Ciprian is used to his family never staying in one place for long. He helps his father in "fights" with a bear, but after his last appearance, he gets into serious trouble. His family is being hunted by the police and local residents, so due to a combination of circumstances, they are forced to accept the offer of two strangers and take refuge in Paris. However, the promises of a better life turn out to be false and the family is forced to work in the criminal underworld, run by the local mafia, in order to survive. One day, Ciprian sees chess players in the park. The game completely captivates him, especially because he is able to play it in his head, even though he knows nothing about chess. This is the beginning of a completely different life...
The Bear's Son is a novel about a family that bravely faces life's toughest trials. The story of a talented boy from the margins of society, for whom chess and school open the door to a completely new world, is full of clues for conversations about social inequality, crime and human trafficking, and above all, the book is also an excellent guide for reflecting on the importance of education and knowledge, which are often the only hope for an empowered life. But of course, it is also a story about the love of chess, about a passion for an activity that, with its invisible power, encourages a person to persevere and persevere until – as in Ciprian's case – the clouds disperse. In 2017, the novel received the prestigious French Prix Sorcières award in the category of young adult books. (summarized from the general p. of Založbe Miš)