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The Shadow of the Bear
Once upon a time... In New York City, a young, secretive street tough who calls himself, Bear, lands on the doorstep of two teenaged sisters. On the one hand Rose is delighted with his surprising knowledge of literature, poetry, and music; on the other hand Blanche is afraid of his apparent connections to drugs, murder, and a hidden treasure. Even as Blanche learns to trust him, her fears that Bear's friendship threatens their family prove terrifyingly true.
Originally published in hardcover in 1997 as Snow White and Rose Red: A Modern Fairy Tale, Bethlehem Books released The Shadow of the Bear: Snow White and Rose Red Retold in paperback in 2002.
Originally published in hardcover in 1997 as Snow White and Rose Red: A Modern Fairy Tale, Bethlehem Books released The Shadow of the Bear: Snow White and Rose Red Retold in paperback in 2002.
208 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1997
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3054 people want to read
About the author
Regina Doman
32 books508 followersRegina Doman is a Catholic wife, mother, author and editor. Currently she runs her own company, Chesterton Press, which publishes and distributes quality Catholic fiction. When she worked as the editor of Sophia Institute Press' fiction line, she launched the popular John Paul 2 High series for teens, and Rachel's Contrition became a #1 Best Seller in Amazon's Women's Fiction category, and winner of the 2011 Catholic Arts and Letters Award for best adult fiction. As an author, she has written the Fairy Tale Novels, a series of books for teens and adults that places fairy tales in modern settings with Christian themes interwoven. The fifth book in that series, Alex O'Donnell and the 40 CyberThieves, won the 2011 Catholic Arts and Letters Award for best young adult fiction. In 2013, she published her longest and most challenging fairy tale novel yet, Rapunzel Let Down. Her only picture book Angel in the Waters has sold over 120,000 copies. In 2010 she was presented with the "In Defense of Sanity" award from the American Chesterton Society. Regina and her husband Andrew live in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley on a farmstead with their children. To the question, “How do you manage to get it all done?” Regina responds, “What makes you think I get it all done?”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews
October 19, 2009
Full disclosure: I wrote this book. It was my first published book and will always have a special place in my heart. The first book in the "Snow White and Rose Red" trilogy. Enjoy!
October 17, 2021
Second read-through after many years. I loved it!! These characters! And the soulful, whimsical air of it all - very much a fairy tale. Splendid storytelling.
.
The Shadow of the Bear caught me in from the very first page, and held me captivated through practically the whole book. The style of writing that Regina Doman uses has a whimsical touch ... I was delighted again and again by the enchanting way she wove this story together.
I had never really heard the fairy tale of "Snow White and Rose Red and the Bear" before, but basically The Shadow of the Bear tells a present-day retelling of it. Blanche and her younger sister Rose live with their widowed mother in an apartment of New York. Their mother works long hours at the hospital. Blanche is cautious and quiet and prone to panic attacks/fainting spells. Rose is vivacious and outgoing, always ready to try something wild. (Both girls were endearing, and I quickly grew to love them!). Then they meet Bear, the big guy with dreadlocks ... mysterious, unknown, and kind.
There were twists and turns, sweet surprises and terrible revelations. The romance wasn't blatant, but you could see it coming at some point, and it was just adorable. New characters popped up unexpectedly, and turned out to be more entwined into the story than you thought. It was just ... enchanting.
Well, except that it had a pretty dark theme. I would caution younger kids (even 12-13), because there's some yucky dreams, nasty characters, sinister plots, evil deeds, and a near-murder. I think Regina Doman did a pretty good job of NOT making it into a horror story, despite the heavy darkness twining through the book. Just a caution to younger and more sensitive people; because some scenes even I caught my breath with a "that's terrible!" thought. Of course, if you've read my reviews, you'll know I'm not a fan of gory violence and gross/sick scenes. But like I said, it didn't feel like a horror movie or anything.
The Shadow of the Bear seems to have somewhat of an allegory or something present. The girls are Catholic, and they have steady morals and a simple faith. There were a few 'Hail Mary's and mentions of praying to the saints and angels, but other than that, it was like any other Christian book.
I just have to say ... I'm really wanting to read more of Blanche, Rose, Bear, and Fish. I'm so intrigued. And I just LOVE how Rose likes to ditch reality and live the fairy tale in life! ^_^ It's just priceless.
There are still some things I'm not sure of. But if Black as Night continues like The Shadow of the Bear, and continues the Christian theme in a good way, I think this will quickly become a favorite series! *smiles*
.
The Shadow of the Bear caught me in from the very first page, and held me captivated through practically the whole book. The style of writing that Regina Doman uses has a whimsical touch ... I was delighted again and again by the enchanting way she wove this story together.
I had never really heard the fairy tale of "Snow White and Rose Red and the Bear" before, but basically The Shadow of the Bear tells a present-day retelling of it. Blanche and her younger sister Rose live with their widowed mother in an apartment of New York. Their mother works long hours at the hospital. Blanche is cautious and quiet and prone to panic attacks/fainting spells. Rose is vivacious and outgoing, always ready to try something wild. (Both girls were endearing, and I quickly grew to love them!). Then they meet Bear, the big guy with dreadlocks ... mysterious, unknown, and kind.
There were twists and turns, sweet surprises and terrible revelations. The romance wasn't blatant, but you could see it coming at some point, and it was just adorable. New characters popped up unexpectedly, and turned out to be more entwined into the story than you thought. It was just ... enchanting.
Well, except that it had a pretty dark theme. I would caution younger kids (even 12-13), because there's some yucky dreams, nasty characters, sinister plots, evil deeds, and a near-murder. I think Regina Doman did a pretty good job of NOT making it into a horror story, despite the heavy darkness twining through the book. Just a caution to younger and more sensitive people; because some scenes even I caught my breath with a "that's terrible!" thought. Of course, if you've read my reviews, you'll know I'm not a fan of gory violence and gross/sick scenes. But like I said, it didn't feel like a horror movie or anything.
The Shadow of the Bear seems to have somewhat of an allegory or something present. The girls are Catholic, and they have steady morals and a simple faith. There were a few 'Hail Mary's and mentions of praying to the saints and angels, but other than that, it was like any other Christian book.
