The novel tells the story from polar bears' perspectives.

In 11,000 words, Tawada narrates the story of three generations of a polar bear's family that has been moved from the North Pole to western Germany.

The creatures' experiences reflect human happenings.

Tawada insists on writing in German, and her works reflect her experiences of wandering between Oriental and Western cultures.

"I just want you to see the world from a different angle - from the perspective of the bear," Tawada says.