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The Grizzly
When Mark, the father David scarcely knows, arrives to take him on a weekend fishing trip, David is tense and nervous. His parents have been separated for years, and David wonders if his rugged, outdoorsman father is testing him in some way.But the weekend turns out to be an adventure that neither one of them has planned on. A giant grizzly bear forces David up, a tree, then attacks Mark, eats their provisions, and puts their pickup truck out of commission. David must take charge. He finds a strength in himself he never thought he had, and in taking care of his seriously injured father starts to overcome his fear of him. There's only one problem: Can David get himself and his father out of the forest in time?
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1964
6 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Annabel Johnson
30 books9 followersFrom the age of twelve, Annabel was dedicated to a future of being an author, so that by the time she was twenty she had begun to see the happenings of her life as material for books to come. Prior to her writing career she worked in publishing houses as a librarian, as a legal secretary, and in other secretarial posts.
In 1955 she and her husband Edgar began their co-authorship by writing historical novels of the old West, traveling the country, visiting the scenes of their stories and delving into their research while living in an eight-foot camping trailer, trying to make ends meet on an author’s meager royalties. They had no home base, except a certain spot in the Mojave Desert in winter, and another site in the National Forest in Wyoming in the summer.
The Johnsons co-authored many popular works of historical and science fiction both for young adults and adults. They began their career together, however, with several novels set in the Old West, intending to bring that period to life for children far removed from the country. They spent several years traveling throughout the western United States, seeking out little known facets of western history, and compiling accounts of old-timers they met, and of their own experiences. As time passed they shifted their focus more toward the present era, in an effort to help their readers come to terms with today's world.
In 1966, with the growing success of their books, they settled in Denver, but after Edgar’s death, Annabel came home to Arizona, to continue her career in the desert setting she has always loved. She bought a lovely home in Leisure World and settled in. With each new novel she wrote her excitement never left her.
Annabell Jones Johnson passed into a new life February 9, 2013.
In 1955 she and her husband Edgar began their co-authorship by writing historical novels of the old West, traveling the country, visiting the scenes of their stories and delving into their research while living in an eight-foot camping trailer, trying to make ends meet on an author’s meager royalties. They had no home base, except a certain spot in the Mojave Desert in winter, and another site in the National Forest in Wyoming in the summer.
The Johnsons co-authored many popular works of historical and science fiction both for young adults and adults. They began their career together, however, with several novels set in the Old West, intending to bring that period to life for children far removed from the country. They spent several years traveling throughout the western United States, seeking out little known facets of western history, and compiling accounts of old-timers they met, and of their own experiences. As time passed they shifted their focus more toward the present era, in an effort to help their readers come to terms with today's world.
In 1966, with the growing success of their books, they settled in Denver, but after Edgar’s death, Annabel came home to Arizona, to continue her career in the desert setting she has always loved. She bought a lovely home in Leisure World and settled in. With each new novel she wrote her excitement never left her.
Annabell Jones Johnson passed into a new life February 9, 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 12, 2023
"You let every little thing keep you from going where you want, you’ll never get anywhere".
Mark, an overconfident zealous Father takes his young inexperienced skittish son David out into the wilderness to fish for the first time.
The Father makes the mistake of leaving their leftovers out in the open which attracts unwanted attention (yes a grizzly bear). A bit of a rookie move from an experienced outdoorsman.
Mark is a bit of a meathead and doesn't really know how to be Father, although he tries in his own way, does kind things in the wilderness with nature and animals which his son recognises.
David has no confidence, he's only a boy which is crying out to have a Father figure he can look up to even if he fears him. It's clear the boy only fears his Father because they don't really know one another and hardly see each other.
The story was gripping and had some positive life messages in there. There was some great illustrations of the bears too which is why I bumped 3 stars to 4.
Mark, an overconfident zealous Father takes his young inexperienced skittish son David out into the wilderness to fish for the first time.
The Father makes the mistake of leaving their leftovers out in the open which attracts unwanted attention (yes a grizzly bear). A bit of a rookie move from an experienced outdoorsman.
Mark is a bit of a meathead and doesn't really know how to be Father, although he tries in his own way, does kind things in the wilderness with nature and animals which his son recognises.
David has no confidence, he's only a boy which is crying out to have a Father figure he can look up to even if he fears him. It's clear the boy only fears his Father because they don't really know one another and hardly see each other.
The story was gripping and had some positive life messages in there. There was some great illustrations of the bears too which is why I bumped 3 stars to 4.
May 5, 2024
2.5 stars
This was an easy read as it was written for children. I don’t know that I would have particularly enjoyed it as a child, but as an adult I can see more of the growth and understand more of what David and Mark were feeling and trying to figure out how to deal with and learn. I wasn’t sure how graphic the bear attack would be but thankfully it wasn’t graphic at all and even the injuries didn’t seem as bad as the description made it sound.