I just have to say ... I'm really wanting to read more of Blanche, Rose, Bear, and Fish. I'm so intrigued. And I just LOVE how Rose likes to ditch reality and live the fairy tale in life! ^_^ It's just priceless.
There are still some things I'm not sure of. But if Black as Night continues like The Shadow of the Bear, and continues the Christian theme in a good way, I think this will quickly become a favorite series! *smiles*
January 31, 2010
I was incredibly disappointed with "Snow White and Rose Red: A Modern Fairy Tale." For starters, the main characters are young women in modern New York City, yet they speak, act, and think like young women from another time period. While Rose, the younger sister, is impulsive and sharp, Blanche is afraid of her own shadow - she's the ultimate damsel in distress. Not quite what I was thinking when I saw "Modern Fairy Tale." Though Doman does try to reconcile this in the inevitable and predictable conclusion of the book, she ultimately fails.
Additionally, Doman's voice was visible all throughout. The main characters are supposed to be teenagers - but instead, they're waxing philosophic and contemplating metaphysical relationships. Their voices never seem wholly honest and accurate - I felt as though I had a very strong sense of Doman's authorial hand and how she perceived the fairy tale characters rather than the characters of Rose and Blanche. Similarly, I expected the story to be a modern day fairy tale as advertised in the title. What I really got of my reading was two girls who wanted to be in a fairy tale, and an author who wanted to put them in a fairy tale, but didn't quite know how to do that, least of all in a contemporary setting. The interactions between the primary characters were more appropriate for a century before, and the New York city setting seemed artificial and dishonest to what New York is really like today. Throughout my reading, I kept getting confused by what the time of the book was supposed to be, since the girls dress out of another era, the city has clothes from another era, but also has drug dealers and modern day policemen - indications that Doman had significant trouble collaborating the fairy tale elements with the modern day elements.
However, my biggest frustration was the regular theme of Catholicism. It wouldn't bother me so much if it had been incorporated into the text naturally. Instead, it seemed as though Doman was searching for ways to add principles and beliefs into her text. Her thoughts might as well have been tacked on at the end of the sentence for how poorly incorporated it was into the overall story. I tend to stay away from books that are heavy on religion, and I wish I had known that before I even picked this up. To me, it felt as though Doman couldn't decide if she wanted this to be a religious metaphor or a fairy tale, so she tried to do both.
I'm disappointed to have such a negative reaction to a book I was so looking forward to reading, but there was nothing about the characters that interested me, and the plot and themes did nothing to engage me further.
Additionally, Doman's voice was visible all throughout. The main characters are supposed to be teenagers - but instead, they're waxing philosophic and contemplating metaphysical relationships. Their voices never seem wholly honest and accurate - I felt as though I had a very strong sense of Doman's authorial hand and how she perceived the fairy tale characters rather than the characters of Rose and Blanche. Similarly, I expected the story to be a modern day fairy tale as advertised in the title. What I really got of my reading was two girls who wanted to be in a fairy tale, and an author who wanted to put them in a fairy tale, but didn't quite know how to do that, least of all in a contemporary setting. The interactions between the primary characters were more appropriate for a century before, and the New York city setting seemed artificial and dishonest to what New York is really like today. Throughout my reading, I kept getting confused by what the time of the book was supposed to be, since the girls dress out of another era, the city has clothes from another era, but also has drug dealers and modern day policemen - indications that Doman had significant trouble collaborating the fairy tale elements with the modern day elements.
However, my biggest frustration was the regular theme of Catholicism. It wouldn't bother me so much if it had been incorporated into the text naturally. Instead, it seemed as though Doman was searching for ways to add principles and beliefs into her text. Her thoughts might as well have been tacked on at the end of the sentence for how poorly incorporated it was into the overall story. I tend to stay away from books that are heavy on religion, and I wish I had known that before I even picked this up. To me, it felt as though Doman couldn't decide if she wanted this to be a religious metaphor or a fairy tale, so she tried to do both.
I'm disappointed to have such a negative reaction to a book I was so looking forward to reading, but there was nothing about the characters that interested me, and the plot and themes did nothing to engage me further.
December 26, 2018
3.5 stars.
[Dang it, Goodreads, it's about to be freakin' 2-0-1-9!!!! WHERE IS MY HALF-STAR RATING OPTION ALREADY?????]
Ahem.
This book was a Christmas present from a dear friend (*waves at friend* :D) and I very much enjoyed it!! I'm a little wiped out from Christmas revelries yesterday [hahahahaaaa], so this review might be sort of incoherent or choppy, but, whatevs. Here goes. :-P
Things I loved:
- BLANCHE. Okay, I didn't just love her, I adored her. Not many contemporary authors have the Guts™ to write female characters who are genuinely, naturally, timid & anxious & in poor health, for fear of the "damsel in distress" trope or whatever--and sure, I get that--but at the same time, "timid & anxious & in poor health" WAS LITERALLY ME as a teenager and I haven't seen that reflected in literature anywhere near enough. So I was most pleased to see my own younger self reflected in Blanche. <3 Of course, I've grown a lot in strength and confidence since those days . . . and I can already see Blanche growing in that same way throughout this novel . . . which makes me extremely happy! I'm really excited to see her character arc continue in the next book. :D
- I also loved how suspicious and even sarcastic she could be, when the situation called for it. Like, GIRL, I FEEL YOU. *grins*
- Bear. He's literally precious. That is all I have to say. *heart eyes*
- I SHIP IT TO ALL ETERNITY. I AM DYING OF FEELS OVERLOAD. He's sooooooooooooo protective of her and she trusts him even though she doesn't trust, basically, anybody else . . . and honestly, boys, take note. If a girl with chronic anxiety says the words "I trust you," that's quite literally The Highest Compliment you will ever receive in your life. <3
- #thatdancescenetho #wow
- The Catholicism (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
- I mean. I have begged and prayed and begged and prayed some more for Christian fiction books that were actually CATHOLIC, and not ashamed to be so. Lo and behold, I have found them. :D :D (The characters even visit the Blessed Sacrament and pray Hail Marys! #winning)
- The fact that Bear quoted Julian of Norwich, whom I loooooooooooooooove. "All shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well." <3
- The Chesterton poetry quotes. Hullo, Ballad of the White Horse, my old friend . . . :-P [No, for real, I adore that poem. I truly do.]
