The Great Bear

The Great Bear: The Misewa Saga, Book 2, written by David A. Robertson, is the second book in a young adult fantasy series centered around Indigenous culture and themes. Continuing the journey begun in The Barren Ground, the book intertwines Indigenous folklore with modern settings, presenting a narrative that combines elements of fantasy and reality. As a Canadian author of Swampy Cree heritage, Robertson’s background informs his portrayal of these themes, which focuses on topics such as cultural identity, the challenges faced by Indigenous children in the foster-care system, resilience, and the relationship between humans and nature. The Great Bear contributes to the representation of Indigenous stories in the young adult fantasy genre.

This guide references the 2021 Kindle edition, published by Tundra Book Group.

Plot Summary

The Great Bear intertwines the experiences of Morgan and Eli, two Indigenous siblings, as they oscillate between their life on Earth and their adventures in the alternate world of Misewa, a village in Askí. The story, told from a third-person perspective, begins where Book 1, The Barren Ground, ends. Morgan and Eli are still in Misewa and have adapted more to life there. Morgan mourns their friend, Ochek, who died in The Barren Ground and became a constellation. Neither child wants to return to Earth, but they need to go home and attend school the next morning—they have been gone a week, but each day in Askí is equivalent to one hour on Earth.

The next day, Eli is reluctant to go to school. Katie, their foster mother, gives Morgan a note with her birth mother’s contact information, and Morgan struggles over whether to call her. She and Eli encounter each other in the girls’ bathroom—Eli is being bullied because of his long hair, and the boys won’t let him into the boys’ restroom. Despite Morgan’s protestations, he cuts off his long braid, but it doesn’t make him feel better, nor does it stop the bullying. On their way home from school, bullies steal Eli’s drawing pad, which the children need to open the portal in their attic to Askí. They have one scrap of paper left, and Eli proposes trying to travel back in time to visit a younger Ochek. However, their foster father, James, is worried the children aren’t sleeping and asks them to avoid going to the attic, delaying their journey.

To avoid their foster parents’ scrutiny, the children skip school the next day and travel to Askí in the morning. Eli’s plan to use a drawing of a younger Ochek works, and the siblings find themselves in a past version of Askí, one that existed before the events of The Barren Grounds. They are delighted to see their friend alive, and though he does not recognize them, he is friendly and open toward them. He brings them back to Misewa to meet his parents, Mihko and Nicky, who are also welcoming. Reflecting on Morgan and Eli’s natural connection to Misewa, Mihko explains the concept of blood memory, a deep ancestral or cultural connection. The children spend a few days in Misewa and learn about a great bear that terrorizes villagers; Morgan wonders if the bear is Muskwa, though she only knows him to be kind and compassionate.

One day, the siblings join Mihko, Ochek, and other villagers on a journey into the forest to check the animal traps. While there, they encounter Muskwa, and Morgan attempts to greet him. However, Muskwa attacks her and runs off after a skirmish with the villagers. They decide to continue to Otakosík, another village. On the way, they encounter a younger Arik, who is distressed; Muskwa beat them to the village, and it is in ruins. Worried about Misewa’s safety, the group heads back, determined to stand and resist rather than flee as usual.

Back in Misewa, the villagers hold a meeting to discuss their course of action. It is decided that the seven Bird Warriors will stand and fight Misewa. Ochek, Mihko, Arik, Eli, and Morgan join the defense, and the rest of the villagers flee to safety. In the novel’s climax, Muskwa and the group battle. Muskwa is gravely injured but ultimately spared by Ochek. The villagers accept this decision, even if they don’t understand it.

Morgan and Eli spend a few more days in Misewa, and they witness Muskwa’s slow, contemplative recovery. He is cared for by Ochek’s family, particularly Nicky. In the end, Muskwa reflects on his past actions and decides to change, inspired by the villagers’ unity and bravery. When the siblings leave, they encounter a scrap of fabric belonging to Mason, the antagonist from The Barren Grounds, and realize that his entrance into Askí was their fault.

Back on Earth, Morgan and Eli make it to their bedrooms before they are discovered. At school, Morgan and Eli stand up to the same bullies from earlier in the book, and their classmates join them in solidarity. Morgan finally calls her birth mother but finds out that she died. She is devastated, knowing that she’ll never be able to connect with her. In the final chapter, Morgan opens a portal to Askí and steps into it.