[Kelly Dyment · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it just as much as the first! And now clearly waiting for book #3. Characters are so nicely fleshed out - totally believable. Thanks David Robertson for your work.

[Gigi · Rating 4 out of 5]

BRO CAN WE PLEASE GET SOME GRIEF COUNSELING FOR MORGAN THIS IS RIDICULOUS-

[Cytrina Ogle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I love this series! I cannot wait to do it as a novel study with my students. The Indigenous way of life is easily explained for children. I loved the way we could just jump right into the story in this one. Bullying is an easy enough concept for children and seeing it modelled like this was inspiring. The ending made me GASP. I’m so grateful the next instalment comes out SOON!!

[Audrey Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Indigenous story will be a hit with upper elementary, youth and adult readers! While it does have a story of its own, it would be optimal tp read as part of THE MISTEWA SERIES by the author David A. Robertson, a well noted writer from Norway House Cree Nation who lives now in Winnipeg. Definitely add to your TBR list! Enjoy!

[Meagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great second book.

Teachers: the beginning is slow. Middle and end is where the juice is. Excellent ending w a cliff hanging epilogue

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I wish I had read while growing up. As a white settler in Canada, I learned about Indigenous people, culture, language that I didn’t learn about in school during my education. At the same time, I could still relate to most of the book too - such as the desire to belong and also the issue of bullying. In the book, it reads “You underestimated what we could do together, as one.” This is true for kids, adults, Indigenous communities and allies. Could you imagine the world if this was valued over individual greed for power and other wants? This book inspires strength in the reader to stand up for themselves and for others who are being bullied and attacked. It inspires the reader to stand up for what is right for the whole community, not just one person.

David Robertson takes us all on a journey and reminds us that we have the power to change, both who we are and the future for generations to come. “It’s not just a village…It’s our home. It’s community.” - Reconciliation is about building relationships in the place we live for a better tomorrow for all. Book 3 pre-ordered and impatiently waiting for August.

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Misewa Saga continues in book two as Morgan and Eli continue their adventures, travelling to and fro the portal through the Great Tree. Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for the e-galley via NetGalley. I was so excited about the sequel as The Barren Grounds is one of my favourite middle grade fantasy novels of 2020. David A. Robertson continues to weave his amazing storytelling in The Great Bear as we learn that Morgan and Eli now have a routine of returning to the Misewa every night. As the two contemplate their feelings of grief and regret, they make the decision to try to time travel to an earlier period of time in the Misewa timeline. While they find themselves successful, and also successfully reunited with an old (but younger) friend, they also promise themselves not to reveal anything that may disturb the timeline. Both Morgan and Eli will find themselves in a position to change and help the current situations, finding both courage and inner strength to do what’s right in the face of fear.

This is such an incredible series and while I am generally not a fan of blatant cliffhangers, I don’t mind the ones for this series. It is a promise of more books and stories to come and I, for one, cannot wait for more Misewa Saga books.

[Kaylee (Curiously Kaylee) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I NEED THE NEXT BOOK NOW!

That was one heck of a cliffhanger 😂😭

I’ll admit I was a little nervous about the time travel plot line at first. But now I know I had no reason to be nervous.

From Morgan and Eli’s meta thoughts about how time travel worked to getting to see Misewa in a different time, this was a great sequel.

I really loved the character development for Morgan and Eli. They both went through some STUFF but they learned from it. I love how in both books they learn a big life lesson in Misewa and then get to apply it back on Earth.

This series is a new favorite, and needless to say, I can’t wait to continue. Luckily for me, I got an email that my library hold for Book 3 came in this morning 😂

[❀ Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hope that educators share this book with elementary students! I enjoyed meeting the characters again and the themes of racism, the effects of colonialism, the foster system, bullying and getting back to nature would make for amazing classroom discussion.

As I said when reviewing the Barren Grounds, this feels a bit like the Narnia series as children leave the real world through a portal and have amazing experiences that they learn and heal from.

I am looking forward to the next book and wish rbis has been a read aloud option when my family was younger.

[Acj · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. I am so glad to have found the Misewa series, and think I enjoyed this one even more than the first. The link from Eli and Morgan’s real life bullying experience to the conflict in Misewa between the animals and Muskwa is so well done, and it lead to such good discussion with my seven year old. I continue to be amazed at how Robertson introduces big topics into his books for young people. What an excellent Manitoba author! We can’t wait to read the next in the series.

[Jen Nishi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic sequel which smashes the 2nd book syndrome I was afraid it would have to pieces. Fantastic sequel snd brilliant read for sure. Please write the 3rd faster! I need to know everyone is ok.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing book by David Roberson! I listed to the audio book in 1 day- it was great!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 ½ - 5 stars

I did enjoy the first one in the series more, but the ending of this one was just so perfect - gut wrenchingly so.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was almost as good as book one. There’s a lot of great development in character relationships and it goes somewhere pretty unexpected. But it has a typical book 2 of series HUGE CLIFFHANGER ending.

[Anya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I enjoyed this book more than the first one! I read it almost a year after book 1, but I don’t think I’m going to wait as long to read book 3 because it ended on a cliffhanger 😱

[Maddie Frame · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series with all of my heart, but the pace was really slow in this one. Fingers crossed the next will be quicker