- The serious, philosophical atmosphere--okay, I'll admit the philosophy conversations did sound a teeny bit forced at times?? But still the ideas were very very cool and I enjoyed getting a chance to play around with them.
- The pwetty, pwetty clothes! *dances happily*
Things I didn't love:
- Rose's character. Didn't like her. I'm sorry, y'all. I'm not saying she wasn't well written or well fleshed out--she was--just, her extreme impulsivity (or at least, what looked to me, ye olde grandma, like extreme impulsivity :-P) made me VERY NERVOUS. What was I saying earlier about chronic anxiety? Oh, yeah . . . *sighs*
- The villain. This was my single biggest gripe about the book:
- The end conflict was kinda bloody for my personal tastes on this particular day.
- Mrs. Brier not being more suspicious of Bear--or of Rob for that matter? It just didn't ring true to me as parent-like behavior.
And that's a wrap, guys! This was a super enjoyable read and I look forward to the next book in the series!
Let me leave you with my favorite quote:
"God was here," she said at last.
Bear put his lips against her tangled hair. "I know," he said. "He lives in weakness."
[Dang it, Goodreads, it's about to be freakin' 2-0-1-9!!!! WHERE IS MY HALF-STAR RATING OPTION ALREADY?????]
Ahem.
This book was a Christmas present from a dear friend (*waves at friend* :D) and I very much enjoyed it!! I'm a little wiped out from Christmas revelries yesterday [hahahahaaaa], so this review might be sort of incoherent or choppy, but, whatevs. Here goes. :-P
Things I loved:
- BLANCHE. Okay, I didn't just love her, I adored her. Not many contemporary authors have the Guts™ to write female characters who are genuinely, naturally, timid & anxious & in poor health, for fear of the "damsel in distress" trope or whatever--and sure, I get that--but at the same time, "timid & anxious & in poor health" WAS LITERALLY ME as a teenager and I haven't seen that reflected in literature anywhere near enough. So I was most pleased to see my own younger self reflected in Blanche. <3 Of course, I've grown a lot in strength and confidence since those days . . . and I can already see Blanche growing in that same way throughout this novel . . . which makes me extremely happy! I'm really excited to see her character arc continue in the next book. :D
- I also loved how suspicious and even sarcastic she could be, when the situation called for it. Like, GIRL, I FEEL YOU. *grins*
- Bear. He's literally precious. That is all I have to say. *heart eyes*
- I SHIP IT TO ALL ETERNITY. I AM DYING OF FEELS OVERLOAD. He's sooooooooooooo protective of her and she trusts him even though she doesn't trust, basically, anybody else . . . and honestly, boys, take note. If a girl with chronic anxiety says the words "I trust you," that's quite literally The Highest Compliment you will ever receive in your life. <3
- #thatdancescenetho #wow
- The Catholicism (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
- I mean. I have begged and prayed and begged and prayed some more for Christian fiction books that were actually CATHOLIC, and not ashamed to be so. Lo and behold, I have found them. :D :D (The characters even visit the Blessed Sacrament and pray Hail Marys! #winning)
- The fact that Bear quoted Julian of Norwich, whom I loooooooooooooooove. "All shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well." <3
- The Chesterton poetry quotes. Hullo, Ballad of the White Horse, my old friend . . . :-P [No, for real, I adore that poem. I truly do.]
- The serious, philosophical atmosphere--okay, I'll admit the philosophy conversations did sound a teeny bit forced at times?? But still the ideas were very very cool and I enjoyed getting a chance to play around with them.
- The pwetty, pwetty clothes! *dances happily*
Things I didn't love:
- Rose's character. Didn't like her. I'm sorry, y'all. I'm not saying she wasn't well written or well fleshed out--she was--just, her extreme impulsivity (or at least, what looked to me, ye olde grandma, like extreme impulsivity :-P) made me VERY NERVOUS. What was I saying earlier about chronic anxiety? Oh, yeah . . . *sighs*
- The villain. This was my single biggest gripe about the book:
- The end conflict was kinda bloody for my personal tastes on this particular day.
- Mrs. Brier not being more suspicious of Bear--or of Rob for that matter? It just didn't ring true to me as parent-like behavior.
And that's a wrap, guys! This was a super enjoyable read and I look forward to the next book in the series!
Let me leave you with my favorite quote:
"God was here," she said at last.
Bear put his lips against her tangled hair. "I know," he said. "He lives in weakness."
February 17, 2009
Thoroughly delightful, modern retelling of, Rose Red and Snow White A Grimm's Fairy Tale, which I am bound to read next. The Shadow Of The Bear is set in modern day New York City and "the Bear" wears dreadlocks. The two sisters, Blanche and Rose, recently displaced by their father's death are struggling to fit in at a new (to the girls) inner-city high school.
The best part of the book for me was the beginning because of all of the great quotes and intriguing ideas. It's been far too long since I've read any fairy tales and I'd forgotten the charm their gentle "spells' can weave in reminding us more is going on in Life than work, struggle and overcoming problems. The author often speaks through her fanciful character, Rose. Here she is speaking to her sister, Blanche and Bear, "Have you ever felt there was something going on in life not everyone was aware of?" Pressed to explain herself, Rose continues, "As though there's a story going on that everyone is a part of, but not everybody knows about? Maybe 'story' isn't the right word--a sort of drama, a battle between what's peripheral and what's really important. As though the people you meet aren't just their plain, prosaic selves, but are actually princes and princesses, gods and goddesses, fairies, shepherds, all sorts of fantastic creatures who've chosen to hide their real shape for some reason or other. Have you ever thought that?" (p. 56)
I'll let you read the book for yourself to see how her audience responded. I know, however, what I think. I think she is on to something.
Although predictable and simplistic, it was good to be reminded by this sweet fairy tale that Good can triumph and there can be happy endings. A definite 'Feel Good' experience. Read and enjoy!
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I started it today and I LOVE it! I usually don't read fiction with my highlighters but The Highlighter Queen here is 'decorating' this book quite a bit! There are so many cool 'quotes', sage sayings and sweet reflections that I am re-remembering why I fell in love with reading as well as developing a case for why one should never give up fiction no matter how much one thinks it's more valuable to only read "serious" books.
It's fun and it's very, very good!
