Review of The Bronze Bear

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[Following is a volunteer review of "The Bronze Bear" by Jerry A. Greenberg.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Set in the 20th Century, The Bronze Bear by Jerry A. Greenberg tells the tale of Frederick Warrenton and his lucky charm, Bear. The novel explores the idea of a spirit animal and its bond with a human. Written in first-person narrative, the story presents readers with the life of Fred since he was a young boy.

Born and brought up in a small village in Ohio, Fred is an only child and lives with his parents. Shy, introverted, and a voracious reader, Fred develops a liking for Martha Kay in middle school but is unable to act on it due to his shy nature. After high school, he is drafted and sent off to WWI in France. While on a break there, he comes across an elderly woman who tells him she's looking for a worthy man to pass on the good luck charm which belonged to her late husband. Deeming Fred to be the one, she hands him a 3" bronze statuette of a bear and tells him that it'll protect him only if he truly believes in it and keeps it safe. Surrounded by violence, death, uncertainty, and numerous other traumatic happenings, can Fred bring himself to trust a statuette? Will this Bear protect him? Will Fred be able to return home and eventually confess his feelings to Martha Kay?

Through Fred's viewpoint, the novel introduces and familiarises the audience with the characters he comes across. One such character is that of Sarge, Fred's trainer, superior, and mentor during his time at the War. Another is Marvin who he meets and becomes friends with while drafted. The rest include his family, neighborhood, peers, companions, and of course, Bear. The novel depicts their contribution to Fred's life and development.

The Bronze Bear is authored using a variety of imagery and simplistic diction. I didn't find any errors whatsoever and hence I'm giving it 4 out of 4 stars. It's a great read especially if you like the element of fantasy. There is no unnecessary jargon or anything off-putting about the writing.

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The Bronze Bear
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