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Ben Mikaelsen
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Touching Spirit Bear (Spirit Bear, 1) Paperback – April 1, 2002

by Ben Mikaelsen (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 4,384 ratings
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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.


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Previous page
  1. Reading age
    10 - 14 years, from customers
  2. Book 1 of 2
    Spirit Bear
  3. Print length
    256 pages
  4. Language
    English
  5. Grade level
    3 - 7
  6. Lexile measure
    730L
  7. Dimensions
    5.12 x 0.51 x 7.62 inches
  8. Publisher
    HarperCollins
  9. Publication date
    April 1, 2002
  10. ISBN-10
    038080560X
  11. ISBN-13
    978-0380805600
  12. See all details
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From the Publisher

9780380805600 image 9780060090098 image 9780060090067 image 9780380805617 image
Touching Spirit Bear Ghost of Spirit Bear Tree Girl Red Midnight
See Details
Customer Reviews
—
4.7 out of 5 stars
1,045
4.6 out of 5 stars
125
4.7 out of 5 stars
97
Price — $7.99 $9.44 $6.99
Notable books from award-winning author Ben Mikaelsen This award-winning classic delivers a powerful coming-of-age story of a boy who must overcome the effects that violence has had on his life. This riveting sequel about returning home after life in the wilderness will captivate readers with its themes of survival and self-awareness. Tree Girl climbs trees to be within reach of eagles and watch the sun rise into an empty sky. She is at home among the branches of the Guatemalan forests. When tradgedy strikes she vows to be Tree Girl no more but longs to reunite with her sister. When guerrilla soldiers strike Santiago's village, they destroy everything -- including his home and family. Santiago and his four-year-old sister escape, running for their lives. The only way they can be safe is to leave Guatemala behind forever.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Mikaelsen’s portrayal of this angry, manipulative, damaged teen is dead on.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

"[Cole's] solitary life on the island is just the ticket for Paulsen fans, who will appreciate the survival story." — The Bulletin

“Mikaelsen paints a realistic portrait of an unlikable young punk.” — Kirkus Reviews

“An excellent companion to Gary Paulsen’s Hatchet and Allan Eckert’s Incident at Hawk’s Hill.” — ALA Booklist

“[Cole’s story] will fascinate young and old, and have everyone waiting for the sequel.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

From the Back Cover

Whatever you do to the animals, you do to yourself. Remember that.

At fifteen, Cole Matthews has been fighting and stealing for years. The punishment for smashing Peter Driscal's skull into the sidewalk—his most recent crime—is harsh. This time, Cole will have to choose between prison and Native American Circle Justice. He will live either behind bars or in isolation for one year.

Cole chooses Circle Justice. But in the first days of his banishment to a remote Alaskan island, he is mauled by a mysterious white bear and nearly dies. Will the attack of the spirit bear destroy Cole's life or save his soul?

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins; Reprint edition (April 1, 2002)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 038080560X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0380805600
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 10 - 14 years, from customers
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 730L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.12 x 0.51 x 7.62 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 4,384 ratings

About the author

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Ben Mikaelsen

Ben Mikaelsen

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Ben Mikaelsen has won the International Reading Association Award and the Western Writers Golden Spur Award. His novels have won critical acclaim, as well as several state reader's choice awards. These novels include Rescue Josh McGuire, Sparrow Hawk Red, Stranded, Countdown, Petey, and Touching Spirit Bear. His newest book is "Jungle of Bones". Ben's articles and photos appear in numerous magazines around the world. Ben and his wife, Connie, live in a log cabin near Bozeman, Montana, and they adopted a 700-pound black bear that they raised for 27 years.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
4,384 global ratings
What a touching moment "smirk"
5 Stars
What a touching moment "smirk"
From someone you has dealt with touching/handling bears this book is a must read. The fluffy white fur resembles the title and the experience perfectly. If you have ever touched a bear you would agree. It is really a fantastic feat. Go out and try it a your local zoo sometime.
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Top reviews from the United States