The best part of the book for me was the beginning because of all of the great quotes and intriguing ideas. It's been far too long since I've read any fairy tales and I'd forgotten the charm their gentle "spells' can weave in reminding us more is going on in Life than work, struggle and overcoming problems. The author often speaks through her fanciful character, Rose. Here she is speaking to her sister, Blanche and Bear, "Have you ever felt there was something going on in life not everyone was aware of?" Pressed to explain herself, Rose continues, "As though there's a story going on that everyone is a part of, but not everybody knows about? Maybe 'story' isn't the right word--a sort of drama, a battle between what's peripheral and what's really important. As though the people you meet aren't just their plain, prosaic selves, but are actually princes and princesses, gods and goddesses, fairies, shepherds, all sorts of fantastic creatures who've chosen to hide their real shape for some reason or other. Have you ever thought that?" (p. 56)
I'll let you read the book for yourself to see how her audience responded. I know, however, what I think. I think she is on to something.
Although predictable and simplistic, it was good to be reminded by this sweet fairy tale that Good can triumph and there can be happy endings. A definite 'Feel Good' experience. Read and enjoy!
><><><><><><><><><><><><><><
I started it today and I LOVE it! I usually don't read fiction with my highlighters but The Highlighter Queen here is 'decorating' this book quite a bit! There are so many cool 'quotes', sage sayings and sweet reflections that I am re-remembering why I fell in love with reading as well as developing a case for why one should never give up fiction no matter how much one thinks it's more valuable to only read "serious" books.
It's fun and it's very, very good!
May 14, 2018
UM OKAY WOW.
(My only complaints were that some of the dialogue was a bit unrealistic and the whole villain/conflict thing seemed a touch 'off.' BUT THE OTHER CHARACTERS THOUGH. WOW.)
(My only complaints were that some of the dialogue was a bit unrealistic and the whole villain/conflict thing seemed a touch 'off.' BUT THE OTHER CHARACTERS THOUGH. WOW.)
November 25, 2025
This book read like someone wanted to make the Hardy Boys edgy. And that's fine. Just...a choice.
I actually think the concept of adapting Snow White and Rose Red to the 1980s/90s(?) is a clever one and the author approaches it in creative ways. Kudos for ordinality.
The biggest problem is how moralizing these teenagers are. They go around quoting poetry and dwelling on the essence of truth and beauty. Characters say things like: "Otherwise, you'll be a drone like everyone else, following the crowd instead of joining the Great Dance of Life. We're in the Dance right now. Consciously. Can't you feel it?"" The sisters also are incredibly judge-y about other girls wearing low skirts and, gasp, makeup.
They also go around shouting exclamations like "Cowabunga!" and "HOLY CANDLESTICKS." No wonder they get bullied at school. TBH, I kind of want to bully them too.
I actually think the concept of adapting Snow White and Rose Red to the 1980s/90s(?) is a clever one and the author approaches it in creative ways. Kudos for ordinality.
The biggest problem is how moralizing these teenagers are. They go around quoting poetry and dwelling on the essence of truth and beauty. Characters say things like: "Otherwise, you'll be a drone like everyone else, following the crowd instead of joining the Great Dance of Life. We're in the Dance right now. Consciously. Can't you feel it?"" The sisters also are incredibly judge-y about other girls wearing low skirts and, gasp, makeup.
They also go around shouting exclamations like "Cowabunga!" and "HOLY CANDLESTICKS." No wonder they get bullied at school. TBH, I kind of want to bully them too.
May 28, 2011
Loved it! Bear is totally mine. Just sayin.
May 27, 2021
I love this book. :)
First read it as a pre-teen around 2012 and re-read it several times between now and then. I've always found it to be a great comfort read, if a bit of a guilty pleasure. So a couple of days ago, I picked it up again to decide if it would be worth recommending to my fourteen-year-old sister.
Well, I'd only intended to skim through the thing but somehow ended up binging it in one sitting, was thrilled to discover it was part of a series (still can't believe it's been sitting on my shelf some ten years and I never knew there were sequels haha), and quickly devoured the second book over the course of a day. I write this somewhat-belated review with the third book in hand. Honestly, I'm impatient to get back to it, so I'll try not to ramble too much.
Reading The Shadow of the Bear is, I repeat, a guilty pleasure. I'm still not sure if this book really merits four stars. Even as someone who binged it with a silly grin glued to my face, snickering to myself at the characters' antics and staying up until ungodly hours of morning to follow a story I've already read more times than I can count, I'm all too aware of its flaws.
Some of the dialogue and character interactions come off as a little cheesey, unrealistic, or cringeworthy. The villain and his philosophical monologues had me rolling my eyes here and there. As others have pointed out, real teenagers do not always talk or act like their fictional counterparts in this book. The sniggering, unnecessarily cruel highschool bullies are a tired cliche it could've done without and- sorry, Mrs. Doman- you can't convince me that 'Immaculate Complexion' is an insult. Certain events seemed contrived and the integration of certain themes, messages, and morals clumsy. Some other readers have complained it comes off as "preachy". I'm Catholic and generally agree with Doman's messages, but I admit the way they're conveyed is too blatant- maybe trite- even for me. I found a few parts of the book lacking in subtlety and depth.
Ah, now it sounds like I don't like this book, but I really do. Despite its occasional cheesiness and improbability, what I absolutely love about this book and the series as a whole is how fun, charming, innocent, sincere, and idealistically hopeful it is, without shying away from mature themes (more so in the later books, but found here as well). In some ways, this first installment reads like a fairytale, which, for me, somewhat excuses the overt platitudes and the occasional lack of realism. Taking it as a retelling that uses allegory and symbolism to remain faithful to the original tale, I'm able to suspend my disbelief and enjoy it for what it is.
The mystery, action, and romance make this book a lot of fun, but the best parts of it are the main characters and their relationships. The close connection of the two sisters and their banter are very endearing to me. Perhaps because I have always seen myself in Blanche- the anxious, staid, melancholy, overprotective older sister- and my younger sisters in Rose- the dreamy, affable, adventurous, fierce, bubbly airhead, I love their bond and relate to their loneliness and their struggles to find likeminded friends, as well as their shared feelings of being out of place- like a rare and misunderstood creature in a world that doesn't appreciate our unconventionality and believes faith and naivete are synonymous. The sisters' dynamic really makes the book, and their budding friendship with Bear and the unexpected connection they find with him is similarly fun and heartwarming.
