Pocket Bear by Katherine Applegate. 240 p. Feiwel & Friends/ Macmillan, September 9, 2025. 9781250904362. Review of finished, purchased copy.
Middle Grade Monday features Pocket Bear by Katherine Applegate. This sweet, illustrated novel is narrated by Zephryna, a self-proclaimed "Robin Hood of felines." She's an alley cat who has allowed Dasha and her mother, Elizaveta to feed and care for her. They are Ukranian refugees who live in a small apartment. Dasha uses crutches as her legs were injured in the war that also killed her father. She rescues Zephryna's finds, washes them and places them in a little wagon outside their apartment for their owners to reclaim them. If they remain unclaimed after three days, the toys join other rescued toys. They all come to life when everyone is asleep and are led by Pocket, a small, "thimble-born" bear who is over one hundred years old.
Zephyrina's latest theft was rescued from a dumpster behind an Italian restaurant. This large, cumbersome bear was covered in sauce and rather difficult for her to drag home to Dasha and Pocket. Pocket, a thoughtful, well-read bear, sees something in this new recruit. Unfortunately, so does Picky Vicky, an antique toy dealer who regularly visits scrounging for deals.
There's a lot of humor in this story, but also a lot of depth, which is gently told. There was a fair amount of laughing out loud, but also unabashed tears. I loved this timeless tale.
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