Customer Reviews

Gentle Ben

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Mark Andersen leads quite a lonely existence in the Alaskan wilderness, where he lives with his mother and father. Things wouldn't be so lonely if his older brother was still around, but since his death, Mark has been devoid of contact with anyone even close in age to him. Due in large part to the fact that he's the smallest boy at school - at least for his age - and risks injury if he plays with the stronger boys, so he keeps to himself. That is, until he discovers a friend named Ben. Ben isn't your average friend. He's an Alaskan brown bear "brownie," who is larger than life, and frightens anyone who sees him. Except for Mark. Mark knows how gentle Ben is, and quickly befriends him. Mark and Ben discover that they are much more like one another than anyone could possibly know, and forge a strong bond. But when the local townspeople find out about Mark and Ben's relationship, they are determined to destroy it. Even if it means destroying Ben.

Animal stories always have a strong place in my heart, so when I discovered Walt Morey's GENTLE BEN, I knew that I would adore the story. And I did. Much like Sterling North's RASCAL, GENTLE BEN captures the essence of falling in love with a wild animal, and keeping it as a pet, even when the world is against your decision. It's about the special bond that humans and animals hold with one another. Mark is a lovable character, whose small body, but strong mind, make him the ideal friend for Ben. While Ben is a character that will never be forgotten, based solely on the kindness in his heart, and his laugh-out-loud antics. A story that will stay emblazoned in your mind for years to come, and warm your heart.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

This is a book about a young boy who has a special friendship with an Alaskan Brown Bear named Ben. Ben is not only gentle, but very loving and loyal to his owner, Mark. The author describes Ben so well that it sounds real. This is the most interesting book I've ever read. Brendan Parra, Nazareth School, 5th grade.

I love this book! I have read 7 books but I only liked 2. And this is one of them. This book is a great book for 4th-7th graders. The vocabulary is very hight. The srory brings tears in your eyes but laghfter to your heart!I recomend this book to very parent or child.

If you are looking for a book to read to your children, or for your children to read, get this book! It captures the imagination of the Alaskian territory with the unlikly friendship between a lonely boy and an enormous brown bear. The very things that grab a childs attention. I should know. My mother read me this book when I was in second grade,I loved it. I am now 18 and I still say that it is my favorite book of all time! This book will get your children interested in reading! This bookworm personally guarentees it!

This is one book I've had for many years, but it wore out, so I got a new copy, because I enjoy the story so much. It is a well written story about a seemingly unlikely and impossible relationship between a boy and a bear, and what's great is that the author doesn't "Disney-ize" the story, for there is also tragedy as well as the lighter moments. I especially enjoyed the way the author made his characters so convining and real, from the despicable and loathsome Fog Benson to the affectionate yet firm Mike Kelly. It is also a refreshing story in that Mark, the boy, also learns what it means to have a great responsibilty in having a bear. The author does a great job in portraying right as right, and wrong as wrong, yet isn't "preachy" about it. It's a book you can't put down the first time you read it. It is one of my favorite works of fiction, and though I am now an adult, I still enjoy reading this book. It's one I highly recommend for all to read.

I've just read this book, which is one of the most beautiful I've ever read and I'm very sorry that it isn't available in Slovene language so that our children could read it, too.

It's a book about love between a little boy named Mark and a big brown bear named Ben who became true friends. It's a book about love and care for the wildlife, and also what a man can do if he don't understand or even don't like animals. It's a story which teaches us to listen sometimes to our children and not always only demand from them to act like we think it's normal, because we - grown-up people - can learn a lot from both, from our children and from animals regardless they're their pets or not.

I highly recommend to all of you to read this book. And those who already own one - take it down from the bookshelf and read it again. I think I'll do it in a while, too.

In the book, Gentle Ben, a young boy named Mark Anderson lost his brother, Jamie, by a tragic disease. Mark finds a bear a year later on his way back from school. They become very close friends. Now everyone in the town is trying to break their friendship and Mark is in danger of losing Ben.
This book made us feel nervous and excited at the same time.
Each chapter leaves you with a cliffhanger and makes you want to read more and it is hard to put the book down.
We would recommend this book to people who love animals and books that are exciting and sad at the same time.

Imagine yourself as a young, teenage boy with a gigantic 1000-pound grizzly for a pet that might be slaughtered. Gentle Ben by Walt Morey is a fascinating adventure story of a young boy named Mark and a great bear. Mark bought the big bear from Fog Benson, a drunkard. The town folks tell him "Get rid of the bear, or we'll shoot him''. What can Mark do? Read this exciting, glamorous story to find out the fate of this huge but gentle bear. Walt Morey is a great writer and has written Kavik the Wolf Dog and Home is the North and lots of more. This is the best adventure story I have ever read. You got to try Gentle Ben.

real good book for kids except when bens mother and brother get killed. pretty sad when ben gets locked up and not feed properly. but feels good when he gets freed .

Gentle Ben is probably the best book I have ever read. At first I didn't even want to read it, but my mom made me.Since then I have read it about 5 times and plan on reading it a lot more in the future.