The Last Bear by Hannah Gold is by far my favourite middle grade novel I’ve read this year, and that for a variety of reasons. The book follows April’s adventures on Bear Island, where she moves for a couple of months thanks to her father being offered a job to do his research in the Artic Circle. Accordingly, for the 11-year-old girl, it is the perfect occasion to explore more of what she loves - that being, nature and wildlife. On Bear Island she builds a once-in-a-lifetime type of bond with someone just as in need of love and affection as she is, a friendship most people would be jealous of, including myself.