The Secret Legend of BirdBear (The Mer Tree Book 1)

The Secret Legend of BirdBear by Sophia Elaine Goss is about family and some of the infinite forms families may take. Designed to be read as a family or to read alone the story inspires conversation, reflection and action in the ongoing adventure of building family that we all experience to different levels. Everyone on the planet, now or ever, is on a unique, hold-on ride of family dynamics and the prize is finding self.
The writing of this first book of The Mer Tree series has been a thirty year journey for the author, who defined herself with the fictional families in the story. The idea for The Secret Legend of BirdBear began as a bedtime story for her preschool age son who chose the character BirdBear. Sophia's love of anthropology gave direction for the development of the historical fiction and the fantasy in the story is tinted in science, not magic.
Throughout the years of the author's life other children, and the chances and changes in family life have inspired her to keep writing for the love and hope of better, future generations. Now a grandmother, as well as a great aunt, Sophia isn't done. Whether reaching back into the past or to the far reaches of the future the mystery of time and how it plays us is an endless theme of individuals, families, societies, worlds and universes. Enjoy the exploration with Pete, Yellow Leaf, Mighty Stream, and of course Mer as they all come to know and love BirdBear; a mutation and orphan that not only finds family, but saves them from the fate she is born under.
There is plenty of growing up to do for all the characters as new situations arise in both the current day and thousands of years ago in the past. Dealing with the changes that just living brings is often harder on the adults while the younger characters thrive with new adventures. Mer and Pete visit the places and times of one another, sharing ideas and information that leave them both changed forever, and for the better.
Tolerance and acceptance of the many differences among all living creatures is a continuing theme in The Secret Legend of BirdBear. The small creature, Mer crushes fear and hate with courage, love and faith in a Protector of all Creation. BirdBear is always forgiving and wins all hearts with her giant capacity for love.
The main adult characters in the story aren't perfect parents, but they offer a gleaning of what adults are all about. Most importantly, they never give up when their children make life so very difficult.