Touching Spirit Bear Character Analysis

There are several parallels between the two books.  One such parallel is that in both books Peter and Cole experience some form of hardship.  On example is that in Touching Spirit Bear on pages 246 and 247, it says, “When Cole refused to fight back, Peter grew bolder. Again and again he struck Cole with his bare fists. Cole raised his arms to try to ward off the blows, but he didn’t fight back, nor did he run. This only made

In the book Touching Spirit Bear, by Ben Mikaelsen, the theme is healing. The main character Cole was sent away to an Island for a year to change his behavior and life ways. But a few weeks into the task assigned by the Circle of Justice he fails. As Cole returns home he is sad that he would end up going to jail but he believed it was okay if he ended up going. But while on the island he learned how to control his anger, learned life lessons, and most of all he had a new perspective on life. Fortunately for Cole, he had learned how to control his anger but also he learned many important life lessons.“People change two ways- with slow persistent pressure, or with one single traumatic experience. That’s why some people change so much when they

The first similarity is that both of the novels are written by Negro slave. They described the cruel experience in southern plantation and escape from the southern slavery to northern freedom.

Some similarities are, one, the characters are the same. Winnie foster,in the movie and the book still kept her same name, her feelings about wanting to leave. In the book on page 13 it says , “Winnie Foster sat on the bristly grass just outside the fence” showing that her name is the same. Another similarity is, Mae Tuck hits the man in the yellow over the head with the rifle. In the movie it shows Mae Tuck hitting the man in the yellow suit

The two stories were alike in the fact that both authors lost their parents at a very young age. Since they lost their parents at a young age, they were both raised by their grandparents. Both stories also begin with a safe arrival to a new country. Both also said the journey to the new country was a two month long trip. And lastly, the the refugees and the pilgrims traveled to a completely different continents and had to adapt to new cultures. These are all the similarities between the two stories.

“Forgiving isn’t forgetting.” This quote means if you forgive someone you don’t forget what they did to you. In Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen, Cole is a character who learns to forgive himself and others. Cole also learns to forgive the Spirit Bear. The thematic statement is to forgive someone you have to forgive yourself.

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?

Cole Matthews is not an uncommon young man that one would find in today’s society. Cole has not had a life I would call “easy” or “fair.” He had parents that as Cole stated, “all my parents do is drink.” (p27) His father beat him profusely. This is evidenced in the Circle Justice meetings when Cole said, “Or you’ll what?” “Beat me?” …..” “You’re still lying!” he shouted. “You’re usually too drunk to know your own name!” Cole knew these words guaranteed him a terrible beating next time he was alone…(p47-48) Cole didn’t feel he had any other emotions other than anger and fear. Many of us have had the same feelings as Cole, “He didn’t trust anyone who wasn’t afraid of him.” (p4) This is an

Have you ever thought about how everything that goes around comes around ending up like a circle? Circles are always connected and so is everything around us. In the novel Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikealson, Cole is sent to an isolated island to reflect on his actions. At the island, he gets mauled by the spirit bear and almost dies. This lets him think about what he has done and allows him to change. The motif of circles that Cole encounters, changes him and influences him for the better.

One instance is that in Touching Spirit Bear they are alone on the island and only have their own problems to deal with, but in The Ghost of Spirit Bear they must help those in need at school and in their personal lives. For instance, on Touching Spirit Bear, the boys must somehow get over their fighting so that they can heal together. However in The Ghost of Spirit Bear the boys must help the school heal and get over their drug addictions and their personal hatred for each other. Another example of a contrast is that in Touching Spirit Bear Cole and Peter are unrestricted to an extent with each other. In Touching Spirit Bear they are able to talk whenever they want on the island, but in The Ghost of Spirit Bear Peter’s parents do not want the two to

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.

The similarities of the book are very simple and easy to point out. In both works, they cover the same events in

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

The one category where the two books are alike is the theme. One very fitting theme is friendship. “‘What we do is we sneak off into town. Want to come?’” (page 90). Martin’s friends invited him to