Reviewed by Annika
TITLE: Bear Otter and the Kid
SERIES: Bear Otter and the Kid #1
AUTHOR: TJ Klune
NARRATOR: Sean Crisden
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
RELEASE DATE: June 1, 2012
LENGTH: 12 hours, 19 minutes
BLURB:
Three years ago, Bear McKenna’s mother took off for parts unknown with her new boyfriend, leaving Bear to raise his six-year-old brother Tyson, aka the Kid. Somehow they’ve muddled through, but since he’s totally devoted to the Kid, Bear isn’t actually doing much living. With a few exceptions, he’s retreated from the world, and he’s mostly okay with that – until Otter comes home.
Otter is Bear’s best friend’s older brother, and as they’ve done for their whole lives, Bear and Otter crash and collide in ways neither expect. This time, though, there’s nowhere to run from the depth of emotion between them. Bear still believes his place is as the Kid’s guardian, but he can’t help thinking there could be something more for him in the world … something or someone.
REVIEW:
The fight for you is all I’ve ever known
Bear, Otter, and the Kid is a truly beautiful love story! It’s packed with a lot of feelings, good and bad, and you are right there with them feeling what they are feeling. You are happy when they are and gutted when bad things happen. So many wonderful moments and heart-breaking ones.
You were the only thing that made me feel safe when the earthquakes threatened to break me. I needed you to come home because when you’re not here, I don’t have a home.
I enjoyed this book even more than the first time I read it. Possibly because of Klune’s writing. This was the first Klune book I ever picked up, and his writing can take some getting used to. It’s unique, but it also truly wonderful in it simplistic-ness. Sure, it can be a bit long-winded at times, but that’s just Klune for you 😉
Bear, Otter, and the Kid is all about family, friendships and above all love in all shapes and sizes. It’s about growing, daring to dream and being brave enough to jump off that cliff, to the unknown and hope there is someone to catch you.
I don’t care if you love differently than everyone else. It doesn’t matter because you’re still my brother.
The characters were all wonderfully flawed (is there anything more annoying than picture perfect and flawless people??) and everyone with their own issues coming out to play at times, and I’ll admit the book is a bit drama heavy at times, but I didn’t mind that. Klune makes it work for me.
Let’s focus on the audio for a moment. One thing that I’m really not a fan of with these older books is the music interlude whenever there’s a new chapter. It never fails to bring me out of the book and putting a scowl on my face. It just doesn’t belong there. I feel a long rant coming on but I’ll stop there and let you imagine the rest 😉
As for Sean Crisden, he did a great job narrating this book, bringing you into the story. Walking side by side with Bear, experiencing his insecurities, hopes, dreams, feeling lost and overwhelmed. Crisden is a talented narrator with a wide range of voices that makes it easy for the listener to follow the story and keeping the characters apart.
I’ll leave you with this… unique.. poem that will tell you a bit about the spirit of the book.
Otter! Otter! Otter!
Don’t lead cows to slaughter!
I love you, and I know
I should’ve told you soon-a
But you didn’t buy the dolphin-safe tuna!
RATING: 
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