In this series' fourth and fifth books, a group of young bears extends its journey to the Last Great Wilderness and beyond into the frozen North, following visions and instinct. Fire is the stronger story, featuring a faster pace. In both books, a positive environmental message is clear, and the characters continue to grow and bond.

Having reached the Last Great Wilderness, Urujak, Toklo, Kallik, and Lusa believe their quest to find a home free of flatfaces is over. Instead, Urujak is forced to transform himself into human form after an accident leaves him near death. The flatface healer is kind, but he and his friends are no match for greedy politicians who want to develop the land and take the oil. Urujak is kid/bearnapped to a hospital where he can receive “proper” treatment. His friends follow as best they can, attempting to avoid both humans and the sticky, stinky oil that is apparently spilling across the ground just waiting to be absorbed into their fur. Exhausted and hungry but reunited, the four brace themselves for the next part of their journey—across the ice into Kallik’s territory. Will they stay together? Will they ever find home? With new challenges coming, it’s beginning to seem doubtful. The narration often reflects the energy level of the bears, dragging or moving briskly. Human characters are stereotyped as wise and understanding or mean and rotten. The tracking ability of the bears is a bit unbelievable, along with their uncanny avoidance of capture, but fans of the Seekers series won’t mind the predictability that they will overcome all obstacles.—Pam Carlson.