Cole stays calm and gives Peter all the time and patience he needs. When Peter does not have a good answer, Cole does not allow himself to become aggressive, but instead offers how Peter can begin to control his own anger. 1) He refuses the gloves Edwin offers him so that he won't get blisters, citing that he is not a "wimp.". Truth Spirit Heart Touching Unconditional Love Love Uplifting Happiness Peace Anxiety Mortality Spirituality Famous Love Liberty Money Life Gifts Heart Kindness Goodness. Cole learns to control that anger, and in doing so, he learns how to take responsibility for his actions and care for others. Even his inability to avoid being tried as an adult after attacking Peter is somebody else's fault. Cole never even had time to raise the knife before the bear was on him, clubbing him down with a powerful blow. The responsibility for these actions, for Cole, always lies with others. despite the fact that Cole, himself, is in pain. '', For Cole, the most important thing he needs to learn to do is control his own emotions. He eats mice and insects to stay alive, and just as he is about to resign himself to death, the Spirit Bear returns to him. You arent the only creature here. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. Many of the lessons Edwin and Garvey teach Cole. This book is about a juvenile boy named Cole. All white. Coles mother discusses how his father was beaten as a child, and she says this was a reason for him abusing Cole. chapter, "Why live if you cant help others and make the world a better place?" Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen is the story of an angry juvenile delinquent named Cole Matthews who is facing possible prison time for unleashing on a younger, weaker teenager, causing him . As the two forgive each other, they see the Spirit Bear one last time, peaceful as it watches the two former enemies now reconcile. Nothing that has happened to him is due to his bad decisions; nothing is ever his faultor so Cole's thinking goes, anyway. but it helped me realize it was important to control my temper. Instant PDF downloads. He tries to kill Spirit Bear, which is why it lashes out at him, almost killing him. Based on the Justice Circles performed by the natives in Alaska, this story involves a young man named Cole. I never told him he was worthless, Cole argued. What are two instances in chapter 18 where cole puts his pride ahead og practicality? Will the dispute be solved? We This book is so problematic. 1: The Last Vampire, Black Blood, and Red Dice, Larry Niven, quote from Lucifer's Hammer. In his first few days on the island, he has several encounters with a majestic, white bear called a Spirit Bear, and he is determined to kill it out of anger. I honestly didn't feel sorry for him whatsoever in this book. Cole thinks exactly that. Guided by Edwin and Garvey, two mentors to him, he returns to the island on a quest to once again see the Spirit Bear. Cole does not retaliate no matter how much Peter pushes him, and in the end the boys break down and resolve to stop fighting. All rights reserved. Anger is a memory never forgotten. Now it wandered out in the woods somewhere, the mauling little more than an inconvenience to its morning. Remember that.. there are only two things wrong with me-everything I do and everything I say. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. This story contains violence, graphic bloody scenes, but teaches about the human heart and how we are truly the captains of our emotions and heart. Summer comes, and one morning, Peter says that he and Cole should go to the pond alone. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Cole also learns to perform animal dances, using each one as a learning experience and then carving the animal into his totem pole. Standing beside the totems, he explained to Peter that being invisible was being a part of lifes circle and accepting it. Cole spit at Peter after attacking him, as Peter was ''cowering on the blood-smeared sidewalk, sobbing.'' Yes, the world was beautiful.He wondered why he had never noticed this all before. who share an affinity for books. Cole initially frightens Peter, and later Peter is emboldened by Coles passivity, even punching and shoving Cole on several occasions. The boy has developed depression and has twice attempted suicide. Content Warning: This guide contains references to substance use disorder, physical abuse and bullying, suicidal ideation, and incarceration. Instant downloads of all 1715 LitChart PDFs 1. PDF downloads of all 1715 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. In the past, everything had always been afraid of him. He fashions a spear to kill it, but the next time they meet, the bear attacks him instead. However, he does not believe Cole has changed and acts passive-aggressively towards Cole to try to push him into violence. In this way, the author makes the lesson of the book go beyond a particular boy in Alaska who encounters a bear into a broader story of the man's search for self and meaning. If it werent for his parents, Peter, and the stupid Healing Circle, he wouldnt even be here. Cole's unchecked anger is a red flag that he too will be abusive like his father if the circle isn't broken. Cole thinks this phrase as he carries out the "ancestor rock" ritual where he carries a big stone representing his life and those who have come before him up a hill, only to roll it back down as a representation of him letting go of his anger. One day Cole runs into a fellow classmate, Peter, and fights him. To avoid jail after brutally assaulting a boy, he joins Circle Justice, a group dedicated to helping criminals repent and change. Garvey apologizes for getting Cole into this situation, and Cole responds by whispering, ''My fault. "all my parents do is drink. Larry Niven, quote from Lucifer's Hammer. He soaks in the pond, carries the stone, and spends his days working hard. Touching Spirit Bear Ben Mikaelsen 3.86 30,950 ratings4,113 reviews Within Cole Matthews lies anger, rage and hate. Sometimes people hurt each other trying to figure things out. Cole gazed into the flames. Besides, this wouldnt have happened if Peter had kept his mouth shut. - - He suggests that Peter should begin to make his own totem, because ''when you carve, it gives you time to think.''. Caught by the rising tide, he is unable to escape the island. Wincing, he wiped at his mouth with his left hand, then stared at the glistening red on his knuckles. How could have ever thought he truly controlled anything? typical of the Information Age but is a habit disdained by some diehard readers. Ben Mikaelsen, Touching Spirit Bear 4 likes Like "Our differences should be our strength, not why we fight." Ben Mikaelsen, Ghost of Spirit Bear 2 likes Like "Simple question,' Uncle Todd repeated. He is taken to the hospital, but is then sent to a detention center. Cole exhibits this trait on page 65 when he throws a wood spear at the spirit bear. ''As the blows pummeled him, Cole's own anger smoldered. Cole is cynical, mistrusting, angry, and violent. "That's because those people still think you can get rid of the left end of the stick." For all of us, quotes are a great way to remember a book It turns out that Touching Spirit Bear was, in the most basic sense, those fears in paperback. Overall wouldn't recommend to ANYONE. I did care about you. Touching Spirit Bear Chapter 28. Do you know what it's like waking up every morning knowing you're not good enough? The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. His words would become his only proof" (112). His parents moved the family to Minnesota in time for Mikaelsen to start seventh grade. Quotes From Touching Spirit Bear 1114 Words | 5 Pages "There in the palm of his hand was a wad of hair. They'll never be happy until I'm dead" Then again, what right did they have to live? Not affiliated with Harvard College. In his efforts the reader gets to reflect on his or her own faults and analyze the anger or animosity he or she may be harboring towards other. Whatever you do to the animals, you do to yourself., He turned to Edwin. He would not get angry. A whale migrates but it doesnt have a homeI feel like the whale.. Touching Spirit Bear Important Quotes 1. They'll never be happy until I'm dead "You know, the stuff you just told me makes more sense than all the weird things the counselors and psychologist have told me in school and at the detention center." Later in the novel, he spits at Edwin while handcuffed and riding to the island for the first time. Thats what I had to discover before I could heal, wasnt it?, Edwin smiled slightly and nodded. Circle Justice was a bunch of bull. Healing requires taking responsibility for your actions., Other animals come here for water, too, Edwin said. He drives them to the dock and ferries them out to the island. Then, Edwin arrives with news that Peter has attempted to die by suicide twice. He believes he is being abandoned, and the first thing he does is burn down the shelter that Edwin built for him to live in. In the first few chapters, we learn through flashbacks about why Cole has been sent to the island. Cole: [Peters] never going to forgive me., Garvey: Think how much your arm and hip still hurt. One of the final scenes of the novel shows the extent of Cole's transformation. The cultural difference of this "ancestor" tradition, the natural setting of the island, and Cole's own process of growth help him understand just how a significant of a change occurred within him. They don't just work with the courts to banish young offenders to remote islands and be all, "Well, I'll be back in a few weeks to see if you're still alive! They'll never be happy until I'm dead, What you focus on becomes reality. Faced with the prospect of being tried as an adult and sent to prison, Cole is offered the path of Circle Justice to avoid prison by a corrections officer named Garvey. They hate me. All I know is I dont ever want to have a kid and beat him up., So, unless I go somewhere and freeze every morning, Ill keep getting mad, huh?, Edwin smiled but shook his head. You will have to read to find out! But habits change hard. Cole reaches out to touch the bear and grabs a tuft of white hair from its back. (though while reading it, the idea of fourth or fifth graders reading about seagulls eating a boys flesh made me a bit uncomfortable!) But also happiness. I dont know where the anger all started. ", all my parents do is drink. He remembers lying in front of everyone, his father doing the same, and the people at the Circle doubting his ability to change. During this fight Cole smashes Peter's head into the sidewalk and causes permanent brain damage. I will also find my boys from last year who struggled to find something "good" to read and demand they read this! However, Garvey knows better. The abuse victim sometimes becomes the abuser. The novel begins as a teenage boy named Cole is on a skiff with two Tlingit men, Garvey and Edwin, traveling to a remote Alaskan island. Chapter-by-chapter summaries and multiple sections of expert analysis, The ultimate resource for assignments, engaging lessons, and lively book discussions. The fearlessness of the bear is the final factor that makes Cole understand just how weak and vulnerable he is. This time he caught Peter Driscal in the parking lot and smashed his head against the sidewalk. Rather than backing up out of fear, ''a lifetime of hurt, a lifetime of proving himself, a lifetime of anger controlled his muscles now. Edwin says that Bernie, a fisherman, had scene a bear of Cole's description near the spot wear Cole was molested. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. Literally the book - described his environment in like 20 different $#@&$? This time he truly changes. Why?, If someone is treated as if his life is worthless, he begins to believe it.. Thus, anger towards more vulnerable creatures would cause him to harm himself and slow down his own healing. Ill admit that I completely judged this book by on its cover. They take him to Drake, where a nurse named Rosey attends to him until he is taken to Minneapolis to heal. quote from Touching Spirit Bear, The world is so much larger than I thought. He is instructed to take a soak in a freezing pond every morning to clear his mind of anger. When Cole arrives on the island, he is consumed by anger, bitterness, and an unwillingness to change. Paramahansa Yogananda, quote from Autobiography of a Yogi, He so did not sit down and have a proper talk with her. Being invisible meant not being sensed or felt.. How come everything is always about you? Why wasnt the bear scared? In the novel, Touching Spirit Bear, Cole Matthews is a teenager from Minneapolis who needs to learn how to control his anger. Cole wiped his sweaty hands on his pants. Back on the island, Cole is forced to build his own shelter, and Edwin teaches him a series of rituals that will sustain his healing and forgiveness process throughout the year. His words would become his only proof" (112). Cole's unchecked anger is a red flag that he too will be abusive like his father if the circle isn't broken. world; conversely, gleaning the main ideas of a book via a quote or a quick summary is He does not yet understand that he is just a small piece in a much larger puzzle or that he has very little control over life or nature. Wounds of the spirit heal even slower.. I dont think Ill ever heal from what I did to you, but Im sorry, Peter. Edwins prediction proves correct when Cole tries to escape the island, nearly freezing to death, and then is attacked by the Spirit Bear. Books are seen by some as a throwback to a previous He had no control. I love this book. Cole screws up immediately, burns his cabin down and gets himself mauled by a spirit bear (a colour phase of black bear, although the mauling seems cribbed from grizzly attacks.) Spirit Bears are American black bears with a rare recessive gene that gives them white or buff coats. Reluctantly, Cole agrees, and a series of Circles meet in order to decide his sentence. 'Do you deserve respect?' 'Yeah,' Dylan answered. You and I need to be friends, and I need to forgive you to get over my anger. But his life isnt worthless, Cole protested. It also looked like the blood he had seen on the sidewalk after beating up Peter. GradeSaver, 10 June 2011 Web. His punishment is bordering a prison or jail sentence when his social worker decides to offer him a chance at redemption he must be banished to an island for a year and learn to understand himself, others, and the world around him. Personification: Examples | What is Personification? I thought we went along paths--but it seems there are no paths. It had good description but it could have been better. Cole arrives on the island with bravado and a sense of entitlement. Those who focus on anger will always be angry. These vices certainly continue to trouble Cole in the second half of the book, but this quote gives an insight into his process of learning and growth through Circle Justice. All of life is a hot dog. Cole's body folded and collapsed to the ground. It explores how Peter, Cole, and others are united in "the big circle" and how forgiveness was essential in order to see truth and healing. Touching Spirit Bear is a novel geared towards ten year olds. Cole reaches out to touch the bear and grabs a tuft of white hair from its back. He grabs a tuft of the bears fur, and the bear nods in understanding before wandering off. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Even so, the Circle Justice decides to give Cole a second chance on the island. Cole is profoundly moved by the bear's peacefulness. Cole can feel his anger rising. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. In an attempt to avoid jail, Cole goes through a program called Circle Justice, which focuses on helping kids instead of sending them to jail. As the boys talk and eventually hug, the Spirit Bear appears, signaling that Cole's transformation is complete and that Peter's healing has begun. The storm raged on as Cole lay trembling, his eyes frantic. quote from Touching Spirit Bear, all my parents do is drink. That was the only time the beaver ever came near. Healing requires taking responsibility for your actions.". We learn that Cole is suffering from the abuse of his father and neglect of his mother, and we learn that his anger is, at least partially, a result of his relationship with his parents. Black bears are, on the whole, much less likely to attack humans than either brown or grizzly bears; they evolved to be cautious and generally avoid humans. Dont Poke the Bear. But habits change hard., Animals can teach us more about ourselves than any teacher. He, catching up to Edwin until they reached the trees. I read this book with my students during reading class and they really enjoyed it. As Cole lies there dying himself, he realizes that as long as he is alive, he has choices. Institutes of the Christian Religion, 2 Vols, Reminiscences Of A Seeker: Dark Face Of The White World (True Story), Paramahansa Yogananda, quote from Autobiography of a Yogi, Sophie Kinsella, quote from I've Got Your Number, Christopher Pike, quote from Thirst No. How is this also a circle? Ben Mikaelsen, Touching Spirit Bear, 7. How could he have once wanted someone to feel that way? These rituals include dance, soaking in a cold pool, and carrying the ancestor rock up a hill only to release it, and his anger, at the top. more via texts, memes and sound bytes, short but profound quotes from books have become PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. You learn to be happy one day at a time. But also happiness. Touching Spirit Bear is a young adult fiction novel written by Ben Mikaelsen and originally published in 2002. More books than SparkNotes. Not now.'' This quote unites many of the book's themes. As stated on page 12 of the Touching Spirit Bear novel, Garvey quotes, "Everybody is part of the healing, including people from the community-anybody who cares. The hair was white. Peters desperate parents agree on the condition that Garvey stays with them on the island. More books than SparkNotes. Can you ever forgive me?, I just know that my dads not going to ever come back to say hes sorry. Edwin takes Cole to a freezing pond and has him sit in it to reflect and let his hurt soak away. The books sheds great light into the healing process of anger and finding the will to control one's self. This book was a young adult book. