The Shadow of the Bear by Regina Doman

Goodreads: The Shadow of the Bear

Series: Fairy Tale Novels #1

Published: 1997

Source: Borrowed

Summary: Years ago a priest was murdered and the Church vessels he collected were stolen.  The story passed into rumor and few remembered what had really happened that night.  When eighteen-year-old Blanche and her younger sister Rose welcome a stranger into their home, however, they unwittingly allow the past to enter, as well.  Known only as Bear, the young man has a dark history and a secret he refuses to share.  The girls learn to trust him, but his friendship may cost them their lives.  A retelling of “Snow White and Rose Red”.

Review: The Shadow of the Bear speaks to a type of reader often ignored in contemporary young adult literature—one who does not relate to the students at preppy boarding schools, does not condone a fast and loose lifestyle, does not feel represented by all the protagonists who treat chastity like a disease.  It offers heroes and heroines actively concerned with leading good and holy lives even though they remain flawed and presents a picture of teenage life that some might find unbelievable, but that reflects the realities of many young Catholics.  Lovers of books and beauty will relate to the protagonists who discuss literature, faith, and philosophy all while trying to figure out how these topics fit into their day-to-day experiences. 

Doman seamlessly incorporates the themes discussed by the characters into her plot, thus revealing how the extraordinary and the ordinary often intertwine.  She clearly agrees with the philosophy of G. K. Chesterton who argued that fairy tales reflect the true reality beyond what we can see.  The dragons her characters face, however, are not mythological, but ones many readers struggle with themselves: drugs, death, date rape, and temptation.  The recognition of the characters that they are engaged in a battle that is more than physical imparts to the story its power.

The Shadow of the Bear combines the magic of a fairy tale with real life and, in the process, reminds readers that every day is full of wonder.  It provides a refreshing alternative to the “edgy” contemporary young adult books currently on the market and reminds readers that they are not alone in valuing purity or in seeking beauty.  The sympathetic characters combined with the hint of mystery make this a worthy addition to the bookshelf of any lover of retold fairy tales.