The Quest of the Cubs

Kathryn Lasky, a Newbery Honoree, launches a thrilling new animal fantasy series set in the Northern Kingdoms, a world of noble polar bears. The story follows twin cubs, whose society is on the brink of collapse due to the tyrannical Roguers who kidnap cubs and kill their mothers. Their own mother, Svenna, makes a profound sacrifice to ensure her cubs' survival, sending them on a journey with her cousin. This chapter book explores themes of courage, family love, justice, and resilience, as the cubs must discover their unique powers and their role in saving their world. It is an engaging read for children aged 4-11, offering both adventure and deeper emotional currents.

It is a time of trouble in the Northern Kingdoms because a group of power-hungry polar bears called Roguers has been snatching cubs from their mothers and killing those who resist; but Svenna is not about to relinquish her two cubs to that fate, so she agrees to go with the Roguers and serve Mystress of the Hands if her cubs, who have special powers, are allowed to stay with her cousin--but nobody is truly safe when a way of life is collapsing around them.