Book Detail

Touching Spirit Bear

Publication Information
Author:  Mikaelsen, Ben Illustrator:  
Title:  Touching Spirit Bear Date:  2001
Publisher:  HarperCollins City:  New York
ISBN, paperback:  0-380-97744-3 ISBN, hardback:  

Recommended audience:
ABE/ABLE:   Yes ESOL:  
Family:   Yes Young Adult:   Yes
Picture:  

General Information:
Book Type(s):    fiction

HSE Descriptor(s):   

Summary:
Cole, a juvenile "delinquent," is offered jail or "circle justice," a system based on Native American traditions that attempts to provide healing for the criminal, his victim, and the community. Cole's time at a remote Alaskan island and his interactions with a "spirit bear," his probation officer and a Native American guide offer him another way of living his life.

Teaching Ideas:
This is a wonderfully powerful look at anger, its sources, and ways of healing. Learners may want to compare "circle justice" with 12-step programs. They may also want to consider an episode from the news (or perhaps their own lives) that might have been solved using circle justice. Journal entries every chapter or 2 might trace Cole's attitudes about himself, others, and his actions. After they have read the book learners may want to compare Cole's way of thinking at the end with his way of thinking at the beginning, while also speculating on reasons for change. Learners will also want to speculate about the bear-- is it a mirage or real? The ending of the story is sure to provoke discussion as well. From Yahooligans.com, teachers may want to search on "Alaska" or "Tlingit" for supplementary information about the setting and the Native Americans with whom Cole interacted. Students may want to keep track of especially memorable passages and share them occasionally, perhaps focusing on qualities of powerful writing.

Keywords: select any link below for a list of resources which also have that keyword
bullet Ethnic Groups > Native American
bullet Emotions-Personal Issues > emotions > anger
bullet Emotions-Personal Issues > personal issues > individual > coming-of-age
bullet Emotions-Personal Issues > personal issues > individual > life choices > righting wrongs
bullet Emotions-Personal Issues > personal issues > individual > life choices > second chances
bullet Emotions-Personal Issues > personal issues > individual > solitude
bullet Family > family violence
bullet Hardships > survival
bullet Science > wilderness


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