The Girl Who Speaks Bear

About this book

The newest heart-expanding, magical adventure from Sophie Anderson, author of the critically acclaimed House with Chicken Legs.

"They call me Yanka the Bear. Not because of where I was found. Only a few people know about that. They call me Yanka the Bear because I am so big and strong."

Discovered in a bear cave as a baby, 12-year-old Yanka dreams of knowing who she really is. Although Yanka is happy at home with her loving foster mother, she feels out of place in the village where the other children mock her for her unusual size and strength.

So when Yanka wakes up one morning to find her legs have become bear legs, she knows she has no choice but to leave her village. She has to find somewhere she truly belongs, so she ventures into the Snow Forest with her pet weasel, Mousetrap, in search of the truth about her past.

But deep in the forest there are many dangers and Yanka discovers that even the most fantastic stories she grew up hearing are true. And just as she draws close to discovering who she really is, something terrifying happens that could trap her in the forest . . . forever.

Reviews

Praise for The Girl Who Speaks Bear:
* "Marvelously charmed and charming." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "A gem of a fairy tale, Anderson's sophomore effort offers a dynamic, memorable cast with rich personalities amid lasting messages about belonging, graceful acceptance of aid, and the power of stories." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "Readers...will revel in this new fairy tale that borrows from the old to make something new." -- Booklist, starred review

Praise for The House with Chicken Legs:
#3 Nielsen Bookscan UK Children's and YA Fiction bestseller
Nominated for the Carnegie Medal 2019
A Kirkus Best Book of 2018
An American Booksellers Association "Indies Introduce" selection
Waterstones' Children's Book of the Month
Blackwell's Children's Book of the Month
A Guardian Book of the Month
The Bookseller Children's Book of the Month
The Sunday Times Book of the Week

* "A thoughtfully crafted, macabre masterpiece for middle grade readers, this debut novel also has the read-aloud appeal of a beloved folk or fairy tale." -- School Library Journal, starred review

* "Heartbreaking, uplifting, and absolutely beautiful." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Utterly magical and highly original." -- The Bookseller