Accepting Responsibility For One's Actions

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	• Touching Spirit Bear (rack) Ben Mikaelsen HarperTeen, 2005 - 320 pages average customer review:based on 270 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Excellent book and lessons for all ages

My little one had to do a book report on Touching Spirit Bear so we read it together and shared the ideas. What an excellent story, written in language that a 12 year old can understand and with an deep message of self responsibility and healing of the spirit.

I highly recommend this book!

Accepting Responsibility For One's Actions

This is an excellent story about Cole, an angry abused boy, who was mad at the world and his personal journey of dealing with his anger and becoming a better person through Circle Justice or Restoration Justice. He beat up Peter to the point of causing him permanent harm and never took any responsibility for his actions until he faced death and began questioning his life. This is a story about helping others and how the Circle Justice system works which Native Americans practiced for years.

The idea is to restore the criminal to become a good citizen and not just punish them. Instead of jail or a detention center, Cole was banished to live for a year on an island in Alaska alone. At the end of the year, the Circle Justice group, made up of all those involved, would meet again and determine if he should go to jail or not. Cole had a traumatic experience while on the island and after just three days was hospitalized after being mauled by a spirit bear. After his rehabilitation he went back. Peter tried committing suicide twice and Cole learned much while on the island, including how many mistakes he made and wanted to make things right if he could.

I really liked this book a lot and had trouble putting it down. I was anxious to see what would happen next. There is no boring part in it. There are many themes running through this book such as abuse, justice, survival, anger, forgiveness, healing.

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Touching Transformation

After violently attacking a classmate, fifteen-year-old Cole Matthews must choose between going to jail and participating in an alternative punishment based on the Native American Circle Justice. Cole chooses Circle Justice and is banished for a year on an Alaskan island. Alone on the island, Cole is mauled by a mysterious Spirit Bear who changes his life. With the guidance of his parole officer and a Native American man, Cole learns to control his anger, forgive others, and take responsibility for his actions.
Touching Spirit Bear is an excellent book for young adults. It may be especially relevant for children who may be able to relate to the violence in the main character's life. Throughout the novel, the main character undergoes a remarkable transformation and creates a new identity throughout the healing process of Circle Justice.

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troubled teenager

What a moving incredible story. I went out and 4 more copies immediately to give to friends either working in child detention or who have problem teenagers. A must listen for anyone who cares about the troubled teens of today.

Good Quick Read

This book is about an angry kid with an alcoholic father named Cole who is abused and beats up a kid named Peter. Cole has to live on an Alaskan island by himself as part of Circle Justice. He changes with some wise help along with this experience on the island. I got into this book from the beginning! It's a page turner with a somewhat predictable ending, but a good read!

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Will the attack of the Spirit Bear destroy Cole's life or save his soul?

Cole Matthews has been fighting, stealing, and raising hell for years. So his punishment for beating Peter Driscal senseless is harsh. Given a choice between prison and Native American Circle Justice, Cole chooses Circle Justice: He'll spend one year in complete isolation on a remote Alaskan island. In the first days of his banishment, Cole is mauled by a mysterious white bear and nearly dies. Now there's no one left to save Cole, but Cole himself.

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