A final saving grace for Shadow of the Bear is Doman's voice- her poetic writing style and the genuine way she approaches her story and characters. This book isn't perfect, but I have always felt that it was written with heart. For this, I hold the characters- Blanche, Rose, Bear, Fish- dear, thoroughly enjoy each re-read, and look forward to reading Waking Rose.
First read it as a pre-teen around 2012 and re-read it several times between now and then. I've always found it to be a great comfort read, if a bit of a guilty pleasure. So a couple of days ago, I picked it up again to decide if it would be worth recommending to my fourteen-year-old sister.
Well, I'd only intended to skim through the thing but somehow ended up binging it in one sitting, was thrilled to discover it was part of a series (still can't believe it's been sitting on my shelf some ten years and I never knew there were sequels haha), and quickly devoured the second book over the course of a day. I write this somewhat-belated review with the third book in hand. Honestly, I'm impatient to get back to it, so I'll try not to ramble too much.
Reading The Shadow of the Bear is, I repeat, a guilty pleasure. I'm still not sure if this book really merits four stars. Even as someone who binged it with a silly grin glued to my face, snickering to myself at the characters' antics and staying up until ungodly hours of morning to follow a story I've already read more times than I can count, I'm all too aware of its flaws.
Some of the dialogue and character interactions come off as a little cheesey, unrealistic, or cringeworthy. The villain and his philosophical monologues had me rolling my eyes here and there. As others have pointed out, real teenagers do not always talk or act like their fictional counterparts in this book. The sniggering, unnecessarily cruel highschool bullies are a tired cliche it could've done without and- sorry, Mrs. Doman- you can't convince me that 'Immaculate Complexion' is an insult. Certain events seemed contrived and the integration of certain themes, messages, and morals clumsy. Some other readers have complained it comes off as "preachy". I'm Catholic and generally agree with Doman's messages, but I admit the way they're conveyed is too blatant- maybe trite- even for me. I found a few parts of the book lacking in subtlety and depth.
Ah, now it sounds like I don't like this book, but I really do. Despite its occasional cheesiness and improbability, what I absolutely love about this book and the series as a whole is how fun, charming, innocent, sincere, and idealistically hopeful it is, without shying away from mature themes (more so in the later books, but found here as well). In some ways, this first installment reads like a fairytale, which, for me, somewhat excuses the overt platitudes and the occasional lack of realism. Taking it as a retelling that uses allegory and symbolism to remain faithful to the original tale, I'm able to suspend my disbelief and enjoy it for what it is.
The mystery, action, and romance make this book a lot of fun, but the best parts of it are the main characters and their relationships. The close connection of the two sisters and their banter are very endearing to me. Perhaps because I have always seen myself in Blanche- the anxious, staid, melancholy, overprotective older sister- and my younger sisters in Rose- the dreamy, affable, adventurous, fierce, bubbly airhead, I love their bond and relate to their loneliness and their struggles to find likeminded friends, as well as their shared feelings of being out of place- like a rare and misunderstood creature in a world that doesn't appreciate our unconventionality and believes faith and naivete are synonymous. The sisters' dynamic really makes the book, and their budding friendship with Bear and the unexpected connection they find with him is similarly fun and heartwarming.
A final saving grace for Shadow of the Bear is Doman's voice- her poetic writing style and the genuine way she approaches her story and characters. This book isn't perfect, but I have always felt that it was written with heart. For this, I hold the characters- Blanche, Rose, Bear, Fish- dear, thoroughly enjoy each re-read, and look forward to reading Waking Rose.
July 1, 2025
More than a decade passed between my first and second readings of The Shadow of the Bear. I enjoyed it the first time and was grateful to have discovered Catholic fiction for young adults written by a living, breathing author. In the meantime, I became a mother of teens and young adults, a Catholic fiction author myself, and nearly unable to read a book without silently proofreading and critiquing. How would The Shadow of the Bear hold up under my scrutiny?
I’m happy to report that it held up well. Very well. I have greater appreciation for Regina Doman’s work on the vanguard of this niche genre. The story captures so well the imagination, the values, and, as we’d say now, the vibe of Catholic teen girls, particularly of the homeschooled variety. But you don’t have to fit into any of those categories to enjoy the story.
This modern adaption of Grimm’s classic fairy tale includes the teen angst, sibling rivalry, and romantic crushes that are hallmarks of Young Adult novels. But it also includes nods to Catholic accoutrements and Christian themes. There’s also building suspense as sisters Blanche and Rose uncover the sketchy past of the intelligent, considerate, but scruffy juvenile delinquent who’s become a frequent visitor to their home, earning the trust of even their widowed mother. Is Bear really a drug dealer? And how is he connected to a priest’s murder?
Delightful and satisfying. I’m happy to share this modern Catholic classic with my daughters.
I’m happy to report that it held up well. Very well. I have greater appreciation for Regina Doman’s work on the vanguard of this niche genre. The story captures so well the imagination, the values, and, as we’d say now, the vibe of Catholic teen girls, particularly of the homeschooled variety. But you don’t have to fit into any of those categories to enjoy the story.
This modern adaption of Grimm’s classic fairy tale includes the teen angst, sibling rivalry, and romantic crushes that are hallmarks of Young Adult novels. But it also includes nods to Catholic accoutrements and Christian themes. There’s also building suspense as sisters Blanche and Rose uncover the sketchy past of the intelligent, considerate, but scruffy juvenile delinquent who’s become a frequent visitor to their home, earning the trust of even their widowed mother. Is Bear really a drug dealer? And how is he connected to a priest’s murder?
Delightful and satisfying. I’m happy to share this modern Catholic classic with my daughters.
July 3, 2017
The Shadow of the Bear is a modern retelling of the Grimm fairy tale Snow White and Rose Red. This book is the first of the author’s Fairy Tale Novels where she takes an old story and creates a fresh and entertaining tale for modern teens. This exciting novel - part mystery, adventure and fairy tale, is about sisters Blanche and Rose and how their lives are forever changed when a mysterious stranger named Bear happens upon their door, in the “wilderness” of New York City.
