Welcome to the third day of the Back to School Spotlight – Teen/YA. We are going to turn from the cuteness of the last two days with the children’s books and move into some social issues.
Look for Me Under the Rainbow: A Novella is a deeply emotional yet important book of fiction about the plight of harp seals. In the book, we follow a family of harp seals through good times and bad. This novella gives us a hard look at the realities of climate change and seal poaching.
Trigger Warning: Animal Cruelty and Death
I would suggest parental involvement for readers of this book. There are going to be many opportunities to start a discussion about important issues. I urge you, please, take this time to do so.
Look for Me Under the Rainbow: A Novella
Bernard Jan
- Title: Look for Me Under the Rainbow
- Author: Bernard Jan
- Publisher: Bernard Jan on April 15, 2018
- Format: Kindle Edition (also available in Paperback)
- Pages: 85
Synopsis from Goodreads:
“Danny, a curious harp seal pup, has soft white fur and black innocent eyes. Helen is an environmentalist and member of a young activist crew of the Rainbow Warriors. Their mission is to save animals.”
“As winter turns into spring, a new generation of seal pups comes to life. A few weeks later, the killing begins. Against a spectacular backdrop of ice and snow, Helen prepares to look horrific human cruelty in the face.”
“I do not doubt I have a big heart and burning desire but is that enough for a person to become a Rainbow Warrior, or is there something better? Something only some of us manage to turn into what we have long missed—humanity.”
“In the race against time and clubs, will Helen save Danny before the hunt begins and the ice turns red?”
“Though written for younger readers, Look for Me Under the Rainbow will appeal to anyone who cherishes our beautiful planet and wishes to protect its treasures.”
Back to School Spotlight – Teen/YA – Author Interview: Bernard Jan
What is the inspiration for this book?
I wrote Look for Me Under the Rainbow because I was shocked and appalled by the human treatment of baby seals in Canada so I wanted to change that. I wanted to stop the seal hunt and ask the world for help. Through my writing I wanted to change the world, so to speak, but I knew I had to do something before that so I changed myself first. I became an environmentalist and later on an animal rights activist.
How long did it take you to write this book?
I wrote this book in ten days. Give or take a few hours. ?
What made you decide to be a writer of children’s/YA novels?
Haha, funny thing is that I didn’t write this book for children and young adults but for all readers concerned about animal issues and our planet. But my Croatian publisher thought it was a better fit for the younger audience. I guess they were right since Look for Me Under the Rainbow is listed in the program for elementary schools as a reading of choice for seventh graders.
Is your main character modeled from a real person? Who or why not?
No, all characters in this story are pure fiction. It would be hard to model my character from a real person since he was a baby harp seal. Wink, wink, hehe.
Just for fun, what is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Oh boy, that is the toughest question of all haha! Would it be too lame if I say vanilla? Peanut, nougat, strawberry, and chocolate would do too, but I wouldn’t complain about any other flavor as long as it is dairy-free. ?
If you have not read this book yet and would like to pick up a copy for your family, you can purchase it at Amazon.com. If you use my special image links below, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
