Review: Bear, Otter, and the Kid by T.J. Klune
SYNOPSIS:
Three years ago, Bear McKenna’s mother took off for parts unknown with her new boyfriend, leaving Bear to raise his six-year-old brother Tyson, aka the Kid. Somehow they’ve muddled through, but since he’s totally devoted to the Kid, Bear isn’t actually doing much living—with a few exceptions, he’s retreated from the world, and he’s mostly okay with that. Until Otter comes home.
Otter is Bear’s best friend’s older brother, and as they’ve done for their whole lives, Bear and Otter crash and collide in ways neither expect. This time, though, there’s nowhere to run from the depth of emotion between them. Bear still believes his place is as the Kid’s guardian, but he can’t help thinking there could be something more for him in the world… something or someone.
REVIEW:
I liked this book, but I didn’t love it. After reading T.J. Klune’s Green Creek Series last year, I decided that I wanted to dive into his back-log of books. This story had plenty of heart and depth, but it was also plagued with hypocritical characters and endless pages of descriptions/flashbacks.
So let’s dive into the good, which is Bear’s relationship with the Kid. This is the most beautiful, wholesome, selfless relationship. Bear’s love for the Kid and vice versa is a tangible pulse that beats throughout the whole story. They carry each other and while the Kid may be quirky and small, and Bear may be lost in his own head, they make up the most endearing little family. They have a small support unit of friends and neighbors and together they survive and the Kid thrives. But Bear, he is stagnant and just existing for the Kid.
Over the course of the novel, we learn about the complicated history between Bear and Otter. And at these times there would be endless pages of flashbacks that I found long and monotonous, actually on several occasions I skimmed through them to get back to the dialogue. Nonetheless, Bear and Otter come out at the other end of the story stronger. But I felt so bad for Otter though throughout the story because he is the one getting the short end of the stick. He is the dirty secret, he is carrying the weight of everyone, and I just wanted someone to stick up for him.
Now for the hypocrites, this award goes to Bear, his best friend (Creed), and his ex-girlfriend (Anna). These three are so over the top with their emotions and they are far too much alike. They shame one for doing something and then next chapter, they are doing the same thing. This was annoying and rage inducing to say the least. And speaking of rage, don’t even get me started on Bear and the Kid’s mother. There is a special place in h*ll next to Umbridge for characters like her.
The ending and epilogue left me with a huge, cheesy grin. And while there were some things I didn’t care, such as the ridiculously long chapters that make taking a break difficult, I will pick up the next book because I want to know how the next step of their journey plays out.
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