There are many things I enjoyed about this book including the very different personalities of the sisters and the incorporation of faith. I especially liked how the innocent sisters found themselves in several precarious situations, a mixture of unlikely predicaments and some very real and relevant dangers of today’s teens. This book is loaded with fantastic topics for discussion – being taken advantage of, stealing, drinking, bullying, drugs, hazards of dating. I will offer a bit of a warning though – if you value your sleep, don’t read this book close to bedtime because the second half of the novel is a real page turner and you won’t be able to put it down. You’ve been forewarned.
There are many things I enjoyed about this book including the very different personalities of the sisters and the incorporation of faith. I especially liked how the innocent sisters found themselves in several precarious situations, a mixture of unlikely predicaments and some very real and relevant dangers of today’s teens. This book is loaded with fantastic topics for discussion – being taken advantage of, stealing, drinking, bullying, drugs, hazards of dating. I will offer a bit of a warning though – if you value your sleep, don’t read this book close to bedtime because the second half of the novel is a real page turner and you won’t be able to put it down. You’ve been forewarned.
September 1, 2016
A retelling of Snow White and Rose Red, this story sucks you in right away when a young homeless man helps Rose and Blanche’s mother on a blustery winter night in New York. He goes by the name Bear and strikes up a friendship with the girls and mystery and excitement follow.
I love Bear (and his brother Fish). They have a great backstory and Bear’s relationship with the girls is the best. I’m not sure which sister I like better – the eager and outgoing Rose or the more reserved and cautious Blanche. They’re so different from one another but they’re always there for one another.
The plot moves right along, mixing normal highschool drama in with the mystery of Bear and the abandoned church next to the school. I still love going back to re-read this story (and the whole series really.) This book is also the reason I started reading some Chesterton.
I love Bear (and his brother Fish). They have a great backstory and Bear’s relationship with the girls is the best. I’m not sure which sister I like better – the eager and outgoing Rose or the more reserved and cautious Blanche. They’re so different from one another but they’re always there for one another.
The plot moves right along, mixing normal highschool drama in with the mystery of Bear and the abandoned church next to the school. I still love going back to re-read this story (and the whole series really.) This book is also the reason I started reading some Chesterton.
August 14, 2012
A retelling of Snow White and Rose Red.
Loved it! Proper review forthcoming on re-read.
Loved it! Proper review forthcoming on re-read.
October 11, 2021
What a thoroughly well done retelling! I do believe this was Doman's debut novel, so I will give a pass on elements of pacing that could have been improved. This modern tale of two adoring sisters and their mysterious new friend was absolutely true to the fable, and the occasional interaction with the "dwarf" of the story - a curmudgeonly old man - helped to tie the reader back to the fact that this is, at its heart, a classic fairy tale. Front-loaded with lots of pensive discussions and followed up with a plot that picks up quickly halfway through, I can say that I did indeed have a lot of fun reading The Shadow of the Bear!
December 9, 2012
I don't often write reviews for books due to the insanity of college life, but for this book and its sequels I will make an exception. This is the first book of what is now one of my favorite series of books, along with Tolkien's ring trilogy, Chretien de Troyes' Arthurian romances (minus one...), Michael D. O'Brien's works, and Kristin Lavransdatter. I read all five of Regina Doman's fairytale novels over the space of a week, while studying for finals, writing two essays, attending a school dance, and generally keeping up with school and my social life. I couldn't put them down. This book I finished the night I got it. I immediately emailed my mother back home and suggested she buy all of them. I intend to read them aloud with my two sisters when I get home for Christmas.
I've read many attempts to weave fairy tales and fantasy into a modern setting. Rarely do they succeed in making a good story without in some way ruining the original feel of the story or injecting into it some modernistic junk. This book (and series in general) goes beyond mere success.
The sense of magic and expectation inherent in the fairytale genre is preserved, somehow, without making the story in any way unbelievable or compromising the spirit of the original fairytale.
The characters manage to be realistic and believable while carrying their roles as 'princes', 'princesses', 'dwarves', and whatever else they may be.
Despite the simplicity, on some levels, and accessibility of these books, depths of beauty and truth are conveyed that are, in my experience, rarely to be found outside significantly lengthier and more philosophically inclined works.
It is incredible entertaining, as I've mentioned above, and truly gripping--it simply does not put its reader down. More importantly, however, it is good. The morals and themes are good. The characters, despite their fallen nature (which is fairly realistically portrayed), are good. The story, in its heart of hearts, is simply and unaffectedly good. We need more books like this.
My only complaint about these books is that they are on the shorter side. This, however, has its advantages insofar as it makes them more accessible to audiences less inclined to embark on lengthy literary venture and increases readability (and re-readability, as I think I'll soon find). Also, I should qualify my complaint: they achieve excellence in the length in which they are written. They should not be made any longer or shorter than they are, for to do so would go beyond the needs of their respective stories. They are whole and perfect as they are; I just wish I could spend more time with them.
Thank you, Regina Doman, for writing these books.
I'll write reviews for the rest of the books individually as I read through them with my sisters. I can't wait to go home.
I've read many attempts to weave fairy tales and fantasy into a modern setting. Rarely do they succeed in making a good story without in some way ruining the original feel of the story or injecting into it some modernistic junk. This book (and series in general) goes beyond mere success.
The sense of magic and expectation inherent in the fairytale genre is preserved, somehow, without making the story in any way unbelievable or compromising the spirit of the original fairytale.
The characters manage to be realistic and believable while carrying their roles as 'princes', 'princesses', 'dwarves', and whatever else they may be.
Despite the simplicity, on some levels, and accessibility of these books, depths of beauty and truth are conveyed that are, in my experience, rarely to be found outside significantly lengthier and more philosophically inclined works.
It is incredible entertaining, as I've mentioned above, and truly gripping--it simply does not put its reader down. More importantly, however, it is good. The morals and themes are good. The characters, despite their fallen nature (which is fairly realistically portrayed), are good. The story, in its heart of hearts, is simply and unaffectedly good. We need more books like this.
My only complaint about these books is that they are on the shorter side. This, however, has its advantages insofar as it makes them more accessible to audiences less inclined to embark on lengthy literary venture and increases readability (and re-readability, as I think I'll soon find). Also, I should qualify my complaint: they achieve excellence in the length in which they are written. They should not be made any longer or shorter than they are, for to do so would go beyond the needs of their respective stories. They are whole and perfect as they are; I just wish I could spend more time with them.
Thank you, Regina Doman, for writing these books.
