281:
polar bears if they have seen her family, but none of them have seen them. Kallik befriends another female bear named Nanuk, who helps Kallik around the area. However, Nanuk is killed in a helicopter crash when she and Kallik are being shipped back to the wild. Before she dies, Nanuk tells Kallik about a place where the ice never melts. Kallik sets off to find this place.
939:
288:
Lusa is a pampered black bear living in a zoo. Despite being told that the wilderness is a harsh environment, she dreams of one day escaping the zoo and living outside. One day, Toklo's mother is brought to the zoo. She tells Lusa about her regret over abandoning her cubs, but that she was unable to
280:
The novel first follows Kallik, who lives with her mother and brother. While out on the ice, she is separated from her family when killer whales attack, forcing her to survive by herself. Kallik decides to go to a gathering place for polar bears that her mother told her about. There, she asks other
256:
series that followed the adventures of feral cats, to write another series with animal characters. The company suggested dogs, but Holmes felt that dogs would be too similar in their behavior to cats. Both horses and dolphins were also considered but rejected because of horses' tendency to run away
284:
In a mountain range, Toklo's mother is bringing Toklo and his sickly brother to a river to teach them how to catch salmon, but when his brother dies, she suffers a mental breakdown and abandons Toklo. Left to fend for himself, he is chased by human hunters and meets another bear who is also being
331:
Reception to the novel was positive and many reviewers praised the realistic setting and behaviours of the main characters. Koelling noted how the novel has a balance of cute anthropomorphic characterisation and also gives a realistic view of how hard it is for the bears to survive on their own.
257:
rather than fight, and the slowness of battles underwater, respectively. Holmes ultimately suggested a series about bears, noting their solitary lifestyles, minimal history of domestication, and great fighting potential as factors that attracted her to writing about them.
199:. The novel details the adventures of four bears, Toklo, Kallik, Lusa and Ujurak, who are stranded together in the wild and must learn to survive. The declining environment around the bears is a theme explored throughout the novel. The development of the
29:
342:
had a more mixed review, noting fans of the genre would, "haunt the shelves for the next volume" despite little plot advancement due to the time spent introducing and developing the characters. In contrast, Jennifer-Lynn Draper in
285:
pursued by the hunters, Ujurak. Although Ujurak is injured, they are able to reach safety. Ujurak, then reveals himself to be a shapeshifter by transforming into a human and back. The two decide to continue traveling together.
421:
218:
under the name of Erin Hunter. The novel was published on 27 May 2008. The book sold well and had generally positive critical reception with reviewers suggesting the series would appeal to fans of
289:
find them after leaving them. Lusa resolves to find Toklo in order to deliver his mother's apology, and successfully escapes from the zoo. As the novel concludes, Ujurak and Toklo encounter Lusa.
268:
was introduced via HarperCollin's FirstLook
Program in November 2007. Those who signed up for the program were granted early online access to the novel prior to its release in stores.
272:
was published in hardback format on 27 May 2008, then as a paperback on 10 February 2009, and in e-book format on 6 October 2009. The novel has also been translated into
Russian.
429:
315:
has a focus on protecting the environment and in the many ways humans pose dangers to animals. The bears, by undertaking this quest, are forced to gain
982:
518:
496:
474:
987:
550:
452:
143:
362:
809:
942:
319:
as they go along and to do so without the assistance of adults to mentor and guide them. Koelling noted that while the bears are
972:
771:
391:
962:
977:
967:
542:
OZON.ru — Книги – Дымная гора – Эрин Хантер – Smoked
Mountain – Странники – Купить книги: интернет-магазин /
917:
349:
praised the novel's fast pace and Hunter's ability for, "creating and sustaining the adrenaline-charged mood".
910:
855:
252:
208:
154:
821:
684:
345:
175:
74:
802:
738:
307:
noting that "despite the change in species, much will be familiar to readers". However, the book's
746:
720:
693:
659:
627:
618:
593:
546:
357:
138:
795:
320:
55:
891:
316:
247:
196:
497:"Seekers #1: The Quest Begins, By Erin Hunter: HarperCollins Children's Books(Paperback)"
787:
886:
650:
371:
338:
192:
184:
956:
243:
204:
95:
85:
519:"Seekers #1: The Quest Begins EPB, By Erin Hunter: HarperCollins Children's Books"
540:
876:
818:
399:
180:
45:
28:
924:
739:"Children's Chapter Books - Best Sellers - July 13, 2008 - The New York Times"
475:"Seekers #1: The Quest Begins, By Erin Hunter: HarperCollins Children's Books"
453:"Seekers #1: The Quest Begins, By Erin Hunter: HarperCollins Children's Books"
750:
724:
697:
663:
631:
597:
881:
215:
188:
682:
Draper, Jennifer-Lynn (December 2008). "Hunter, Erin. The Quest Begins".
584:
366:
303:
308:
170:
791:
711:
Roback, Diane (9 June 2008). "Children's
Fiction Bestsellers".
