Jasper Robinson-Woods is not okay - his name is too long, his mum has an annoying boyfriend, he never sees his dad, his goldfish is dying, and he can't sleep because of a terrifying recurring nightmare. Jasper is overwhelmed with bad thoughts and the only place he feels safe is in the tree of his front yard. But then the unthinkable happens and everything spirals out of control. Jasper must finally face his nightmare.
Bear is author Kiri Lightfoot's first novel for young adults and was inspired by her work with young people. She has worked for many years as a counsellor with Youthline and as a volunteer mentor in an alternative education school.
Jasper is a complex character and his story is instantly recognisable. Everyone, in some way, will see a part of themselves within Jasper.
There is plenty of young adult fiction that focuses on the stereotypical - anxiety, friendship, love and the like. And while Jasper is experiencing all of these things, anger is to the fore. There are fewer stories that focus on this emotion, making Bear a refreshing read. Anger is a big emotion and Lightfoot confronts it with skill. She also knows it isn't something felt in isolation, giving Jasper depth and realism.
Lightfoot doesn't try to 'fix' Jasper, nor does a character step in to save him - instead the people in his life are there to walk beside him, to support him through thick and thin. It is exactly the message that young people (and indeed all of us) need as they navigate the tricky transition that is adulthood.
As well as some really tough lessons, Lightfoot includes a strong undercurrent of hope. Readers are reminded constantly that things can get better, that things can change, that despite the complicated parts of them, they are awesome too. The ending, and Jasper's realisation, is simply perfect. It's a message that everyone, teen or not, needs to know and understand.
Bear is a story that is both confronting and comforting. Jasper and the lessons he brings will stay with readers for a long time.
Reviewer: Rebekah Lyell
Allen & Unwin