Touching Spirit Bear Analysis

Although Ghost of Spirit Bear is the sequel to Touching Spirit Bear, they have many differences. In Ghost of Spirit Bear, the theme will mostly relate to teens because in the book there is a lot of bullying, gangs, and suicide. For example, Cole thought, “Groups of kids hung around outside the school, shoving and slapping at one another and shouting names”(Mikaelsen, Ghost 10). But the theme in Touching Spirit Bear can actually relate to anyone who has made mistakes in their past. And the characters in the first book act much different than in the sequel. For example, Cole was an angry juvenile student in Touching Spirit Bear but he has learned to

In the book “Touching Spirit Bear” by Ben Mikaelsen, the main character Cole shows that it is never too late to change. Cole went from violent and careless to peaceful and sorry. Even after beating Peter Driscal’s head against the sidewalk.

In “Touching Spirit Bear” by Ben Mikaelsen, Cole Matthews is a teenage delinquent who's in big trouble for beating up a kid named Peter Driscal. He's unrepentant and even though he is facing serious jail time, his kindly parole officer, a man named Garvey, gets him into this Native American justice program called Circle Justice. The idea is that his sentencing will be focused on healing rather than punishment—and the Circle Justice elders tell him that he'll be going to a remote island in Alaska for a year in order to live off the land and think about his mistakes. The lesson i learned is that, it can be hard, but it’s possible to change. My first reason is, if you don’t try, change is almost impossible.

In Ben Mikealsen’s novel – Touching Spirit Bear, Cole is a 14 year old juvenile delinquent from Minneapolis. He is a very angry, furious, fierce and violent boy who does not seem to have any control over his anger. Although he might be a very angry and impatient, he is also honest, strong, reflective and hardworking person by the end of the book. What is the cause of Cole’s anger? What helped Cole changed into a better person? What role does the Spirit Bear play?

I had the same feelings when I read the back of the book. I truly enjoyed the novel. The description and detail of the bear mauling was intense. This story shows that children are a product of their environment. Cole's parents were alcoholics and his mother wouldn't / couldn't defend him against the constant beatings from his father. I felt so sorry for Cole but at the same time got so angry with his behavior. I believe everyone can change regardless of what environment they were brought up in and Cole proved that in the story. It is weird how the circle of

I’ve never committed a crime, but author Ben Mikaelsen made me feel as if I was right there in the library waiting for my final judgement for beating a poor little kid. The book “Touching Spirit Bear” and its sequel “The Ghost of Spirit Bear” are both books written by novelist Ben Mikaelsen about two boys and their intertwined life. The first book takes place when teen delinquent Cole Matthews beats up a boy at school named Peter for telling on him. Peter’s injury leads to a permanent speech impediment and because of this Cole goes to jail. When Cole’s probation officer, Garvey, tells about a tribal version of punishment called Circle Justice, which is where the two people involved in the crime must heal together, and move forward from their quarrel, Cole jumps at the idea to get out of jail. When this doesn’t work they decide to send Cole to an Alaskan island, which Peter is eventually condemned to. Eventually they become friends and they get past their problems. It is the next book where they face challenges of going back to school and fitting in.

In Touching Spirit Bear, by Ben Mikaelsen, Cole Matthews, the protagonist, is a troublemaker. He always has been. But, when he smashes Peter Driscal’s head into the concrete sidewalk, he ends up having to make a decision; prison time, or a year on a remote Alaskan island. But, that’s not the only crime he has done. This leads to me seeing him as a sociopath. Sociopaths tend to lie, break laws, act impulsively, and lack regard to the safety of themselves and others, all of which, he does.

Cole Matthews asks readers, “’Do you know what it's like waking up every morning knowing you're not good enough?’” and many young adults do. Young adults will relate to the characters in Touching Spirit Bear. “Touching Spirit Bear” is a young adult novel written by Ben Mikaelsen. It is about a teenager named Cole who, instead of going to prison for beating someone up, does a program called ‘Circle Justice’ where he is sent to a remote Alaskan island to heal. When he gets to the island he tries to escape, and attacks a bear, which almost kills him. After recovering in the hospital, he goes back to the island and tries again, this time with a willingness to change. While he’s there, he learns about himself, nature, and gains a new appreciation for life and for himself. He learns to be a better person, and forgive himself, and he realizes to fully heal he needs to help Peter, the person he beat up, heal too. Peter and Cole heal together, and eventually become friends. Touching Spirit Bear is a compelling piece of young adult fiction that will do well on the shelves, and should be published. It will do well because it is relatable, it is well written, and it fulfils a need in the genre for realistic fiction in young adult literature.

