Customer Reviews

The Shadow of the Bear: Original Title: Snow White & Rose Red, a Modern Fairytale

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Previously published as "Snow White and Rose Red: A Modern Fairy Tale," this is a wonderful, gritty retelling of an otherwise-uninteresting fairy tale. This is a real-as-life story about true love and courage, with a dash of crime and religion in there to balance it all out.

High-school students Blanche and Rose once lived in luxury in the country, but since the death of their father they live in a slushy city with their overworked mother. At their new school, they are generally ignored or abused, especially Blanche, who frequently has dizzy spells.

The girls are, at first, less than thrilled when their mother brings a homeless young man called "Bear" home. Despite their apprehension, soon they become close friends with him, based on a mutual love of poetry and jokes. But after a disastrous prom night where Bear is thrown out of the dance and Rose is intimidated by a would-be seducer, the girls find themselves in a potentially deadly struggle with a ruthless man -- with a grudge against Bear and the mysterious boy called "Fish."

Regina Doman manages to triumph in this book is several areas. Though there are essential religious themes woven into the plotline, there is no irritating sanctimonious air to the book. The two heroines aren't goody-goodies loved for their virtues, but mocked for them. And it's not exactly squeaky-clean either: there are themes such as child abandonment, homelessness, assault and attempted murder, heart trouble, and Rose's boyfriend pressuring her for sex. However, Doman is never less than tasteful, and her handling of these is in sync with the vein of Roman Catholic beliefs that runs through the novel.

Blanche and Rose are another good accomplishment. Rather than being carbon copies of one another, as siblings in many books are, the two girls have strengths and weaknesses that complement each other. Bear is a gentle giant who loves poetry and swing dancing; he proves to be a character like an onion, that is gradually unpeeled. And Fish is my personal favorite, a cocky wise-cracker who doesn't let any situation (including attempted murder) keep him down for too long.

One of the few "real life" fairy tale retellings that works. "Shadow of the Bear" is an enchanting love story with a pulse-pounding storyline and likeable characters.

Some books just fall into your hands, and instantly become treasures you want to share with all you know. This is one of those books. It is a modern retelling of the story from the Brothers Grimm, of Snow White and Rose Red. It is the story of two brothers and two sisters, all of whom have lost much in life and are not fully what they at first appear. The sisters have lost their father and had to move back into New York City. The brothers have lost their mother and have both been convicted of drug charges. Then one fateful night their fates become somehow intertwined.

The sisters are Blanch and Rose, two girls who grew up in the countryside, and who now reside in the city. They live with their mother and attend secondary school. The first of the brothers we meet is named Bear; he has dreadlocks, is big and tough, yet upon spending an evening with the Brier sisters and their mother he reveals different parts of his past. He has a passion for life, loves poetry and takes the girls on outings. But there is always a dark side to a Bear and this one is no different. He has secrets and his story and journey are still unfolding. The mystery revolves around a murdered priest, an abandoned church and the school the sisters are attending.

This story is wonderfully told. The author draws you in and keeps you captivated from first page to last. Each chapter begins with a quote from the original fairy tale, and foreshadows what is coming, yet in New York the mysteries and magic of a fairy tale are very different from the German countryside. Regina Doman is a true storyteller, not just an author. His skill with the pen makes you see the action as it is taking place, and you feel so drawn into the story that you feel like a character sitting on the sidelines waiting to see what will happen next.

This is the first book in a trilogy and I cannot wait to lay my hands on books two and three. This story was so captivating that it left me wanting more immediately. If you are looking for some great summer reading this term, give this book a try.

I read this book years ago and loved it. Now, I've returned to it again only to discover that it remains as good a read as ever. A little mystery and danger mixed with some very easy to identify with characters. I feel as if I know them personally. Ms. Doman does a great job bringing this fairy tale into the real world.

The reason that I've returned to this book is that it's sequel has just come out "Black as Night". If you like "The Shadow of the Bear" - you will LOVE "Black as Night". I really liked "The Shadow of the Bear" alot - I couldn't imagine how a sequel would be. I have to say that I was much more than pleasantly surprised. "Black as Night" sucks you in from the first paragraph and doesn't release you until the very last punctuation mark. It's wonderful to see a writer hone their craft and come out with such an amazing piece of work. I'm anxious to see the third book in this series!! Ms. Doman, if you're reading this.....we want more!!!