I'll write reviews for the rest of the books individually as I read through them with my sisters. I can't wait to go home.
June 26, 2016
This review is not a spoiler, but rather a semi-embarressingly bad review from a younger version of myself. I have a personal policy not to rewrite reviews or changes ratings of books I have not read in a while, so I'm stuck with this until a reread.
January 1, 2020
I think after how insanely good Rapunzel Let Down was (I literally changed one of my pennames on Fanfiction because I loved it so much), other works by this author, even older ones, are going to have their work cut out trying to impress me. I know it's not entirely fair, and I did try to be objective, but I won't say it wasn't ultimately a factor in the final rating.
First off, yes, Shadow of the Bear IS pretty good. Like the writing is solid, and I don't think readers (particularly young ones) would get anything negative from it. But... For me personally? I wasn't wowed. The story of Raphaela really rang much truer for me than that of Blanche and Rose. While certainly endearing enough characters on their own merits, there is this sense of unrealistic something or other that keeps them and their tale at arm's length for me. They don't always react like real people and they seem to be on emotional pogo sticks a lot of the time. I felt sorry for Blanche being bullied, but I thought the methods of the bullies were beyond cartoony. "Immaculate complexion" is not actually an insult, and I didn't believe those girls would have bothered literally kidnaping the object of their disdain near the end. The whole thing with Rose and Rob was too afterschool special for my taste, as well.
I think what I liked best was the clever updating of the original fairytale, and of course meeting Ben as a teenager, since I'd already run into his character as an adult in a later book.
Maybe if this were more self contained (it is a lot of set up for the next two books) and less mystery driven, I would have liked it better. But it's fine as it is. Nothing special, but a decent read.
First off, yes, Shadow of the Bear IS pretty good. Like the writing is solid, and I don't think readers (particularly young ones) would get anything negative from it. But... For me personally? I wasn't wowed. The story of Raphaela really rang much truer for me than that of Blanche and Rose. While certainly endearing enough characters on their own merits, there is this sense of unrealistic something or other that keeps them and their tale at arm's length for me. They don't always react like real people and they seem to be on emotional pogo sticks a lot of the time. I felt sorry for Blanche being bullied, but I thought the methods of the bullies were beyond cartoony. "Immaculate complexion" is not actually an insult, and I didn't believe those girls would have bothered literally kidnaping the object of their disdain near the end. The whole thing with Rose and Rob was too afterschool special for my taste, as well.
I think what I liked best was the clever updating of the original fairytale, and of course meeting Ben as a teenager, since I'd already run into his character as an adult in a later book.
Maybe if this were more self contained (it is a lot of set up for the next two books) and less mystery driven, I would have liked it better. But it's fine as it is. Nothing special, but a decent read.
September 8, 2016
The story of Snow White and Rose Red was unfamiliar to me; therefore, I had no idea what direction this book was going. I did expect some magic, but just to forewarn potential readers, this is a modern retelling, which means it is set in New York and no magic happens (fantasy magic, that is). However, that did not deter me from liking the story and taking away morals that typical fairy tales generally contain. The characters are likable, the mystery kept my interest, and the plot really picked up towards the middle of the book. There were some sweet, romantic moments as well.
Some reviews stated that the characters have a dated way of talking. While it is uncommon to hear teens talk in such fashion, it is not unlikely. Those types of people one rarely meets, but I have had the pleasure of meeting a few in my life (in fact, I have been complimented for being one of those teens). And also to take in consideration, The Shadow of the Bear is published by Bethlehem Books, which is a publishing company geared towards providing youth with moralistic stories and I have found most books of this nature contain a high vocabulary and narration that is not widely used in today’s society.
It was refreshing to read about teens that have a pure outlook on love without acting sanctimonious. I recommend this to young adults (my YA age is high school+) and lovers of fairy tale retellings.
Some reviews stated that the characters have a dated way of talking. While it is uncommon to hear teens talk in such fashion, it is not unlikely. Those types of people one rarely meets, but I have had the pleasure of meeting a few in my life (in fact, I have been complimented for being one of those teens). And also to take in consideration, The Shadow of the Bear is published by Bethlehem Books, which is a publishing company geared towards providing youth with moralistic stories and I have found most books of this nature contain a high vocabulary and narration that is not widely used in today’s society.
It was refreshing to read about teens that have a pure outlook on love without acting sanctimonious. I recommend this to young adults (my YA age is high school+) and lovers of fairy tale retellings.
October 13, 2018
I bought this from the local library for peanuts 'auf deutch' with some other books, to improve my german and because I'm interested in re-writes of fairy tales and mythologies.
This book is well written, and full of twists and turns, but I didn't realize it is so christian. I mean for a a christian YA story it is very good. Personally, though it is too self-righteous, and the end and a few things that are too much stuffing girls and boys into suitable molds and couple of other things concerning the choices the characters make. The main characters are well built, and it definitely reminded me of my own teenage insecurities and thoughts. Very cultured girls, maybe too cultured? Aaand it brought back memories of sitting in detention in a catholic school and having to write an apology to god/God...
This book is well written, and full of twists and turns, but I didn't realize it is so christian. I mean for a a christian YA story it is very good. Personally, though it is too self-righteous, and the end and a few things that are too much stuffing girls and boys into suitable molds and couple of other things concerning the choices the characters make. The main characters are well built, and it definitely reminded me of my own teenage insecurities and thoughts. Very cultured girls, maybe too cultured? Aaand it brought back memories of sitting in detention in a catholic school and having to write an apology to god/God...
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January 7, 2021I really enjoyed this modern story of Snow White and Rose Red which has always been a favorite of mine. I thought Ms. Doman did a wonderful job of staying true to the story line while set in this time. It was quite clever and full of important values. The heroines seem a little too perfect at times and the heroes a little too good to be true, but it balances out as you move through the story. Plus it is a Fairy Tale. I also enjoyed the many Chesterton, Lewis, poetry, and classics references sprinkled throughout.
April 22, 2023
I read this for the first time as a young teenager and couldn't put it down. As an adult, I still greatly enjoyed it. Doman's Catholic philosophy deeply informs the ideas and characters of this story, in a way that rings true for those who see reality the same way she does. I found the girls' individual voices distinct and relatable. The plot is a but grandiose, but what can you expect from a fairy tale retelling? I especially recommend this for Catholic young adults who want to read something that melds life as they know it with magic and mystery.
