Great Bear Lake is the second novel in the Seekers series written by Erin Hunter, which is a pseudonym used by authors Cherith Baldry, Kate Cary, Tui Sutherland and editor Victoria Holmes.

Critical reception was positive with reviewers praising the realistic behavior of the bears and the honest approach to various themes.

[8] KidsReads states that the theme of racism is honestly dealt throughout the book along with the fact that a strong message about the environment is sent.

[9] A reviewer from Voice of Youth Advocates finds that themes like adolescent rebellion, habitat destruction and global climate change are found in the book.

[11] Booklist comments that the story is told with a balance between anthropomorphic characterization, realistic behavior and the brutalities of life in the wild.

He states that Hunter takes on the theme of racism through a "honest approach" - three bears of different color and background meeting together.

[9] The Horn Book Magazine states in a review for Great Bear Lake and Smoke Mountain that the latter may leave readers wondering where the series is heading to while noting that fans will enjoy the mix of fantasy adventure and realistic animal behavior in both books.

The reviewer notes that the bears are "appealingly bearlike" despite being anthropomorphized and having human issues like conflicts with friends and adolescence.