Middle Grade
1855, London. Rosa befriends Jem, a young bear keeper, and discovers the zoo’s animals are in grave danger. When a villainous showman threatens the bears, the children must find the courage to outsmart him and attempt a daring rescue before it’s too late...
Find this ebook at your favourite retailer below:
London, 1855.
Twelve-year-old Rosa doesn’t want to leave her widowed father and when he reluctantly sends her to live with her wealthy relatives across the river, she feels more alone than ever.
She soon discovers the Surrey Zoological Gardens, where she befriends Jem, a young bearkeeper. When Rosa learns the animals are to be sold, and the bears may be killed, she joins forces with Jem, vowing to save them.
A travelling menagerie seems like the perfect solution, until Rosa encounters the villainous Mr Murdlock and uncovers the bears’ true, dreadful fate.
With Jem threatened into silence, and no adult she can trust, Rosa realises the only way to protect the animals is to take matters into her own hands.
Together, can Rosa and Jem outwit the dangerous Mr Murdlock and rescue the bears before it’s too late?
Here's what readers have to say about this book....
I cannot begin to explain how much I loved this book. Personally I have an attachment to bears that is stronger than most, and I love historical fiction so this was a great read for me. It is a charming story of a young girl living with her Aunt and Uncle after the death of her mother. She loves to draw and paint, especially at the local gardens which have a sort of mystery about them as everyone suggests for her to paint flowers there, but her uncle also forbids her from going there regularly. As the story progresses, we slowly learn more about her parents, the bears, the gardens, and her uncle's connections. When the bears are going to be sold to an illegal bear baiting ring the girl knows she has to save them and fulfill the title by breaking the bears out of the gardens until it is safe for them to return. It is a wonderful, unexpected adventure with plenty of twists and turns that readers of all ages will enjoy. I recommend for middle grade readers, especially bear lovers!
After her mother's sudden death, 12 year old Rosa is sent by her cheesemonger father to live with her wealthy relatives in the hope that this will give her a better life. But Rosa finds life with her strict uncle difficult, and her aunt - despite being her late mother's sister - seems reluctant to talk about her. A talented artist, like her mother, Rosa finds secret solace in visiting the bears in the nearby animal park, where she has fond memories of accompanying her mother. Until she finds out that the bears are in terrible danger from unscrupulous men who plan to take advantage of the closing down of the animal park. Its 1855, and Rosa is a girl of only 12. So what can she possibly do to prevent a tragedy? As it turns out, she is far more resourceful than she knows. This is a beautiful story, well told and illustrated, and with multiple core themes - including unexpected friendships, grief over parental loss, and the bonds between humans and other species - it will be enjoyed by readers of all ages particularly those in the target group. It gets 4.5 stars.
