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Touching Spirit Bear / Ben Mikaelsen.

By: Material type: TextTextPublisher: New York, NY : HarperCollins Publishers, [2001]Edition: First editionDescription: 241 pages ; 22 cmContent type:
  • text
Media type:
  • unmediated
Carrier type:
  • volume
ISBN:
  • 0380977443
  • 9780380977444
  • 0060291494
  • 9780060291495
  • 0060734000
  • 9780060734008
  • 0439401844
  • 9780439401845
  • 9780380805600
  • 038080560X
Subject(s): Genre/Form: Awards:
  • Napra Nautilus Award.
Summary: After his anger erupts into violence, Cole, in order to avoid going to prison, agrees to participate in a sentencing alternative based on the native American Circle Justice, and he is sent to a remote Alaskan Island where an encounter with a huge Spirit Bear changes his life.
Fiction notes: Click to open in new window
Holdings
Item type Home library Collection Call number Materials specified Vol info Status Notes Date due Barcode Item holds
Children's Book Children's Book Main Library Parent/Teacher Resource Collection-Children's Mikaelse Ben 2002 Checked out Flicker Tale Award Winner 05/11/2024 33111009708575
Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

In his Nautilus Award-winning classic Touching Spirit Bear, author Ben Mikaelson delivers a powerful coming-of-age story of a boy who must overcome the effects that violence has had on his life.

After severely injuring Peter Driscal in an empty parking lot, mischief-maker Cole Matthews is in major trouble. But instead of jail time, Cole is given another option: attend Circle Justice, an alternative program that sends juvenile offenders to a remote Alaskan Island to focus on changing their ways. Desperate to avoid prison, Cole fakes humility and agrees to go.

While there, Cole is mauled by a mysterious white bear and left for dead. Thoughts of his abusive parents, helpless Peter, and his own anger cause him to examine his actions and seek redemption--from the spirit bear that attacked him, from his victims, and, most importantly, from himself.

Ben Mikaelsen paints a vivid picture of a juvenile offender, examining the roots of his anger without absolving him of responsibility for his actions, and questioning a society in which angry people make victims of their peers and communities. Touching Spirit Bear is a poignant testimonial to the power of a pain that can destroy, or lead to healing.

A strong choice for independent reading, sharing in the classroom, homeschooling, and book groups.

After his anger erupts into violence, Cole, in order to avoid going to prison, agrees to participate in a sentencing alternative based on the native American Circle Justice, and he is sent to a remote Alaskan Island where an encounter with a huge Spirit Bear changes his life.

Napra Nautilus Award.

Accelerated Reader MG 5.3 9.

Reading Counts! 5.4.

Ages 10+.

730 Lexile.

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