Touching Spirit Bear Essay

In order for Cole to heal, he needs to go back to the island and be given a second chance of redemption. “The power to choose was the real power, not the fake power of making others afraid.” Cole made his decision, “He wanted to live.” Cole wanted to live and make new choices to make up for his bad choices. He didn’t want to die because he couldn’t make any choices.

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 sent 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 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

Towards the end of the book when Cole does his anger dance, he says the words “I forgive you” for the first time in his life. “At that moment, words he had never been able to speak before welled up inside him. ‘I forgive you’, he cried loudly. ‘I forgive you’” (194). The thematic statement says to forgive someone you have to forgive yourself. In this passage Cole forgives himself for the first time in his life.

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

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.

In the book, Cole has started to show signs of his changing, why stop it? In the text, it states, “Are you okay?” In this quote, Cole has witness a nest of baby sparrows fall from a tree struck by lightning, earlier he was irritated and he wanted to smack that nest off the tree. All his life, he has shown hate, anger, disrespect, disobedience, brutality, extreme hubris, and violence, because of his environment with his abusive father, and has been like this ever since. However, this quote changes everything, because of one thing. He shows a redeeming quality that he has never experienced before, or has ever shown. He shows compassion. It’s only right that we send him right back, he could learn so

Cole Matthews is the main character of Spirit Bear. He is a 15 year old boy, I know he is because he was held back in school for one year and he is a freshman. Cole gets into a lot of trouble, so much that he has been in trouble with the law nonstop since he was just 9 years old. I read this on page 5 it says “been in trouble with the law half his life”. In his past he had a lot of trouble with his parents, his father beats him when he gets drunk, and his mom ignores whats happening. It says on page 47 & 48 that “Cole's father jumped to his feet. “I don't beat you, and you know that.” his face flushed red.”I’ve given you swats when you deserved them.” also on page 28 it says “”he drink’s until he turns into a monster. Mom just gets drunk and pretends nothing had happened. It's like a bad dream I can't wake up from ”.

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 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 the Touching Spirit Bear Cole went through many tough times because of his relationships with others but along the way he finds positive relationships causing him to overcome adversity. In Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen Cole Matthew is a kid who is disrespectful and aggressive and it is due to the tough family he comes from which causes him to be evil and aggressive. Cole beats up a kid named Peter causing him to get in trouble and go to the island. After being at the island he learns lessons and overcomes adversity through it all. People change through relationships with others and in this book Cole changes over the relationships he has with spirit bear, his parents, and Peter.

Cole Matthews is the main character of the book Touching Spirit Bear. Cole is a fifteen-year-old juvenile delinquent from Minneapolis. On page 5 it states, “He was an innocent-looking baby-faced fifteen year old from Minneapolis who had been in trouble with the law half his life. ” It doesn't describe Cole’s looks except for that he is wearing blue jeans, a wool shirt & a rain jacket. By Cole’s actions and abilities we can conclude he is a strong, healthy, and intimidating 15 yr old.

The theme of love and friendship in Touching Spirit Bear is a unique connection that Cole learns from people that he meets on the island. After the Spirit Bear and Cole have their differences the Spirit Bear gives Cole a piece of white hair off its back, Cole is shocked by the peacefulness and learns that everything may not be as harmful as you think. After Rosey took care of Cole from his injuries from the Spirit Bear, Edwin pleas to the Circle Justice to give Cole a second chance, they accepted the request. This shows Cole what friendship is because Edwin had been in his shoes before doing what Cole is doing. As Edwin teaches Cole how to build his own shelter and rituals Cole understands the amount of love Edwin has for him by caring to