“Bear Town” is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that examines the dark side of sports culture and the ways in which it can enable toxic behaviors. It also offers a message of hope and resilience, as the characters work to overcome the challenges they face and find a way forward.”Bear Town” is a novel written by Fredrik Backman, set in a small hockey-obsessed town in Sweden. The novel explores the aftermath of a violent act committed by a star hockey player on a young girl.