April 11, 2017
One of my all-time favourites. My copy is worn and well-loved by both my mother and I. It is exciting and romantic, and I particularly enjoyed how vibrant and likable the characters were. Rose and Blanche actually reminded me of some of my friends. I was surprised to see them criticized for being unrealistic teenage girls because they held intelligent conversations, dressed modestly and were well-spoken. That's a rather sad reflection on teenagers!
Recommended for girls 13 and up
Recommended for girls 13 and up
May 22, 2020
I read this book in two days, but not necessarily because it was well written. There wasn't much character development, and most of Blanche's and Rose's characteristics were stereotypical and on the surface. Rose is the red-haired, bold hot-head, an Blanche is the pale, shy, reclusive one. They stay this way throughout the entire book, and haven't learned anything by the end. The answer to the "mystery" is obvious, so don't expect any suspense. But, all in all, a fun book to read.
March 14, 2008
Loved it! There is a 2nd and a 3rd book also for this series. I haven't read the 3rd, but I plan to. Regina Doman's modern version of Snow White and Rose Red (NOT Disney's Snow White, by the way) is fascinating. I love how she wrote the 7 monks in her 2nd book (which IS based on Disney's Snow White, in a way)...
November 25, 2012
By all rights I should have loved this book and the rest of its series. Unfortunately the flat characters, predictable and ordinary plot, and overly religious tone really put me off. Very disappointed in this book- will not be returning to read the rest of the series.
March 20, 2024
Reread it-again-because sometimes a girl needs a romantic mystery set in NYC after she comes back from a long trip with a cold:)
July 21, 2017
Part of a series of retellings of traditional fairy tales in contemporary settings. The author writes from a firmly founded Christian worldview, but manages to avoid "2-by-4" Christianese or moralization; the main characters are Catholic in the same, organic way that characters in other books might be Russian, or a "city kid," or have grown up in a farming community: it is part of their heritage and upbringing, and of course influences their perspective on the world and the choices they make. While the teen characters experience real danger, this book stays within a realm of content that most parents would probably feel comfortable allowing their teens to read (note that at least one of the other books in the series--_Rapunzel Let Down_ https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... --has decidedly more adult content). As always, I highly recommend pre-reading, as it is impossible for anyone else to know all of the "hot buttons" in your family and/or in your teen's life as well as you do.
I read a later tale first, and I can definitely see that this is an earlier work, where the author was just trying to find her stride; as such, there are some clumsier elements in this one than in the later one. However, as this is a retelling of one of my two favorite-EVER fairy tales from my childhood, I would have hated it vehemently if she hadn't done a good job--she did! It works. The characters are engaging (there's mention of Jane Austen's work early on, and one can definitely see the influence of _Sense and Sensibility_ in the drawing of the two sisters' characters), and if the parallels to the traditional tale are slightly more clunky and less deftly handled than in Doman's later Rapunzel-derived novel, they still work and produce a modern story well worth reading, especially when contrasted to the great bulk of "YA" fiction currently deluging the market with dangerously misleading messages and worldviews.
I read a later tale first, and I can definitely see that this is an earlier work, where the author was just trying to find her stride; as such, there are some clumsier elements in this one than in the later one. However, as this is a retelling of one of my two favorite-EVER fairy tales from my childhood, I would have hated it vehemently if she hadn't done a good job--she did! It works. The characters are engaging (there's mention of Jane Austen's work early on, and one can definitely see the influence of _Sense and Sensibility_ in the drawing of the two sisters' characters), and if the parallels to the traditional tale are slightly more clunky and less deftly handled than in Doman's later Rapunzel-derived novel, they still work and produce a modern story well worth reading, especially when contrasted to the great bulk of "YA" fiction currently deluging the market with dangerously misleading messages and worldviews.
March 26, 2022
Modern fairy tale re-telling of Snow White and Rose Red, I really liked this retelling, it is quite simple on plot, so nothing to really write about there, but I did like the characterizations of Blanche (Snow White), Authur (Bear), and Rose (Rose Red). Rose especially is an endearing girl, I liked how dramatic she is and how she imagines her eyes changing color to suit her moods.
This is a rather quick and simple re-telling, and the romance is light - this book is really just covers the fairy tale, where bear is in trouble and the girls help him and his brother from the evil 'dwarf.' The romance continues in book 2, instead of them just getting married (lol) she covers their individual relationships in the next 2 books.
I read the 4th book, The Midnight Dancers, a long time ago and really liked it, so time to read 1-3.
This was also my first inter loan library book, I never bothered to try and do loan like this, but I thought I would try it for this older, hard to find book and it was really easy! Will get the rest of the series this way too.
This is a rather quick and simple re-telling, and the romance is light - this book is really just covers the fairy tale, where bear is in trouble and the girls help him and his brother from the evil 'dwarf.' The romance continues in book 2, instead of them just getting married (lol) she covers their individual relationships in the next 2 books.
I read the 4th book, The Midnight Dancers, a long time ago and really liked it, so time to read 1-3.
This was also my first inter loan library book, I never bothered to try and do loan like this, but I thought I would try it for this older, hard to find book and it was really easy! Will get the rest of the series this way too.
February 22, 2025
Idk, it’s probably 2.5 stars depending on my mood. I loved the concept of this book being a modern day fairytale. There were moments in the inner monologues of the characters that felt very relatable as a young woman/sister of sisters (I am definitely more of a Rose than a Blanche). However... I read one review that described the audience for this book as being so niche it was almost painful and I couldn’t agree more. All of the protagonists were border lining on Mary Sue territory, making it harder to care about them. And the last 50 pages? So over the top and predictable. Like idk, let Blanche drop an F bomb in a moment of frustration! It wouldn’t have made her any less pious. In fact it would have made her 10x more chill.
April 20, 2025
Last time I read this book was over 10 years ago, and I loved it then. As an adult, though, I found the book to be REALLY cheesy. There were still a few different, really cute moments, and I did enjoy those. I also enjoyed the book for the sake of nostalgia, and it was a very easy quick read. Overall, not a bad book, but just didn’t appeal to me as an adult. 13 to 14-year-old me very much enjoyed it though.😂 just not the 25-year-old me as much
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