I HIGHLY recommend that you read these books. While you're at it - order another set to give as a gift to that book lover in your life!! (I already know what my niece is getting for Christmas....if I can wait that long to share the joy!)

If you are looking for a wholesome and entertaining adventure book to give a girl who is starting to be interested in boys (I'm thinking ages 12 to 16) you don't want to miss this one. By a Catholic mother of (at last count) six children, The Shadow of the Bear is the first in what recently became a trilogy that continues with Black as Night and Waking Rose.

My 15 year old daughter tore through the first one in about a day, finished the second the next day, and asked how soon we could get the third, which we recently obtained. She has lent the first one to a friend, who also loved it and is asking for the others. Her twelve year old sister is now reading them, too.

I have finished the first two and, while they may never be studied in great literature classes, they were competently written and engaging. They were a little too heavy on descriptions of clothing, feelings, and relationships for this middle aged man, but I suspect that is part of their appeal to my daughters. The heros and heroines are virtuous, reverent, and chaste, and respect each other for it. They also all seem to be fans of G.K. Chesterton.

The books are based on Grimm's fairy tales, and I enjoyed seeing how the characters are translated to a modern setting. For example, the seven dwarves in the forest become seven friars in the south Bronx (who bear a suspicious resemblance to the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal founded by Father Benedict Groeschel). The fairy tale origin has a few minor drawbacks. For one thing, since the characters in those old fairy tales always seem to be getting betwitched and falling into a deep sleep, the people in the books fall into and emerge from perhaps one too many comas. I doubt that this will bother many young teens, though.

I wish there were more books like this. If you know of any, for girls or boys, please tell me about them.

This book is superb. There are a lot of typos in this edition, but the book itself is brilliant. I recommend the original hardcover version, because they only changed the title so it would appeal to boys, and this cover is pretty bad. Plot: two catholic ex-homeschool girls move to NYC after their father dies. Blanche (aka Snow White) is a worrier, and super-shy. She gets made fun of bigtime at their new catholic school. Her younger sister Rose (Rose Red) is passionate and full of adventure. When they meet a mysterious stranger who calls himself Bear, Blanche's suspicions and Rose's curiousity throw them into a whirlwind of adventure and intrigue that kept me reading late into the night, and re-reading every year or two afterward. Anyone would love this book, but it especially appeals to Catholics, homeschoolers, and/or fairy-tale addicts. Just so you know, I am a fairy-tale fan, an ex-homeschooler, and a christian, and I absolutely devoured it. I can't wait for the sequel!

I think "The Shadow of the Bear" is a nice story. I didn't know the story of Snow White & Rose Red as sisters, so I didn't know what was going to happen.

I am a mid-20's Catholic youth minister and I enjoyed it. I would recommend it to my students as a quick read. It shows teenage girls living a life of faith modestly, and the two main characters have opposite personalities, so girls should relate to at least one of them.

I look forward to reading the sequel.

Finally! A novel for young adults that isn't trashy, goody-goody, or poorly written! Though I read it in college, I absolutely loved this book. It has all the elements that make a great story: a wonderful, intriguing plot, realistic and interesting characters, and edifying morals and themes.

This book is about reality--not the false images this world gives us, but the battles that are being fought behind the tiniest action or seemingly insignificant words. It gives you a glimpse of the cosmic importance of every person, and how all are fighting, be it for good or for evil. This is makes this book more than a well-written story, and makes it a classic. You won't see the world in the same way after you finish it.

By the way, a sequel to this, called "Black as Night" should be out in July. I was blessed to meet Regina Doman and hear her read 4 chapters of her new manuscript. From the sounds of it, it will be awesome! If you liked this one, I think the next will be just as good.

Blanche and Rose are two teenage sisters who have recently moved to New York City after living a secluded childhood in the country. The perky and social Rose adjusts well to the big-city Catholic high school - making lots of friends and even being invited to the Senior Prom by the most popular boy in school. Blanche, on the other hand, more nervous and shy by nature, is incessantly teased by her schoolmates and struggles with her own internal fears about life.

Despite Blanche's objections, Rose and their mother (who was recently widowed) befriend a scruffy (dread-locked) transient, "Bear", who spent time in Juvenile Hall for drug possession.

