Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear

Based on a true story, this stunning graphic novel follows Chang as she fights to protect her local forests and wildlife, and rewild a young sun bear, Sorya, who was captured by poachers as a cub.

A young wildlife conservationist in Vietnam, Chang has been passionate about helping bears since she found out about poachers and bear farms as a teen. Determined to do something about it, as soon as she’s old enough she starts volunteering at the local Wildlife Rescue Centre, where she meets Sorya, who’s just been rescued from captivity. It becomes Chang’s job to look after Sorya and prepare her for release back into the wild – something that sounds much easier than it is.

Incredible, detailed illustrations from Jeet Zdung bring Chang and Sorya’s world to life, including true-to-life depictions of native plants and animals, while a mix of storytelling techniques makes the book fresh, engaging and accessible, from traditional graphic novel panels to wordless pages. Woven through Sorya and Chang’s journey is fascinating information on bears and the variety of conservation challenges in Vietnam.

A beautiful, moving and uplifting tale of perseverance and overcoming challenge, and how small steps can make a big difference.