Contents epigraph part one touching spirit bear chapter 1. This summer i read touching spirit bear by ben mikaelsen, and while the lexile level is only 670, the themes in the book are complex and are ones that many middle school students will be able to relate to in some way, shape, or form. Instead of being about a fictional book, its true story about the power one student can have in saving a species of bear. Ben moved to the united states of america in when he was in seventh grade. The plot was amazing and the events were very interesting. He wrote books of touching spirit bear, ghost of spirit bear, tree girl, petey and more.
Its not great, but its something your father isnt a bad person, but when he was younger he had parents who beat him for everything he did. Each night cole tried without luck to find the feelings to dance the dance of anger. He taught me to be gentle and that i, too, am part of the circle. A bear within all of us, we all get angry sometimes, the bear comes out, it hurts so many people. Rescue josh mcguire 1991 stranded 1995 countdown 1996 petey 1998 touching spirit bear 2001 red midnight 2002 tree girl 2004 ghost of spirit bear 2008 jungle of bones 2014.
Newbery awardwinner gary paulsens bestknown book comes to audio in this breathless, heartgripping drama about a boy pitted. It centers around the characters, cole mathews, coles mother. When i saw this moving, i thought it had to do with the book. At the beginning of the novel, cole matthews, a fifteenyearold juvenile delinquent from minneapolis, minnesota, arrives on a barren island near the city of drake in southeastern alaska in handcuffs. The author of toucing spirit bear is ben mikaelsen. Took the report peter wrote for school and put his name on it 2.
This book is dedicated to buffy, a sevenhundredpound black bear who has become my own spirit bear. Touching spirit bear was written by ben mikaelsen in 2001. Touching spirit bear a poem by punkgirl12893 all poetry. Ben mikaelsons book touching spirit bear was truly magnificent. We were supposed to write a short story based on a quote from the book touching spirit bear i highly suggest you read it so here is mine. So while it should be a novel that most readers can get through, the thematic issueslike child abuse, violence, and mortalitymight not be appropriate for young or sensitive readers. This mentions the quote we are more together which is like the wolf pack.
This book was recommended as we are going to canada soon to see spirit bears hopefully. Short stories that i probably wrote to get rid of writers. After i read this book i really just wanted to read more. At fifteen, cole matthews has been fighting and stealing for years. Garvey instructs cole to taste every ingredient he had brought. Immediately download the touching spirit bear summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for studying or teaching touching spirit bear. Coles parole officer offers him an alternativecircle. As the novel begins, we are first introduced to cole matthews, a juvenile delinquent, who is on the way to an alaskan village to be subjected to circle justicea term we only later come to understand. I wish he was still alive so i can read the 3rd book of the spirit bear series. Hes unrepentant and even though he is facing serious jail time, his kindly parole officer, a man named garvey, gets him into this native american justice program called circle justice.
Copy of the watsons go to birmingham1963 character chart. Touching spirit bear, harpercollins books for children, 2001 while fulfilling a oneyear punishment on a remote alaskan island, cole deals with his anger issues and encounters a powerful spirit. During his stay in the detention center he was asked to apply for circle justice. Response from ben mikaelsen re touching spirit bear. After severely injuring peter driscal in an empty parking lot, mischiefmaker cole matthews is in major trouble. Troubled teen meets totemic catalyst in mikaelsens petey, 1998, etc. The spirit bear, an all white black bear found reddit. Touching spirit bear summary cole matthews is a teenage delinquent whos in big trouble for beating up a kid named peter driscal. But instead of jail time, cole is given another option. Touching spirit bear is a book that is about a boy named cole that was evil and mean child becoming a nice and helpful child by the spirit bear asked in. Ben mikaelsen born december 8, 1952 is a bolivian american writer of childrens literature. Touching spirit bear audiobook ben mikaelsen audible. Touching spirit bear is a pretty simple book to follow in terms of writing style and vocabulary, but it does deal with some very heavy issues.
This is a long way of explaining that touching spirit bear is the book i wished i could have read when i was adolescent. In the meantime, he said hed ask the book s author, ben mikaelsen, about my concerns. When i received my package in the mail i was exited to start reading. Rescue josh mcguire, hyperion books for children, 1991. Cole is always angry, at his parents, at other people, and about how much he hates his life. Hetaughtmetobegentleand thati,too,ampartof thecircle. Touching spirit bear book report by tyler miller on prezi. All in all, this was an amazing read and i recommend it to all. Ben mikaelsens novel touching spirit bear is about a 15 year old boy named cole. And also a book called sparrow hawk red is about a boy who s mom was murdered when he thought it was accidental but found out she was killed by a group of drug dealers. Fifteenyearold cole is cocky, embittered, and eaten up by anger at his abusive parents. Cole thinks he is unwanted and feels like a piece of trash because his father beats him and his mother never seems to care or help. This middle grade novel is an excellent choice for tween readers in grades 5 to 6, especially during homeschooling. Whatever you do to the animals, you do to yourself.
He is accompanied by two men of tlingit indian origin, named edwin and garvey, who are instructing him on. Dec 06, 2017 touching spirit bear by ben mikaelsen has been brought to life by the central lyon middle school of rock rapids, iowa. In the book garvey comes to visit cole with a bag full of things including eggs and water. Ben mikaelsen has wrote the ghost of spirit bear a book that continues off of touching spirit bear. What was your inspiration for the book touching spirit bear i was born to conservative white parents in. This is a quiz based on you knowledge of the book touching spirit bear by ben mikaelsen. Award winning childrens author, ben mikaelsen travels the world speaking and sharing his strong antibullying message. It is described as airless and threatening and it felt like a furnace.
Today, i will be interviewing ben mikaelsen, the awardwinning author of the recently published childrens chapter book ages 812, jungle of bones. In his napra nautilus awardwinning novel touching spirit bear, author ben mikaelson delivers a poignant comingofage 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, mischiefmaker cole matthews is in major trouble. Joshs father uses alcohol to deal with the death of his oldest son. May 27, 2015 touching spirit bear test, free document download for teachers stay safe and healthy.
At times, he imagined reaching up and touching the spirit. He began his writing career in the mid1980s and won such literary honors as the international reading association award and the western writers golden spur award. Ben is an accomplished author who has published ten childrens books and has written numerous magazine articles. Copy of touching spirit bear chapter questions with answers. The second meaning is the spirit bear touched coles spirit and changed him. Touching spirit bear story short stories that i probably.
Over on the listserv for californias librarians, i posted my critique of touching spirit bear. After repeated skirmishes with the law, he finally faces jail time when he viciously beats a classmate. The moderator said he thought it was getting personal in nature and that the conversation ought to be dropped. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his childrens imagination. Touching spirit bear quotes and analysis gradesaver. In his napra nautilus awardwinning novel touching spirit bear, author ben mikaelson delivers a poignant comingofage story of a boy who must overcome the. In his napra nautilus awardwinning novel touching spirit bear, author ben mikaelson delivers a poignant comingofage story of a boy who must overcome the effects that violence has had on his life. Jun 01, 2011 touching spirit bear june 1, 2011 during a tv show about bullying, one boy said that his life had changedhe had stopped being a bully, when he was required to read touching spirit bear by ben mikaelsen.
In his napra nautilus awardwinning novel touching spirit bear, author ben mikaelson delivers a poignant comingofage story of a boy who. Oct 02, 2014 i think middle school students can benefit a lot from learning units in themes. He has written a few books inspired by his bear, such as touching spirit bear and the sequel ghost of spirit bear. When he touched the spirit bear he began to heal and became a better person. Touching spirit bear is a book that is about a boy named cole that was evil and mean child becoming a nice and helpful child by the spirit bear asked in touching spirit bear what is the whole book. This book has a clear message that its trying to get.
Theme touching spirit bear book report there are many themes to this book. Despite the creepy title, this slim followup to touching spirit bear 2001 reads like a throwback to the archetypal ya problem novel. His popular novels include touching spirit bear, petey, and tree girl. Some of the main themes are to treat others with respect, you always have redemption for your mistakes, and that you cant change the circle of life. While waiting for the courts decision cole, the boy, was kept in a detention center. It was published by harpercollins and has a total of 176 pages in the book.
He wrote many great novels such as tree girl, touching spirit bear, ghost of spirit and petey. When he leaves a bear cub motherless on a hunting trip, josh is forced to hide out in the mountains to protect the cub. Cole also continued to explore and look for the spirit bear, but still the bear did not show itself. Many people wondered why he always wrote stories about bears. Ben mikaelsen books list of books by ben mikaelsen. Ben mikaelsen has had an unusual background and some extraordinary life experiences, and this shows in his books. Touching spirit bear is a modernfiction book wrote by ben mikaelsen. Though coles relationship with his father hasnt changed by the end of the book, things have definitely gotten better with his mom.
Soon cole finds himself on a remote alaskan island in tlingit territory, banished for a. Ghost of spirit bear by ben mikaelsen 9780060090098. Sep 11, 2018 touching spirit bear was written by ben mikaelsen in 2001. She tries to be more present in his lifeeven when hes away on the alaskan island. Who is the publisher of the book touching spirit bear. Nov 27, 2015 i need help with quotes from the touching spirit bear book. I need help with quotes from the touching spirit bear book. He was the owner of a 750pound black bear named buffy. Rose mary painted and wrote and couldnt stand the responsibility of providing for her family. He beats another student so badly the boy is hospitalized withe severe.
The question and answer section for touching spirit bear is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. There is a lot of symbolism used in the book touching spirit bear. Touching spirit bear ben mikaelsen, lee tergesen isbn. Touching spirit bear by ben mikaelsen 25,7 ratings, 3. The author of touching spirit bear is ben mikaelsen. What did cole matthews do to peter to be faced with this decision. Weeks passed, but the large blank space he had reserved at the bottom of the totem for his anger carving remained empty. Sep 06, 2006 the authors own relationship with bears and his supposed almostcloseenoughtotouch encounter with a threehundredpound male spirit bear notwithstanding, touching spirit bear is a terrible book. In the meantime, he said hed ask the books author, ben mikaelsen, about my concerns. The signifigance of the title touching spirit bear to me has a double meaning. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. During a tv show about bullying, one boy said that his life had changedhe had stopped being a bully, when he was required to read touching spirit bear by ben mikaelsen.
Touching spirit bear is about a boy named cole matthews, who gets punished and has to go to an deserted island or jail for beating up a boy named peter. Beat it this is an upbeat song representing coles healing and friendship with peter at the end of the book. For example, the anger stick is used to represent anger and happiness. How does cole feel when he first sees the spirit bear. Touching spirit bear is a book about a very angry and abused fifteen year old who is facing a prison sentence for attacking and injuring a fellow ninethgrder. The story begins in minneapolis, but then progresses to alaska. He beats up one of his classmates, a boy named peter, and as a result of this beating, peter has permanent damage. The spirit bear, an all white black bear found only in the great bear rainforest of bc, canada, and one of natures most amazing creatures.
The hard lessons learned over the years were ones i wanted to share with todays teenagers. When tragedy galvanizes the student body to seek change, cole becomes the unlikely leader of a movement to replace the school mascot, a snarling bulldog, with a spirit bear, the symbol of inner strength. Im pretty sure it was called that, but it was a great book, and this is a beautiful bear. This manipulative and violent young offender is given one more chance. In touching spirit bear, cole matthews is an angry, outofcontrol minneapolis teen, the son of wealthy, abusive alcoholic parents, convicted of viciously beating a classmate. Touching spirit bear is the title and it is by ben mikaelsen this is not a copy of the book it is a poem off the title for the contest written may 12th. May 06, 2008 over on the listserv for californias librarians, i posted my critique of touching spirit bear. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Final touching spirit bear project the jail cell is a minor location in the story but its still important to the story. Because cole treated peter with respect towards the. Honestly i chose the book because it sounded inkteresting but it was him on the ground half the book and.
Tell me about the bullying you experienced in school. Dedication thisbookisdedicatedtobuffy, asevenhundredpoundblackbearwho hasbecomemyownspiritbear. My middle school grades 58 class read the book, touching spirit bear. The title of this book is ghost of spirit bear and it was written by ben mikaelsen.