Cole Matthews should be in jail for beating Peter Driscal so severely that Peter has slight brain damage. Yet the Circle Justice, based on the Native American traditions to bring healing for the perpetrator, the victim, and the community, has given him an opportunity to change by banishing him to a remote Alaskan island. On this island he is let go of his anger, take responsibility for his actions and realize that once something is done, there are eternal consequences. But Cole is a con and deceives the Circle Justice. He does not want to change and plans his escape from the island.
Then he encounters Spirit Bear (a huge white bear only known to exist off the coast of British Columbia). The Spirit Bear is not afraid of him. How dare the bear not be afraid of Cole Matthews! Cole, of course, with his anger and rage, attacks the bear. The bear leaves him for dead. As he wallows in mud and endures a raging thunderstorm, the storm within his soul rages and slowly dissipates as he faces his anger, loneliness and death.
A very compelling book. Action packed. Although Mr. Mikaelsen exposes a Cole's feelings and shares his transformation over a span of a year, he knows how to keep the story moving and makes each word count. Reluctant older readers will be drawn into the book.
*Highly recommend for teenage readers (although the reading level is fifth grade, the subject manner is not appropriate for this age group.).
Grade Level Equivalent: 5.4
Guided Reading Level: Y (6th grade and older)
Warnings: Very violent and descriptive at times (Cole beating up Peter; the bear mauling; Peter attacking Cole at the end of the book), Cole's angry thoughts are shocking. Cole's parents are alcoholics. Cole's father abused him physically. Word "d" is used a couple of times.
This book was highly recommended in Dr. Steven Layne's book In Defense of Read-Aloud Sustaining Best Practices.
Strategies: asking questions, synthesizing, analyzing characters
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