Jasmin is feeling trepidation as she and her family drive down the long road to their house in the woods. Squished in the backseat with the family dog, her little brother Hunter, and baby sister Tara, biracial Jasmin is looking to her dad (white) and mom (Black) for explanations about the forest fire devastation surrounding them. With matter-of-fact gentleness, Jasmin’s parents discuss the visible destruction and prepare the kids for what they might find at home. They quickly discover that while they’ve lost their barn, their house is intact. While walking over to check on their neighbors, Jasmin hears a whimpering sound that she assumes is the neighbor’s frightened cat. However, she discovers that it’s a baby bear cub, orphaned and suffering from burns. Jasmin and her family quickly provide temporary care for the bear at their home after connecting with the local veterinarian. The baby bear, nicknamed Boo-Boo, captivates the siblings with his cuteness, but they realize, along with readers, that wild animals have very different needs than pets. In the end, Jasmin and Hunter say a bittersweet but relieved goodbye to Boo-Boo when a spot is available in the wildlife rehabilitation center. This highly engaging chapter book features black-and-white illustrations. While the story centers on the bear rescue, the loving and sensible family dynamic offers a firm foundation for the larger story about wildfires and rural community response. (Ages 6-8)

★“A profound, realistic story of a multiracial family...This brilliantly written tale is a lovely introduction to the important topics of wildfires and animal sanctuaries for young readers. Great for animal lovers and children curious about nature.”—School Library Journal, starred review

On returning to their home after a massive wildfire, nine-year-old Jasmin and her seven-year-old brother, Hunter, thought the biggest surprise would be whether their fire-resistant house had survived.

Jasmin and Hunter did not expect to find an orphaned bear cub stuck in the neighbors’ well. Rescuing the tiny cub from the well was the easy part; now they need to care for it until the people from the bear-rescue sanctuary can make it safely through the fires to pick it up. The cub turns out to be exactly what one would expect of a wild animal—a huge handful!

The latest Orca Echoes early chapter book from award-winning author Eric Walters was inspired by Eric’s visit to a wildlife sanctuary in Northern British Columbia. Bear in the Family tells the fictionalized story of a bear cub found by a family after the forest surrounding their home was destroyed by a wildfire.

The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.