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Tomita, M., and Sbarbaro,
V. (Eds.) (2009). Chico
Bear Adventures: The Awakening. Softcover Book, 254
pages. Chico, CA:
North State Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-9820648-6-3.
Library of Congress Control Number: 2009925942.
(Chapters
1-3)(Cover,
small JPG) (Audio Summary)
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The Awakening
is the first of the Chico Bear
Adventures novels. Dr. Ben Hamilton is a Certified Health Education
Specialist (CHES), and a health education professor at California
State University,
Chico (Chico State).
He has two Welsh Corgis named Kirby and Gracie. Ben stumbles upon two large
almond fruits hanging on a tree in his backyard. The two almonds do not
contain nuts, rather, Chico Bears, mythical creatures that once roamed the
land in Northern California. Ben, with the
help of Old Wise Muzza, brings the two Chico Bears to life. We learn the two
Chico Bears are named Matthew and Andrew, who have taken on human form, and
appear to be in sixth grade (age 11) and fourth grade (age 9). The boys
possess supernatural powers, well beyond the abilities of mere mortals.
Although Chico Bears appear human, their adoptive family members see them for
who they really are whereas other humans see them as two human boys. In the
1800s, General John Bidwell sent away all Chico Bears to hide them from the
dark forces and the Evil One. All of those Chico Bears are now long gone and
are spirits, waiting for Matthew and Andrew to bring them home to Chico. The spirits must
be returned to Chico,
and then merged with their brethren in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. The
boys meet their first Chico Bear spirit in Bidwell Mansion
named Sierra. This meeting at Bidwell
Mansion sets the professor and the
boys on an adventure to find all Chico Bear spirits,
and to bring them home to Chico.
The Awakening
was written by Dr. Mark Tomita and 16 health education students at Chico State. Dr. Tomita wrote the first
three chapters and the last chapter. The students wrote the “adventure”
chapters in the middle of the novel.
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Tomita, M. (2009). Chico
Bear Adventures: The Journey Home. Softcover Book,
354 pages.
The Journey Home will be available sometime in 2009.
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The Journey Home is the second Chico Bear
Adventures novel, and is authored by Dr. Mark Tomita. The story opens
with Matthew and Andrew attending public schools. In the previous novel, the
boys were home schooled, but Ben feels the boys should now attend public
schools, and concentrate a little more on day-to-day living. He understands
the urgency of bringing the remaining Chico Bear spirits back home to Chico, but he feels life
needs to be “normal” for him and the boys. Matthew is now in the seventh
grade and Andrew in the fifth grade. This novel is very different from the
first. Matthew, for example, learns life’s lessons about puberty. Matthew
also sings two songs which he composed, Come
Home to Chico and Kirby’s Song.
The adventures are localized to Chico, California, and the Northern
California region, and the adventures are rich in historical facts with
typical Chico Bear twists. There are hilarious scenes with Kirby and Gracie,
who take on human form in two chapters, and Matthew and Andrew, who take on
adult form. The reader will be taken on an emotional roller coaster, for much
of this second novel has its funny moments, but there are also touching
moments. Tragedy will also strike, leaving the reader stunned. The Journey Home, as the name implies,
ends with all Chico Bear spirits returning home to Chico.
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Tomita, M. (2010). Chico
Bear Adventures: Return of the Immortal One. Softcover
Book, 350 pages.
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Return of the Immortal One
is the third Chico Bear Adventures
Book.
This novel is currently
being written, and won’t be available until 2010.
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