When twelve-year-old Tam is sent to work at a bear farm in the city, he has never felt so alone. He hates seeing the cruel way the bears are treated, but speaking up will mean losing his job. And if he can't send money home, how will his family survive? When a sick cub arrives at the farm, Tam secretly nurses it back to health and they develop an unbreakable bond. Tam swears to return his beloved cub to the wild, but how will they ever find a way to be free? Deeply moving and powerful, Moon Bear is an unforgettable story of compassion, hope, and bravery against overwhelming odds.

A boy and his bear, both longing to be free . . .

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
'Lewis cements her position as a major children's writer with a powerful new wildlife novel about the South-East Asian bear trade. Highly recommended.' * Fiona Noble, The Bookseller *
'There is sufficient Laotian history and culture woven in to provide an authentic, intriguing setting, along with just the right measure of suspense.' * Kirkus reviews *
'Gill Lewis' eye-opening account of bear farming is utterly chilling.' * Julia Eccleshare, The Guardian *
'Moon Bear by Gill Lewis is a moving story about a boy and a bear in captivity in Laos. It shows how ideas of freedom are relative to one another, particularly nature and mankind, the city and the jungle.' * Jon Walter, WRD magazine *
'It's rare when an exploration of so many important social issues is accomplished in such an entertaining and moving manner.' * Chris Brandon Whitaker, Kidliterati *



Book Information
ISBN 9780192793546
Author Gill Lewis
Format Paperback
Page Count 304
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 250g
Dimensions(mm) 196mm * 130mm * 25mm