In conclusion, “Touching Spirit Bear” was not one of my favorite books, but I think you should read

In Ghost Of Spirit Bear, the conflict is Cole vs. Society. “‘ A two thirds majority vote is needed for the passage of this proposal,’ the chairman announced. ‘Tonight’s vote is seven in favor and two opposed’” (Mikaelson 146). Cole is needing to change the mind of the society which is the school, the circle, and the school district to allow the mascot to change to the spirit bear. Second, in Touching Spirit Bear, the conflict is Cole vs. Himself. “Rage controlled his tight grip on the match. It controlled the defiant flare of his nostrils and the striking of the match against the box. . . . The gas ignited, and flames spread quickly into a steady blaze that crept over the boxes” (Mikaelson 25). In the beginning of Touching Spirit Bear, Cole lets his rage get to him, he didn’t know how to control himself. “In death there was no control, no anger, no one to blame, no choices, no nothing. To be alive was to have choice, the power to choose was real power, not the fake power of making others afraid. Cole knew he had used that fake power many times. All of his life he had squandered his choices, wallowing in revenge and self-pity, keeping himself down. Now, as he lay near death, those he had hated were safe and warm. Those he had blamed were still alive and well. He had hurt himself most. Life was empty and meaningless unless he found some meaning” (Mikaelson 83-84). Cole is realizing that when he thought he was hurting someone

In life, people have made mistakes, but it doesn’t matter how far down the wrong road you go, you can always turn back. In the book, “Touching Spirit Bear”, by Ben Mikaelsen, Cole has always made bad choices, but goes to Circle Justice for it. He learns his way there because he realized that he can control his emotions. Also, when he soaks in the pond and throws the ancestor rock, he feels his mistakes and anger forgiving him because his feelings are no longer taking control of Cole. Finally, Cole can forgive and help his victim (Peter) heal after he learned his way at Circle Justice.

In chapter 13 of Touching Spirit Bear, the character Cole begins a new transformation that will change his life. According to the text it states, “‘I didn’t think anybody cared about me anymore,” Cole said….” Cole now believes this because he realizes Gravey and Edwin care about because they took him to the hospital when they found him ripped up with broken bones. His parents don’t even about him. This is going to help by trusting people and not get mad all the time. Cole’s dad beat him and his mom ran when this went on. The author states, “He (Cole) spoke softly, ‘I don’t need to prove anything. I’m telling the truth.’” This means that Cole now learns that telling the truth is the right thing to do and he does not need to prove himself. This

Spirit bears or Kermode bears and are found off the coast of the British Columbia in a rain forest.The kermode bear is not a Polar bear or a albino.The Kermode bear is a rare white black bear. the bear was named after Francis kermode.

There are many themes being shown throughout Touching Spirit Bear, but one that stood out the most is change. I learned about change mainly through Circle Justice. Circle justice is different than a regular court system because it gives opportunities to help someone heal and become a better person. It helps both the victim and the person who caused harm by trying to help the two. Circle Justice teaches to forgive, and to become better, rather than just giving out a punishment. Out of the many examples of change, one which had a major effect on everyone was when Cole was given the chance to be sent to the island. This had a lot to do with the change in Cole’s personality. After Cole was mauled by the bear, he realized that he wasn't as powerful

The realistic fiction novel Touching Spirit Bear, by Ben Mikaelsen, the passage indicates that anger can never be forgotten. On Cole’s second trip to the island, after his mauling by the Spirit Bear, Cole still struggles with his anger. Edwin takes him to a freezing spring and teaches him, using two sides of a stick as an symbol, that you can never get rid of your anger, but you can focus on happier times. After Cole leaves the water and soaks in Edwin’s meaning, he concludes that Edwin’s message “makes more sense than all the weird things the counselors and psychologist have told me” (Mikaelsen 146). Cole will never stop being resentful of his life, how his parents neglect and abuse him, how everyone seemingly wants to just get rid of him.