Touching Spirit Bear | 
|  | | | Title: | Touching Spirit Bear | | Author: | Ben Mikaelsen | | Publisher: | HarperTrophy | | Type: | Book / Paperback | | Publication Date: | April, 2002 | | ISBN / ISBN-13: | 038080560X / 9780380805600 | | List Price: | $5.99 | | Amazon Price: | $5.99 | |
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| Editorial Review / Publisher's Information:
Product Description
Within Cole Matthews lie anger, rage and hate. Cole has been stealing and fighting for years. This time he caught Alex Driscal in the, parking lot and smashed his head against the sidewalk. Now, Alex may have permanent brain damage'and Cole is in the Biggest trouble of his life. Cole is offered Circle Justice: a system based on Native American traditions that attempts to provide healing for the criminal offender, the victim and the, community. With prison as his only alternative, Cole plays along. He says he wants to repent, but in his heart Cole blames his alcoholic mom his, abusive dad, wimpy Alex -- everyone but himself -- for his situation. Cole receives a one-year banishment to a remote Alaskan island. There, he is mauled by Mysterious white bear of Native American legend. Hideously injured, Cole waits for his death His thoughts shift from from Anger to humility. To survive, he must stop blaming others and take responsibility for his life. Rescuers arrive to save Cole's but it is the attack of the Spirit Bear that may save his soul. Ben Mikaelsen paints a vivid picture of a juvenile offender, examining the roots without absolving solving him of responsibility for his actions, and questioning a society in which angry people make victims of their peers and communities. Touching Spirit Bear is a poignant testimonial to the power of a pain that can destroy, or lead to healing
Amazon.com
Cole Matthews is angry. Angry, defiant, smug--in short, a bully. His anger has taken him too far this time, though. After beating up a ninth-grade classmate to the point of brain damage, Cole is facing a prison sentence. But then a Tlingit Indian parole officer named Garvey enters his life, offering an alternative called Circle Justice, based on Native American traditions, in which victim, offender, and community all work together to find a healing solution. Privately, Cole sneers at the concept, but he's no fool--if it gets him out of prison, he'll do anything. Ultimately, Cole ends up banished for one year to a remote Alaskan island, where his arrogance sets him directly in the path of a mysterious, legendary white bear. Mauled almost to death, Cole awaits his fate and begins the transition from anger to humility. Ben Mikaelsen's depiction of a juvenile delinquent's metamorphosis into a caring, thinking individual is exciting and fascinating, if at times heavy-handed. Cole's nastiness and the vivid depictions of the lengths he must go to survive after the (equally vivid) attack by the bear are excruciating at times, but the concept of finding a way to heal a whole community when one individual wrongs another is compelling. The jacket cover photo of the author in a bear hug with the 700-pound black bear that he and his wife adopted and raised is definitely worth seeing! (Ages 12 and older) --Emilie Coulter
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Customer Reviews:
• Accepting Responsibility For One's Actions 01 August, 2008
This is an excellent story about Cole, an angry abused boy, who was mad at the world and his personal journey of dealing with his anger and becoming a better person through Circle Justice or Restoration Justice. He beat up Peter to the point of causing him permanent harm and never took any responsibility for his actions until he faced death and began questioning his life. This is a story about helping others and how the Circle Justice system works which Native Americans practiced for years.
The idea is to restore the criminal to become a good citizen and not just punish them. Instead of jail or a detention center, Cole was banished to live for a year on an island in Alaska alone. At the end of the year, the Circle Justice group, made up of all those involved, would meet again and determine if he should go to jail or not. Cole had a traumatic experience while on the island and after just three days was hospitalized after being mauled by a spirit bear. After his rehabilitation he went back. Peter tried committing suicide twice and Cole learned much while on the island, including how many mistakes he made and wanted to make things right if he could.
I really liked this book a lot and had trouble putting it down. I was anxious to see what would happen next. There is no boring part in it. There are many themes running through this book such as abuse, justice, survival, anger, forgiveness, healing.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A2T4FQM00GJ41N
• Excellent Book And Lessons For All Ages 20 July, 2008
My little one had to do a book report on Touching Spirit Bear so we read it together and shared the ideas. What an excellent story, written in language that a 12 year old can understand and with an deep message of self responsibility and healing of the spirit.
I highly recommend this book!
- Reviewed by customer ID: A2HRYHRRO1U07K
• Troubled Teenager 25 June, 2008
What a moving incredible story. I went out and 4 more copies immediately to give to friends either working in child detention or who have problem teenagers. A must listen for anyone who cares about the troubled teens of today.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A3KOO6L0NA2PJA
• Touching Transformation 14 May, 2008
After violently attacking a classmate, fifteen-year-old Cole Matthews must choose between going to jail and participating in an alternative punishment based on the Native American Circle Justice. Cole chooses Circle Justice and is banished for a year on an Alaskan island. Alone on the island, Cole is mauled by a mysterious Spirit Bear who changes his life. With the guidance of his parole officer and a Native American man, Cole learns to control his anger, forgive others, and take responsibility for his actions.
Touching Spirit Bear is an excellent book for young adults. It may be especially relevant for children who may be able to relate to the violence in the main character's life. Throughout the novel, the main character undergoes a remarkable transformation and creates a new identity throughout the healing process of Circle Justice.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A1ITU7RCPWORGW
• Good Quick Read 08 August, 2008
This book is about an angry kid with an alcoholic father named Cole who is abused and beats up a kid named Peter. Cole has to live on an Alaskan island by himself as part of Circle Justice. He changes with some wise help along with this experience on the island. I got into this book from the beginning! It's a page turner with a somewhat predictable ending, but a good read!
- Reviewed by customer ID: A39DUZ17XTB5RL
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