A page-turning adventure and mystery unfold in which appearances are not always what they seem and the two sisters grow in faith, friendship and determination.

In the background of the story whirl a myriad of ideas about life, love, courage, fear, reality, death and much more that teenagers (and adults too) struggle with. But in the end the reader walks away with a sense of hope and that, yes, life is difficult and many bad things can happen, but even so God is in charge and the truth will come out in the end if we don't give up.

If the average person on the street today were asked how they would define "a fairy tale", I think they would describe a story in which "perfect" people had certain adventures, but in the end lived happily ever after. Unfortunately our modern ideas of fairy tales come largely from animated Disney movies of the past 50 years.

"The Shadow of the Bear" is based on the classic fairy tale "Snow White and Rose Red". Yet it is nothing like our common idea of a fairy tale because our modern definition is flawed. Reading this book, might, in fact, enhance your idea of what a fairy tale is.

With a snowstorm raging outside and her mother long overdue from work, Blanche anxiously awaits her mother's return. After all, this is New York City. Her sister Rose, on the other hand, is contentedly reciting poetry instead of studying her trigonometry.

Suddenly, a car door slams and a woman cries out. Blanche leaps to the window to see two dark shapes struggling in the swirling darkness. Is their mother okay? Out of the swirling darkness, enters Bear, changing their lives and home forever.

Who is this mysterious young man? Why does he have such an unusual name? Why is he out alone in the middle of a blizzard at night?

In this story of mystery, intrigue, and romance, Rose and Blanche, two teenage girls, strive to live their faith in modern day New York City. Faced with the typical problems of teenage life of wanting to be popular, follow the "in" crowd, and be accepted, the girls are faced with some tough choices.

How they deal with these situations is what sets them apart. In one particularly dramatic moment, Rose confronts Rob, a cocky, popular student, who all the girls pine after, and tells him in no uncertain terms what a "real" man is. In a world where immoral choices are considered the norm, this book is a refreshing treasure.

Unique and distinctively different, Rose and Blanche are real personalities. Blanche, who is shy and sensitive, wishes she was more like her younger sister Rose, who is more flamboyant and bold. However, it is Rose's curiosity, trusting nature, and desire to be popular that gets her into some rather serious tight spots. Fortunately, her spunk, creativity, and moral fiber, not to mention, God's Providence, get her out of them.

Hard to put down, my daughters read this story over and over again. This contemporary rendition of the Grimm's Fairy tale, includes true-to-life characters, who are real heroines, and a multi-level plot that is thick with mystery, intrigue, and healthy romance.

and I would wish for three more books as outstanding as "The Shadow of the Bear." This is a book to savor, to read while curled up in bed till the early hours of dawn. A mysterious encounter with Bear lures loyal sisters Blanche and Rose from their sheltered lives into a world of danger and deceit. The teens become cloaked in Bear's shadow--but is it a shadow of protection . . . or peril?

Set in modern New York City, this is nonetheless a timeless tale, woven with a theme about recognizing the value of right and wrong--choosing right even when it goes against the grain of popularity. You won't find preaching in these pages. Noble ideas come through naturally, along with heart-thumping suspense that builds to a dynamic climax and a satisfying ending. You also won't find typical characters. Rose's spirit and Blanche's pensiveness complement each other. While parents will approve of the heroines, teens won't find them dull or "goody-goody"; they will readily identify with and admire them.

In the book's Acknowledgements, Ms. Doman herself calls "Shadow of the Bear" an "odd" story--and indeed it is, in the most delightfully intriguing sense of the word. Yes, the title includes "shadow," but the story sparkles with excitement and even romance; it shines in this contemporary world with all the charm of a fairy tale.

I recommend this book to everyone--not just as a reader, but as an author. If my debut novel, "Past Suspicion" (a young adult suspense novel due out later this summer by Publish America), is enjoyed in any way like "Shadow of the Bear," I'll be elated, for it is along similar lines that I strive to write, crafting a visionary novel offering a compelling story that champions faith and hope in an often chaotic world.

By now the following should be obvious: "The Shadow of the Bear" is a book to read and reread. In short, to treasure. I hear Ms. Doman is working on sequels . . . my wishes are coming true!