This is not a Christian story and there are a couple “d*rn" and one use of the Lord’s Name as a swear word.
This was an easy read as it was written for children. I don’t know that I would have particularly enjoyed it as a child, but as an adult I can see more of the growth and understand more of what David and Mark were feeling and trying to figure out how to deal with and learn. I wasn’t sure how graphic the bear attack would be but thankfully it wasn’t graphic at all and even the injuries didn’t seem as bad as the description made it sound.
This is not a Christian story and there are a couple “d*rn" and one use of the Lord’s Name as a swear word.
October 25, 2017
A very thought provoking read about a boy in the middle of a divorce. The boy is scared of his father, who was always trying to make him tough, and ending up scaring or hurting him instead, until his mother sent his father away. Now his father is returning, and insists on taking him on a camping trip...
August 23, 2023
This was very well done! It’s old and there are some ‘outdated’ lines for sure…but that doesn’t stop the story from being powerful. It’s about a boy, a divorce, and trying to trust his father again. I loved the character growth and the way my opinions changed as the book went on.
October 5, 2018
I mentioned in our community circle during class that this is one of my favorite childhood books. Something about it made me finish it.
July 1, 2020
A grizzley terrorizes campers, hikers and others. Suspenseful but not the best of the bear attack books out there.
September 22, 2017
A great classic story of a boy and his estranged father that fills you with constant thrill of survival and provides a great emotional attachment to these two characters.
June 16, 2019
Not my type of story, but I really liked the SF YA An Alien Music and this is all that I can find for a reasonable price (never mind my library system) by A&E Johnson.
...........................
Ok, done.
Very much an adventure story: about a strong man who is made vulnerable by both the bear attack and by his desire to finally be a father to his son, and a boy raised by a gentle mother who learns a bit about the different kinds of strength and courage that define a man.
Unfortunately the constant sexist references spoil the story: "Mom's a girl, she doesn't like that sort of thing, she'd be scared, she wouldn't understand, girls don't...." I found that surprising, given that Annabel is surely female, and so is the MC in Alien Music. I think this story would have won me over if it weren't for that sexism.
The details of the setting, of learning to fish and knowing the habits of bears, and truck camping, etc, were thorough and interesting... but actually, there's another big flaw in the book: surely no experienced outdoorsman would ever be stupid enough to leave open food on the open tailgate of the truck and then go fishing, given that they're in known bear country.
Well, if I ever come across anything else by the Johnsons I will read it. To you, I recommend only An Alien Music, and that only if you like older YA SF.
...........................
Ok, done.
Very much an adventure story: about a strong man who is made vulnerable by both the bear attack and by his desire to finally be a father to his son, and a boy raised by a gentle mother who learns a bit about the different kinds of strength and courage that define a man.
Unfortunately the constant sexist references spoil the story: "Mom's a girl, she doesn't like that sort of thing, she'd be scared, she wouldn't understand, girls don't...." I found that surprising, given that Annabel is surely female, and so is the MC in Alien Music. I think this story would have won me over if it weren't for that sexism.
The details of the setting, of learning to fish and knowing the habits of bears, and truck camping, etc, were thorough and interesting... but actually, there's another big flaw in the book: surely no experienced outdoorsman would ever be stupid enough to leave open food on the open tailgate of the truck and then go fishing, given that they're in known bear country.
Well, if I ever come across anything else by the Johnsons I will read it. To you, I recommend only An Alien Music, and that only if you like older YA SF.
April 25, 2016
I read this book several times when I was in 6th grade at Childs school. It was so captivating that I was unable to choose any other book that was interesting to me. Later in junior high I remember wandering the stacks when we went to the library but being unable to choose a book I liked. Until I was an adult I did not find reading to be a pleasure. I remembered this book when I watched REVENANT, the movie.
December 12, 2011
I gave this book four stars because it took place outdoors and I like outdoor books also I liked it because they had to fish and work to survive. Once I picked this book up I was hooked and It really got me into it from start to finish. I liked this book because it did't have many bad or boring spots in it. I recomend everyone to read this book.
April 8, 2018
1st Read: December 29, 2013 -December 31, 2013
January 1, 2014 - January 6, 2014 (**** Rating)
This was a good story. It totally reminded me of the sort of Walt Disney movies I had watched as a child in the 1970's.
2nd Read: Auugust 3, 2018 - August 8, 2018 (**** Rating)
Enjoyed this one once again!
January 1, 2014 - January 6, 2014 (**** Rating)
This was a good story. It totally reminded me of the sort of Walt Disney movies I had watched as a child in the 1970's.
2nd Read: Auugust 3, 2018 - August 8, 2018 (**** Rating)
Enjoyed this one once again!
Read
March 2, 2009JAR4-Joh
September 23, 2011
Read this at ten. Other than being a gripping story of survival, this book was the first, and probably last, to hold a mirror up to my feelings towards my father.
August 11, 2011
Bad. Bad bad bad.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews