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The Ghost of Spirit Bear

Page history last edited by AKabodian 15 years, 2 months ago

Book Review

By: Justin P

Author: Ben Mikaelson

 

            “The Ghost of Spirit Bear”(written by Ben Mikaelson) is a book about two young boys named Cole and Peter and their transition from a quiet deserted island to a city filled with gangs, violence, and racism.  Cole and Peter are both fifteen and have already endured more than what most fifteen year olds have seen.

            In the first book called “Touching Spirit Bear,” Cole Matthews was a bully at his school due to an abusive father and a drunken mother.  What I liked about the book was how it related to real life situations and how many thousands of kids are abused and have abusive behavior problems in their school.

            Peter was your average nerd that got bullied and picked on by Cole.  In fact, Peter was one of his frequent targets.  Peter had enough of being bullied.  However, his attempt to defend himself got him beat so bad that he later faces brain trauma and often stutters from the incident.  In the book, Cole has very mixed emotions while beating Peter up.  The author did a great job of explaining how Cole was feeling and thinking during his life.  For example, Cole realized what he was doing wrong and what he needed to change. 

            In this next part of the book, it is a period where Cole is put on trial for what he did.  He is put on trial with “The Circle of Justice” which is an Indian Court system.  He is sent to a deserted island with Peter who he later befriends.  On the island there was a “Spirit Bear” that he would learn his greatest lessons from.  The spirit bear mauled him because Cole was throwing various things at it.  But when it sensed Cole’s calmness the bear lets Cole touch him.  After his term on the island, he is back in the city living with his mom.  Peter and Cole are both having the same problem trying to deal with their anger and just getting used to the city life. 

            They try to change their gang-infested school with several ideas like changing their school mascot from bulldogs to the spirit bears, and having voluntary circle meetings around their football field.  Cole continues to struggle with anger problems, while Peter continues to struggle with depression.

 

Comments (1)

AKabodian said

at 12:39 pm on Jan 17, 2009

You summarize the story well. Though I haven't read the second book, I've read Touching Spirit Bear and it's a very powerful, intense message about the choices we make and their consequences.

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