Customer Reviews

The Bear and The Castle: The James Oliver Curwood Story

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If you ever take your small children with you to visit historical Curwood Castle, nestled in the heart of downtown Owosso, Michigan, then THE BEAR AND THE CASTLE would make a fine gift for the kids to read first, or afterwards, for that matter. Author Inez Ross grew up in the Owosso area and still holds many fond memories of those times, and of reading the books of James Oliver Curwood as a kid. The text here is simple enough for a new reader, and the photos, which feature Curwood Castle museum docent, Lois Whalen (Ross's sister), along with her grandson, both in period costume, add a sense of the era of Curwood's books - the late 19th century and early 20th. The story features vignettes from Curwood's life both as a child and an adult and offers a thumbnail sketch of his career as a conservationist, outdoorsman and of course as a prolific writer. Older children will also be directed to two of Curwood's most famous books for children: Kazan: Father of Baree (Medallion Editions for Young Readers) and its sequel Baree: The Story of a Wolf-Dog. Inez Ross is an avid reader and member of the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) and has authored several modern novels written in the manner of Austen. Her newest is Sotherton Abbey. - Tim Bazzett, author of the memoir BOOKLOVER