Bear's House [Paperback]

Marilyn Sachs (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1989

Although she sucks her thumb, smells bad, and loses herself in the make-believe world of the three bears' dollhouse, ten-year-old Fran knows how to take care of her baby sister better than anybody else.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Fourth grader Fran fears that because she has to skip school and care for her infant sister, she'll never win her teacher's prize to the best studenta dollhouse that is the center of her fantasy world. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Marilyn Sachs worked as a Children's librarian for the Brooklyn Public Library and The San Francisco Public Library. She has written over forty award winning books. was nominated for the Nation Book Award, won The Austrian Children's Book Award, and was picked as a Best Book of the Year by the N.Y. Times and the School Library Journal. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Camelot (February 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380705826
• ISBN-13: 978-0380705825
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 4.9 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,606,861 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars compassion and understranding, January 16, 2002

By 

Marjorie Stedron (Flint, Mi) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bear's House (School & Library Binding)

Dear Readers, I am 37 years old and havent read this book since 1974 but I remember it as one of the books that helped form my character. I had nothing in common with Fran as a child. My childhood was easy. Fran had to deal with issues that many adults can not handle and it was through her eyes that I saw a different world. Sad and depressing? Well, I can only say that this book wasn't just fluff and silliness.( not that there is anything wrong with fluff and silliness sometimes) This story taught me something about compassion for others and understanding. I remember seeing my less fortunate classmates in a different light. The bears' house that Fran looked at but didnt play with touched me deeply and I could understand her wanting to go to the Bears' house as an escape from reality. I remember father bear telling her to persevere. I remember looking that word up in the dictionary and feeling empowered. So many times growing up and even now as an adult that advice proved to be solid. I read so many great books as a child. This one was very different from all the rest and I have verbally recomended it to people over the years but never without a few tears. Yes I recomend this book to children in the nine and up crowd. Although I was a middle class suburban child I think this book has something for children in other social economic groups as well. This story although sad made you feel hopeful and that all things are possible.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars strange and interesting character, February 3, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Bear's House (School & Library Binding)

Fran Ellen is a likable character despite her problems. And the strange way of acting at school. I really wanted Fran Ellen to get that prize and I was so glad the teacher was nice after all. Those mean girls were the worst! This writer can really make the readers feel what it is like to be someone no one likes at school like Fran Ellen. Yet I admired Fran Ellen a lot. She was good to the baby and I liked the way she played with the bear's house.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic for Children and Adults Alike, November 4, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Bears' House (Mass Market Paperback)

I first fell in love with "The Bear's House" as a shy, unpopular bookworm of a ten year old, who found a kindred spirit in Fran Ellen, the trying, picked on, "welfare kid" protagonist who escapes into a dollhouse fantasy world as she struggles to deal with poverty, class bullies and a mentally-ill mother. I stayed in love with the Bear's House as a twenty-seven year old confident, outspoken, social worker, who sees too many Fran Ellens in her day to day work. The Bear's House is a must read for children and adults alike- it's prose is blunt but eloquent, and it's message both tragic and hopeful. It paints a perfect picture of a child often forgotten in children's literature- worn out, tired, but without a completely happy ending. A read that not only delights children, but enlightens adults. Highly recommended for classroom read alouds and discussions.