- Chasing the Bear
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Chasing the Bear: A Young Spenser Novel 
1st editionAuthor(s) Robert B. Parker Country United States Language English Series Spenser Genre(s) Detective novel Publisher Philomel Publication date May 14, 2009 Media type Print (hardcover) Pages 176 pp. (first edition) ISBN 978-0-399-24776-7 OCLC Number 277203432 Preceded by Rough Weather Followed by The Professional Chasing the Bear: A Young Spenser Novel is a 2009 novel by Robert B. Parker. Though set in present day, it is a prequel to Parker's venerable Spenser series of novels. Unlike the rest of the Spenser series, Chasing the Bear is a young adult novel and not strictly detective fiction.
Being a recollection of his childhood, this novel doesn't necessarily fall in the same timeline as the other Spenser novels. Though, from his relationship with Susan, it can be assumed to happen about in the order of its publication, between Rough Weather and The Professional.
Contents
Plot
Spenser, while relaxing at a park with his love interest, Susan Silverman, reflects on some experiences in his life as a youth, before becoming a detective.
The narrative unfolds as a conversation between himself and Silverman. Roughly every other chapter conveys the story, while the next has Spenser answering questions from Silverman.
Spenser conveys that he grew up in an all-male household, his mother dying immediately before he was delivered by caesarean section. His household consisted of himself, his father, and his two maternal uncles. They were all uneducated, but eager to learn, worked in construction, and boxed from time to time to earn extra money. His uncles taught him to box from a very young age, three years old. They also read volumes of classic novels to him at night.
The main narrative conveys Spenser's adventures with a girl, Jeannie Haden. Jeannie was about Spenser's age, but was just a friend. Her father was an abusive drunk. One day Spenser saw her in her father's car, mouthing the words "Help" over and over again. Spenser, along with his dog, Pearl, follows the car and, eventually, Jeannie's father's boat down a river. He locates her and her father on a small island in the river, next to a lean-to. After a brief encounter with her father, Luke, Spenser is able to rescue Jeannie some time later.
They escape downriver on Spenser's rowboat, eventually leading Luke Haden to his death. Spenser's father and uncles tell him he "did good" and needn't report the death, or his role in it. But he does, but the local law enforcement doesn't charge Spenser with any crime.
Spenser relates that Jeannie had a crush on him, but he didn't return her amore. But he managed to let her down and remain friends.
As a favor to Jeannie, he goes on to protect a student of Mexican descent, Aurelio Lopez. Lopez was targeted by white classmates and beaten up on occasion. After Spenser's protection, he doesn't get bullied any longer. However, his relationship with Lopez alienates him somewhat from his white classmates, many of whom he had known since the first grade.
At the end, Spenser is confronted by the entire white gang of about fifteen boys. Before any fighting convenes, Spenser's father and uncles arrive and mediate a fair fight between just Spenser and the leader of the gang, Leo Roemer. Because of his boxing training, Spenser quickly wins the fight. He doesn't have any trouble from the gang following the showdown.
The recollection ends with Spenser going off to college in Boston on a football scholarship. After an injury his second year, he loses his scholarship and is unable to afford any further schooling and joins the police force, choosing to stay in Boston rather than returning to his home town.
Reception
Chasing the Bear was received favorably by most critics,[1][2] though some noted that it is probably better suited towards older young adults (mid-teens) rather than typical young adult books, which target a younger audience.[1] Some critics found the switching between present-day and past to be distracting and felt it may alienate younger readers new to the series.[1] Critics pointed out that there is no one mystery Spenser pursues, but rather shorter adventures which may disappoint some fans of the series.[3]
However, at least one critic, Sarah Weinman for Los Angeles Times, said the book "ends up being an opaque window into Parker's continued creative decline" and that young readers will probably care little for the book or Spenser who is "far removed from his 1970s glory days."[4]
References
- ^ a b c Book Review: Chasing the Bear by Mel Odom from BookCritics.com
- ^ Chasing the Bear by Robert B. Parker from BookPage.com
- ^ Chasing the Bear by Robert B. Parker (Mystery Book Review) from MysteriousReviews.com
- ^ "Sleuths in their youth" from the Los Angeles Times
External links
Novels by Robert B. Parker Spenser novels NovelsThe Godwulf Manuscript (1973) • God Save the Child (1974) • Mortal Stakes (1975) • Promised Land (1976) • The Judas Goat (1978) • Looking for Rachel Wallace (1980) • Early Autumn (1981) • A Savage Place (1981) • Ceremony (1982) • The Widening Gyre (1983) • Valediction (1984) • A Catskill Eagle (1985) • Taming a Sea Horse (1986) • Pale Kings and Princes (1987) • Crimson Joy (1988) • Playmates (1989) • Stardust (1990) • Pastime (1991) • Double Deuce (1992) • Paper Doll (1993) • Walking Shadow (1994) • Thin Air (1995) • Chance (1996) • Small Vices (1997) • Sudden Mischief (1998) • Hush Money (1999) • Hugger Mugger (2000) • Potshot (2001) • Widow's Walk (2002) • Back Story (2003) • Bad Business (2004) • Cold Service (2005) • School Days (2005) • Hundred-Dollar Baby (2006) • Now and Then (2006) • Rough Weather (2008) • Chasing the Bear: A Young Spenser Novel (2009) • The Professional (2009) • Painted Ladies (2010) • Sixkill (2011)AdaptationsSpenser: For Hire • A Man Called Hawk • TV MoviesOther Wilderness (1979) • Love and Glory (1983) • Poodle Springs (1989) • Stardust (1990) • Perchance to Dream (1991) • All Our Yesterdays (1994) • Night Passage (1997) • Trouble in Paradise (1998) • Hush Money (1999) • Family Honor (1999) • Perish Twice (2000) • Gunman's Rhapsody (2001) • Death in Paradise (2001) • Shrink Rap (2002) • Stone Cold (2003) • Melancholy Baby (2004) • Double Play (2004) • Appaloosa (2005) • Blue Screen (2006) • Sea Change (2006) • Spare Change (2007) • Now and Then (2007) • Edenville Owls (2007) • High Profile (2007) • Stranger In Paradise (2008) • The Boxer and the Spy (2008) • Resolution (2008) • Brimstone (2009) Night and Day (2009) • Split Image (2010) • Blue-Eyed Devil (2010) Painted Ladies (2010) • Sixkill (2011)Categories:- 2009 novels
- Spenser (novel series)
- 21st-century American novels
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