365:
lists for multiple weeks. The novel was the 9th book chosen by
207:
for another series about animals to the authors who wrote the
582:
Koelling, Holly (15 May 2008). "Seekers: The Quest Begins".
323:
they also maintain bear-like qualities and characteristics.
297:
The novel drew comparisons, sometimes unfavorably, to the
392:"Erin Hunter chat No. 5 transcript – 16 August 2008"
311:
elements are lightly introduced in this series start.
902:
869:
838:
831:
149:
137:
129:
121:
111:
101:
91:
81:
69:
61:
51:
41:
183:, which is a collective pseudonym used by authors
803:
8:
21:
611:
609:
607:
203:series began as a result of a request from
835:
810:
796:
788:
772:Children's series and tie-ins bestsellers.
27:
20:
643:
641:
577:
575:
573:
571:
569:
422:"FirstLook Edition of The Quest Begins"
383:
332:Koelling also recommended the novel to
677:
675:
673:
7:
938:
375:with Holmes appearing on the show.
648:"Hunter, Erin: The Quest Begins".
14:
301:series, with Holly Koelling from
937:
616:"Seekers #1: The Quest Begins".
125:Print (hardback & paperback)
355:was a best seller appearing on
242:series began as a request from
1:
983:Children's novels about bears
545:(in Russian). Ozon.ru. 2010.
840:Seekers: The Original Series
455:. Harpercollinschildrens.com
250:, editor and creator of the
226:Development and publication
1004:
369:for his Al's Book Club on
179:series. It was written by
988:Children's fantasy novels
934:
782:. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
426:HarperCollin's First Look
26:
658:(10): 184. 15 May 2008.
626:(19): 54. 12 May 2008.
778:, 26 May 2008, p. 18.
685:School Library Journal
346:School Library Journal
973:Novels by Erin Hunter
963:2008 American novels
780:Biography in Context
402:on 15 September 2008
978:HarperCollins books
968:2008 fantasy novels
432:on 21 November 2007
358:Publishers Weekly's
261:Publication history
23:
16:Book by Erin Hunter
743:The New York Times
363:The New York Times
293:Writing and themes
950:
949:
865:
864:
776:Publishers Weekly
713:Publishers Weekly
619:Publishers Weekly
552:978-5-373-03479-1
321:anthropomorphized
162:
161:
144:978-0-06-087122-2
112:Publication place
52:Cover artist
22:The Quest Begins
995:
941:
940:
849:The Quest Begins
836:
812:
805:
798:
789:
783:
770:Roback, Diane. "
768:
762:
761:
759:
757:
735:
729:
728:
708:
702:
701:
679:
668:
667:
645:
636:
635:
613:
602:
601:
579:
564:
563:
561:
559:
537:
531:
530:
528:
526:
515:
509:
508:
506:
504:
493:
487:
486:
484:
482:
471:
465:
464:
462:
460:
448:
442:
441:
439:
437:
428:. Archived from
418:
412:
411:
409:
407:
398:. Archived from
396:Wands And Worlds
388:
353:The Quest Begins
313:The Quest Begins
270:The Quest Begins
266:The Quest Begins
236:The Quest Begins
166:The Quest Begins
150:Followed by
103:Publication date
56:Wayne McLoughlin
35:The Quest Begins
31:
24:
1003:
1002:
998:
997:
996:
994:
993:
992:
953:
952:
951:
946:
930:
898:
892:Victoria Holmes
861:
856:Great Bear Lake
827:
816:
786:
769:
765:
755:
753:
737:
736:
732:
710:
709:
705:
681:
680:
671:
647:
646:
639:
615:
614:
605:
581:
580:
567:
557:
555:
553:
539:
538:
534:
524:
522:
521:. HarperCollins
517:
516:
512:
502:
500:
499:. HarperCollins
495:
494:
490:
480:
478:
477:. HarperCollins
473:
472:
468:
458:
456:
450:
449:
445:
435:
433:
420:
419:
415:
405:
403:
390:
389:
385:
381:
329:
317:survival skills
295:
278:
263:
248:Victoria Holmes
233:
228:
197:Victoria Holmes
155:Great Bear Lake
122:Media type
116:
104:
37:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1001:
999:
991:
990:
985:
980:
975:
970:
965:
955:
954:
948:
947:
935:
932:
931:
929:
928:
921:
914:
906:
904:
903:Related series
900:
899:
897:
896:
895:
894:
889:
887:Cherith Baldry
884:
873:
871:
867:
866:
863:
862:
860:
859:
852:
844:
842:
833:
829:
828:
817:
815:
814:
807:
800:
792:
785:
784:
763:
730:
703:
669:
651:Kirkus Reviews
637:
603:
565:
551:
532:
510:
488:
466:
451:Hunter, Erin.
443:
413:
382:
380:
377:
372:The Today Show
339:Kirkus Reviews
328:
325:
294:
291:
277:
274:
262:
259:
232:
229:
227:
224:
193:Tui Sutherland
185:Cherith Baldry
160:
159:
151:
147:
146:
141:
135:
134:
131:
127:
126:
123:
119:
118:
115:United Kingdom
113:
109:
108:
105:
102:
99:
98:
93:
89:
88:
83:
79:
78:
71:
67:
66:
63:
59:
58:
53:
49:
48:
43:
39:
38:
32:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1000:
989:
986:
984:
981:
979:
976:
974:
971:
969:
966:
964:
961:
960:
958:
945:
944:
933:
927:
926:
922:
920:
919:
915:
913:
912:
908:
907:
905:
901:
893:
890:
888:
885:
883:
880:
879:
878:
875:
874:
872:
868:
858:
857:
853:
851:
850:
846:
845:
843:
841:
837:
834:
830:
826:
824:
820:
819:Erin Hunter's
813:
808:
806:
801:
799:
794:
793:
790:
781:
777:
773:
767:
764:
752:
748:
744:
740:
734:
731:
726:
722:
718:
714:
707:
704:
699:
695:
691:
687:
686:
678:
676:
674:
670:
665:
661:
657:
653:
652:
644:
642:
638:
633:
629:
625:
621:
620:
612:
610:
608:
604:
599:
595:
591:
587:
586:
578:
576:
574:
572:
570:
566:
554:
548:
544:
543:
536:
533:
520:
514:
511:
498:
492:
489:
476:
470:
467:
454:
447:
444:
431:
427:
423:
417:
414:
401:
397:
393:
387:
384:
378:
376:
374:
373:
368:
364:
360:
359:
354:
350:
348:
347:
341:
340:
335:
326:
324:
322:
318:
314:
310:
306:
305:
300:
292:
290:
286:
282:
275:
273:
271:
267:
260:
258:
255:
254:
249:
246:, who wanted
245:
244:HarperCollins
241:
237:
230:
225:
223:
221:
217:
213:
211:
206:
205:HarperCollins
202:
198:
194:
190:
186:
182:
178:
177:
172:
169:is the first
168:
167:
158:
156:
152:
148:
145:
142:
140:
136:
132:
128:
124:
120:
117:United States
114:
110:
106:
100:
97:
96:HarperCollins
94:
90:
87:
86:Fantasy novel
84:
80:
77:
76:
72:
68:
64:
60:
57:
54:
50:
47:
44:
40:
36:
33:The cover of
30:
25:
19:
936:
923:
916:
909:
854:
848:
847:
839:
822:
779:
775:
766:
754:. Retrieved
742:
733:
716:
712:
706:
689:
683:
655:
649:
623:
617:
589:
583:
556:. Retrieved
541:
535:
523:. Retrieved
513:
501:. Retrieved
491:
479:. Retrieved
469:
457:. Retrieved
446:
434:. Retrieved
430:the original
425:
416:
404:. Retrieved
400:the original
395:
386:
370:
356:
352:
351:
344:
337:
333:
330:
312:
302:
298:
296:
287:
283:
279:
269:
265:
264:
251:
239:
235:
234:
219:
209:
200:
174:
165:
164:
163:
153:
73:
34:
18:
943:WikiProject
877:Erin Hunter
832:Main series
692:(12): 126.
195:and editor
181:Erin Hunter
107:27 May 2008
46:Erin Hunter
957:Categories
925:Bravelands
719:(23): 18.
592:(18): 60.
436:1 November
379:References
231:Conception
216:feral cats
918:Survivors
882:Kate Cary
751:0362-4331
725:0000-0019
698:0362-8930
664:0042-6598
632:0362-8930
598:0006-7385
558:27 August
525:27 August
503:27 August
481:27 August
406:16 August
327:Reception
189:Kate Cary
92:Publisher
911:Warriors
585:Booklist
367:Al Roker
334:Warriors
304:Booklist
299:Warriors
253:Warriors
238:and the
220:Warriors
210:Warriors
62:Language
870:Authors
823:Seekers
756:6 April
309:fantasy
240:Seekers
201:Seekers
176:Seekers
173:in the
75:Seekers
65:English
825:series
749:
723:
696:
662:
630:
596:
549:
336:fans.
214:about
212:series
191:, and
157:
70:Series
42:Author
459:2 May
171:novel
130:Pages
82:Genre
758:2019
747:ISSN
721:ISSN
694:ISSN
660:ISSN
628:ISSN
594:ISSN
560:2010
547:ISBN
527:2010
505:2010
483:2010
461:2010
438:2007
408:2008
361:and
276:Plot
139:ISBN
717:255
624:255
590:104
133:293
959::
774:"
745:.
741:.
715:.
690:54
688:.
672:^
656:76
654:.
640:^
622:.
606:^
588:.
568:^
424:.
394:.
222:.
187:,
811:e
804:t
797:v
760:.
727:.
700:.
666:.
634:.
600:.
562:.
529:.
507:.
485:.
463:.
440:.
410:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
