Gentle Ben Puffin Modern Classics :: Education by Design Store

Customer Reviews

A story that will stay emblazoned in your mind for years to come, and warm your heart

2006-02-09
Mark Andersen leads quite a lonely existence in the Alaskan wilderness, where he lives with his mother and father. Things wouldn't be so lonely if his older brother was still around, but since his death, Mark has been devoid of contact with anyone even close in age to him. Due in large part to the fact that he's the smallest boy at school - at least for his age - and risks injury if he plays with the stronger boys, so he keeps to himself. That is, until he discovers a friend named Ben. Ben isn't your average friend. He's an Alaskan brown bear "brownie," who is larger than life, and frightens anyone who sees him. Except for Mark. Mark knows how gentle Ben is, and quickly befriends him. Mark and Ben discover that they are much more like one another than anyone could possibly know, and forge a strong bond. But when the local townspeople find out about Mark and Ben's relationship, they are determined to destroy it. Even if it means destroying Ben.

Animal stories always have a strong place in my heart, so when I discovered Walt Morey's GENTLE BEN, I knew that I would adore the story. And I did. Much like Sterling North's RASCAL, GENTLE BEN captures the essence of falling in love with a wild animal, and keeping it as a pet, even when the world is against your decision. It's about the special bond that humans and animals hold with one another. Mark is a lovable character, whose small body, but strong mind, make him the ideal friend for Ben. While Ben is a character that will never be forgotten, based solely on the kindness in his heart, and his laugh-out-loud antics. A story that will stay emblazoned in your mind for years to come, and warm your heart.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

Bears Of the Wild!!!!

2006-01-24
This book is touching. The animal is abused but then is loved by Mark. Once he goes out he gets happy. They are afraid he'll turn wild again, but he stayss tame. It was sad when they let him go, but i am happy that he iss not endangered anymore and can eat his fill... This was a great book(RECOMENDED)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good book, questionable premise.

2005-12-12
Bears are still wild, even those in captivity.

This is one of those books I call "animal-rights underground book." It has a good story-line, but makes the animal in it too tame. A bear isn't a tame creature. When I see one in the wild, I admire it, but I don't befriend it. This book probably wouldn't happen in real life, but if you want a good read about Alaska or bears for children, this is a good read.

One of the most beautiful!

2005-05-19
I've just read this book, which is one of the most beautiful I've ever read and I'm very sorry that it isn't available in Slovene language so that our children could read it, too.
It's a book about love between a little boy named Mark and a big brown bear named Ben who became true friends. It's a book about love and care for the wildlife, and also what a man can do if he don't understand or even don't like animals. It's a story which teaches us to listen sometimes to our children and not always only demand from them to act like we think it's normal, because we - grown-up people - can learn a lot from both, from our children and from animals regardless they're their pets or not.
I highly recommend to all of you to read this book. And those who already own one - take it down from the bookshelf and read it again. I think I'll do it in a while, too.

Suspenseful Page-Turner!

2004-06-30
Gentle Ben is a timeless classic about a boy and his... uh... bear! A wonderful, feel-good page turner that effortlessly sweeps you up into the wonderful world of Alaska with its majestic (and fearsome) Brownie bears! After only a few pages you grow to love Ben and Mark, and the constant threats on Ben's life by game hunters, townsfolk, and others keep you turning pages late into the night!

By the way, I am quite a slow reader. I read this book in 1.5 days.

One of the best 2003-11-03
The Alaskan wilderness is a lonely place for Mark Andersen, especially after the death of his brother. But Mark finds a friend named Ben, who happens to be an Alaskan brown bear. Ben and Mark form a special bond, but the townspeople are determined to destroy it. It is only through the strength of an enduring friendship that Ben—and Mark—have a chance of being saved.

One of the best 2003-11-03
I have read a lot of books, and Gentle Ben is one of my favorites. There are a lot of books that have a story somewhat like this one, but this one stuck out. It is a good story about a kid named Mark and his pet bear named Ben. It may seem weird to have a pet bear, but this story takes place in an Alaskan fishing city. His dad makes a living by fishing salmon every year on a boat called the "Far North". Mark saves the bear from his evil neighbor, who keeps him chained up with little food and no outside light. The bear isn't accepted by the community, so Mark has to get rid of him. By reading this book, you will find out how Mark and Ben accomplish being together. It is a wonderful story about a boy and his pet.

Gentle Ben 2002-06-07
The story takes place in Alaska just before the salmon season. In this part of Alaska this is the only time of year the town is full of people. It starts with a boy named Mark Anderson who is secretly hanging around a brown bear that has been chained up and not properly taken care of by a man named Fog Benson. After Marks parents Karl and Ellen find out about this they are angry but eventually they let him buy it from Fog so he can have it for himself. To pay for the bear Mark helps his dad with the fishing later Fog and some men attack Ben and then Ben hurts Fog Benson. This causes the whole town to be scared of Ben and they eventually have to take him and let him free on an island. Karl Anderson and another one of his fishing friends Claywater decide to help deliver the mail by boat to another city while out they get caught in a storm and Claywater dies. There boat is also destroyed. Since they don't have a boat anymore Karl Anderson takes a job at a fishing trap on an island where they meet up with Ben and protect him from Fog Benson and his hunting trips. In the end the hunters leave him alone and Ben lives safely on the island waiting for the Andersons to return next fishing season.

The Best Book I have ever read. 2001-12-16
I am reading this book for a school project and I found it really got better. At first the book was just a bunch of confusing words, but soon found to love it. Even if I have to do papers on it at least I have a bit of fun.

HORRIBLE! 2001-05-19
I think this book was TERRIBLE. It was boring. It was a little exciting in a few parts but listen to this. A boy finds s bear abused, wants to protect it, buys the bear, everyone thinks he's dangerous and is sent to live on an island. YAWN! On top of all of that, theres a lot of dying. What a WONDERFUL BOOK TO GET! It was a school book that everyone read together. Torture! I highly reccomend you DON'T read this book.