Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear

by Trang Nguyen (Author) Jeet Zdung (Illustrator)

Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

* "Nguyen's heartfelt tale is perfect for animal-loving fans of Katherine Applegate's The One and Only Ivan and Rosanne Parry's A Wolf Called Wander."--School Library Journal, starred review

A middle grade graphic novel adventure based on a true story, in which a young conservationist overcomes the odds to save and return a sun bear to its natural habitat.

When endlessly curious and tenacious Chang discovers a bear bile farm near her home in Vietnam, she decides to do everything she can to save wild animals--by becoming a conservationist! After teaching herself survival skills, documenting each rainforest plant and animal she sees in her field notebook, and disproving the critics who think she isn't old enough or strong enough, Chang is finally accepted as a rescue center volunteer.

But her toughest challenge yet comes when she's tasked with returning Sorya--the sun bear she raised from infancy--back into the wild. Because despite being a different species, Sorya is Chang's best friend. And letting a friend go is never easy . . . even when it's the right thing to do.

With breathtaking art and STEM facts galore, Chang's daring story is for any young reader, animal lover, and intrepid explorer!

Select format:
Paperback
$13.99

ALA/Booklist

A perfect pick for animal lovers and young conservationists.

Kirkus

Starred Review
Uplifting . . . the epitome of wild and free. . . . Breathtaking visuals and a compelling story.

School Library Journal

Starred Review

Gr 4-6--Inspired by the author's own experiences as a conservationist, this triumphant graphic novel charts the relationship between Sorya, a sun bear, and Chang, a young Vietnamese girl who helps rehabilitate her. Beginning and ending with the bear's release into the wild, the book explores key moments in Sorya's and Chang's lives. When Chang is eight, she is horrified when she stumbles across a mistreated moon bear, and vows to become a conservationist. Despite barriers--all the books she finds on conservation are in English, and many people tell her that a young girl can't be a conservationist--Chang perseveres year after year until she lands a volunteer position at a national park and bear rescue center in Vietnam. The center soon welcomes Sorya, a two-week-old cub. Chang learns everything she can so that she can teach Sorya how to eventually survive on her own. How hard will it be to say goodbye? With a warm yet realistic outlook, Nguyen's heartfelt tale is perfect for animal-loving fans of Katherine Applegate's The One and Only Ivan and Rosanne Parry's A Wolf Called Wander. Zdung's full-color art fuses traditional Vietnamese art with manga styles. The lush rain forest scenes are rich in detail, supplemented by fact-filled pages of Chang's field notebook that appear throughout. The mix of varied block paneling with stylish overlays keeps the pacing fresh yet also allows for some still moments of beauty. VERDICT Stirring and gorgeously rendered, this eco-conscious tale is a superb purchase for all libraries.--Alec Chunn, Eugene P.L., OR

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

A Junior Library Guild selection!

* "Uplifting . . . the epitome of wild and free. . . . Breathtaking visuals and a compelling story."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "Triumphant . . . Stirring and gorgeously rendered."—School Library Journal, starred review

"A perfect pick for animal lovers and young conservationists."—Booklist
Trang Nguyen
Trang Nguyen is a Vietnamese wildlife conservationist, environmental activist, and writer, known for tackling the illegal wildlife trade in Africa and Asia. In 2018, Trang was featured in the documentary film Stroop: Journey into the Rhino Horn War alongside Jane Goodall. She was selected for BBC's 100 Women of 2019 list and for the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list. Trang is the founder and executive director of WildAct, an NGO that monitors the illegal wildlife trade markets and provides conservation education programs for Vietnamese youth. She is also the author of the Eisner-nominated middle grade graphic novel Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear.

Jeet Zdung is an author-illustrator who fuses traditional Vietnamese art with manga, using pencils, watercolors, ink, and other digital means to create works of beauty and innovation. He has won several awards, including a Silent Manga Audition Excellence Award for his manga Stand Up and Fly and Vietnam's national book award for his middle grade graphic novel Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear. He lives in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Classification
-
ISBN-13
9780593353622
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Dial Books
Publication date
September 14, 2021
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV030020 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | Asia
JUV029010 - Juvenile Fiction | Nature & the Natural World | Environment
JUV008050 - Juvenile Fiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | Animals
Library of Congress categories
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Little Maverick Reading List
Selection 2022

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