The book links a fast-warming Arctic, where wild polar bears and human communities live with melting ice, and American zoos where Nora, a young polar bear, struggles for survival in a human structured world. From a multi-generational polar bear family, she has emotional and physical problems identified when she was a newborn. There are few who are familiar with polar bear anatomy, physical and mental development yet do their best to keep her healthy. Nora has trouble coping with other polar bears so it takes awhile for her to find a friend so she is moved about a bit. Always a marketing draw, her story is promoted in the media to attract visitors to whatever zoo in which she resides. Note, too, that zoos became more sophisticated as humans learn how to best accomodate the bears.

The author includes descriptions about those who hunt polar bears to survive and how climate change and decreasing ice pack affect them. Few recognized when climate change really began and its long term affects on the animals that depend on it. Likewise, how it affects Inuit traditions and social structure. A good read, this book leaves us with much to consider as we cope with our changing world.

Share/Like this Review?