Gill Lewis

After the death of his father, twelve-year-old Tam is sent to the city to work on a bear farm, cleaning up their mess. The bears are kept in small cages so they can be milked for their bile. The bile is believed to have healing powers, so is sold at an exorbitant price.

Not long after starting work on the farm, a young bear cub, Sook-dii, is stolen from his mother and brought to the farm. Tam and Sook-dii form a close bond as the young cub relies on Tam to keep him alive.

Although written for show more younger readers, I found this novel equally interesting an horrifying. Like Tam, I hated the way the bears were treated and their fear of the milking procedure was palpable. When the doctor decided to milk Sook-dii, my heart was in my throat and I was disgusted at what cruelty humans will perform for a quick buck.

The author did not pull any punches when it came to describing the milking of the bears. It was graphic and quite disturbing. I had no idea that these farms even existed but, sadly, wasn't surprised. Too many animal parts are used for 'medicine'.

Full of emotion and morals, and beautifully written, I found "Moon Bear a fascinating read, and I adored Sook-dii! show less

Oh, my goodness, A Street Dog Named Pup nearly destroyed me! It was an emotional rollercoaster, and I was in tears on more than one occasion. This novel follows the story of Pup, who is loved and cherished by his boy. However, the boy's cruel fathers dumped Pup, and suddenly, Pup has to fend for himself. He becomes a street dog and joins a band of other stray dogs. Here, he learns about survival and loyalty, but he never forgets his boy and longs to find him again.

Pup's life in the city was show more horrible and, it seemed to go downhill even more the further I read. I hated the cruelty that Pup and the other stray dogs had to face at the hands of humans - it disgusted me! Pup was incredibly real, and my heart bled for the pain and desperation he felt.

The author wrote a powerful novel for all ages about animal welfare and the lack of respect some people show towards our four-legged companions. A Street Dog Named Pup is not for the faint-hearted, but it was a gripping read that had me hugging my own dogs a little bit tighter. show less

"Sky Dancer" was an enjoyable read and I learnt a lot about grouse hunting, hen harriers and life on the moorlands. While I hated all the wildlife killings, I was pleased that Joe finally found the courage to stand up for what he believed in - the conservation of British wildlife before it was too late.

This novel was well-written and researched, with beautiful descriptions of the moors and their wildlife. The author gave Hope, the hen harrier chick Joe and his friends saved and raised after show more its mother was shot by Joe's older brother, a lovely personality, and I loved how Gill Lewis brought it to life.

Written for younger readers, "Sky Dancer" had sympathetic characters, a heartfelt message and lovely friendship bonds. A sweet story. show less

Another accomplished story from Gill Lewis, this time tackling the divisive topic of driven grouse shooting.
There’s plenty of action, and the characters and plot are very cleverly drawn to show that things are rarely as clear cut as they seem on the surface. It’s informative, and I learned all I need to know about the subject without feeling like I was being lectured. As with Gill’s other novels, I was immersed in the world she had created and found myself really caring, which is of show more course the point.
Recommended for anyone who loves animals and/or conservation, both children and adults alike. show less