"Intriguingly wise and emotionally nuanced, Unbearable by Amy Winfield is the surreal story of a lost young camper befriending a curmudgeonly bear - one who can somehow talk, drive, cook, and even debate semantics. Whether the bear is educating Brandon about the danger of stereotypes, saving his life with plant medicine, or begrudgingly becoming his loyal companion, Smokey retains a clever sass that is both sarcastic and smart. Underlaid with lessons about personal responsibility, unfair prejudices, anger issues, self-reliance, bullying, and compassion, this witty and well-conceived short novel is heartfelt, original, and wholly entertaining." Self-Publishing Review, ★★★★½

"Unbearable by Amy Winfield, with illustrations by Thiago Neumann, is a story about the unlikely friendship between a boy and a bear, filled with intelligent messaging for young readers about navigating modern life. One morning, Brandon wakes up and finds that his parents sleeping bags are empty - as he looks for them around their camping site, he meets Smokey, an imposing bear who turns out to be more wise than ferocious. With a concentration on the importance of acceptance and community, as well as unexpected plot twists that keep one turning the pages, Winfield's narrative is alternately serious and humorous, and ultimately inspiring, as Smokey is such an engaging and perceptive guide." The Independent Review of Books, ★★★★