J Fic graphic novel. Very unique look to the artwork- expressive, thick-and-thin lines, people with curiously beefy forearms and tiny flexed hands and feet. Looks like graphic and watercolor medium, very fluid. It’s mostly told in images, with the only text dialog and that very sparse. About a girl spending the summer with her grandma (or aunt?) and doesn’t have many friends, whiles away her time indoors reading comics (about a girl who’s friends with a fox). Grandma makes her go outside, she is cutting through the woods (they live out there in an A-frame style house) when comes across a huge bear that’s trapped under a fallen branch. She runs to get Grandma’s help (this round-faced sweet-looking white-haired lady who zooms around on a motorbike and can be so fierce with words!) and they free the bear. He’s ginormous, but very gentle in temperament and becomes her friend.
Then the girl has to go back home, and the bear misses her. He tries to follow. Frightening everyone he encounters (with an innocent who, me? expression on his face) on the wharves and city streets. The bear ends up with a young fisherman who’s struggling to work again after an injury. Bear becomes his partner on the fishing boat. Stuff happens, and they do get reunited in the end- bear and girl. She’d been getting teased by kids at school again, so is always glad to escape that and spend time with Kodi.
Home for her is Seattle! so I really liked seeing what I could recognize of the cityscape and natural setting, the things sold to tourists, fish shops, etc. Found out there’s a sequel and I’d be glad to read that, too.
Borrowed from the public library. Completed on 4/27/24.