KC57201
5.0 out of 5 stars insightful - honest and compelling story
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2024
Verified Purchase
I read this book at the insistence of my 14year old son. It is an excellent read. The author describes Cole’s feelings with sensitivity and honesty. Highly recommend!!
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rosemary999
5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful Story
Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2023
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This story has it all, adventure, emotion, intrigue, diversity and a powerful message. The judicial system and advocates of prison reform should read this novel. I'm using it with my 8th graders, but shared it with my husband, who has anger and emotional scars from bullying and his upbringing. He said it really helped him and gave him a new perspective on anger. Not to mention, I was on the edge of my seat, couldn't put it down.Ben Mikaelsen at his best.
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Scott B. Perry
5.0 out of 5 stars Touching Spirit Bear Book Review
Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2010
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I read Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen and I loved it.
The book is about a teenager named Cole Mathews who has anger issues that lead him to commit many crimes wihtin the city of Minneapolis. He decided to brag about his latest crime and then a classmate turned him in. Cole denied everything and then beat up the kid who turned him in, a boy named Peter Driscal. Cole applied for Circle Justice afterward, a system of justice that promotes forgivness instead of punishment. Cole failed and was banished to a remote Alaskan island where the real story begins. At the begining of Cole's banishment, he burned down the hut Garvey and Edwin made and failed at escaping. He then provoked and was mauled by a Spirit Bear he saw repeatedly before that. After returning to the island from a hospital, he was able to heal inside and decided to try to help Peter heal. Peter came and was showing no kindness to Cole for most of the time. But finaly at the end, when they both saw the spirit bear, they became friends.
This book sadly has little to no examples of simile or metaphor in it.
The book has lots of imagery though, and I can give a few examples. One says:"Cole's stomach churned and cramped harder". Another says:"Cole squirted on a glop of ketchup and then devoured his hot dog.
The characterization in this book is rich. For example, Cole goes from a violent, rough, delinquent to a gentle, thoughtful boy.
The plot can get a little twisted with all the flashbacks and areas of description that goes so deep that you forget whats happening.
The book's flashbacks are exeptable since they provide good back story, insight, and answers to questions.
The book uses personification on the animals, and sometimes the environment and it makes things interesting. Like when Cole has to explain his animal dances and it is used astoundingly.
The dialogue is filled with powerful sayings and language.
I loved this book in the end.
One person found this helpful
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Robby Merkin
4.0 out of 5 stars The Spirit of Healing
Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2019
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I read this book so I could discuss it with my daughter, who was assigned it in school. I, like the protagonist Cole (and the author), have spent a lifetime enslaved to, trying to understand, strategize around, and resolve my anger. I related to Cole’s explosiveness, the difficulty he had recognizing his problem, the advise he got from Garvey and Edwin, and his eventual transformation.
There are many lovely passages in the book, and the story makes for a compelling read. However, here and there I felt there were inconsistencies in the way Cole was portrayed. For example, he might achieve a milestone in his evolution only to be oddly regressed in the next chapter. While this may be realistic in terms of human progress, the author’s presentation sometimes felt like a stutter. Instead of putting me deeper inside Cole’s persona, it drew attention to authorial technique, and thus created a distance.
That said, for a teen reader, the book provides an excellent model for facing one’s mistakes, recognizing the emotions that trigger them, taking responsibility, and initiating healing.
5 people found this helpful
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AMZON client
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book !
Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2023
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Great book ! My kids (13 y/o) loved this meaningful book. After reading the book, you feel well and uplifted.
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Wholly Living
5.0 out of 5 stars Transformative journey for young and old alike
Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2013
Verified Purchase
I read "Touching Spirit Bear" because a middle schooler I know carries it around with him wherever he goes. I was curious about its impact on him, so I downloaded it onto Kindle. It is a fascinating, challenging, transformative tale of a young man who experiences a complete transformation of the effects of physical abuse, which in him amounted to passing on the abuse to others he perceived as weaker than himself. This book is much like a shamanic journey in which the journeyer experiences a crisis which, when faced and accepted, becomes the catalyst for powerful personal change.

This book presents "Circle Justice" as an alternative to punishment. This story, and Circle Justice, can extend hope for those who are discouraged by their inability to change aggressive behavior toward others. It can provide a new way of looking at aggressors for those who have been victimized. It offers us all a vision about the possibility of healing a seemingly intractable soul. While Circle Justice has profound possibilities in our modern world, the particular intervention used in this story (banishing a boy to an Alaskan island) is not an easily replicable or perhaps even desireable intervention for those of us living in modern civilization. But it points us toward some basic principles: 1) Focus on the possibility of transformation as a choice for the person needing the intervention. 2) Make use of nature in healing. 3) Make use of mentors, those who have gone through this before. 4)Allow challenge. Don't sugar coat. Don't make it easy. 5) Intervene with help and love when the challenge is too great. 6) Allow the person to make their own choices - really.

I loved this story. And I understand why it means so much to my young friend, who struggles with anger. I recommend it for any person, regardless of their age, who struggles with aggression, self hatred, and hatred of others. I also recommend it to judges, teachers, social workers, religious leaders, shamanic practitioners, medical providers, law enforcement, probation officers, therapists - anyone working with people who struggle in this way.
5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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V.bath
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
Reviewed in Canada on January 6, 2024
Verified Purchase
Book that help your child to realize about others respect
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Ref
5.0 out of 5 stars Livro pra vida
Reviewed in Brazil on March 19, 2023
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Amei o livro tem bons ensinamentos e é otimo para quem trabalha com adolescentes
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Butler baboo
5.0 out of 5 stars Truly one of a kind.
Reviewed in India on October 29, 2019
Verified Purchase
Just incredible.

A book about mistakes, and anger, healing and forgiveness. The main guy is a boy who has anger issues and ends up beating a friend severely. What follows is a tale of justice and redemption in the wilderness of an island. The boy is mauled and then healed by the touch of the Spirit Bear who is perhaps a reflection of the World-Spirit or God.

Raw, honest, and inspiring. Highly recommended.
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seffron holroyd
5.0 out of 5 stars What an eye opener
Reviewed in Australia on January 24, 2019
Verified Purchase
My husbands niece, recommended this book , so I grabbed a copy of it. I read it in only a couple of days.
It was fantastic and so insightful that at times I would stare into space, just pondering over Cole's realization s, and how it connected with my life.
Truly great read. I highly recommend it.
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Isabelle
5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente libro para comenzar a leer
Reviewed in Mexico on February 17, 2016
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Este libro es parra niños/ adultos jóvenes, es una historia excelente y buenísimo para comenzar a leer. De verdad una historia que vale la pena
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