"The Gobi bear, a critically endangered species, lives only in Mongolia's Gobi Desert. Since 1987, when scientists determined that probably fewer than 40 of the bears remained, the government has instituted a hunting ban, set aside large protected areas for them, and educated the Mongolian public, including children, about these rarely seen bears, but their population has not rebounded as hoped. Global warming and 'ninja miners', illegally searching the region for gold, add to conservationists' concerns. Markle describes the bears (related to grizzlies, but smaller) and the Gobi Bear Project, which studies them, works to ensure their survival, and raises awareness of their plight. As in her previous books on the efforts to rescue other endangered species, from golden lion tamarins to African penguins to whale sharks, she gathers a good deal of relevant information, organizes it logically, and presents it clearly with a young, engaged audience in mind." (Booklist)

"A highly endangered strain of grizzly bears, protected and supported by the Mongolian government in their Gobi Desert home, may slowly be coming back. Markle clearly and efficiently introduces a bear unfamiliar to most North American readers, its equally unfamiliar environment, and an international effort to save a species. Her long experience in writing about science for young readers shows in the careful crafting and pacing of her exposition. She frames her narrative with an individual bear's difficult choice: between feared humans and essential water. Not a story of salvation but a work in progress, ably explained." (Kirkus Reviews, starred)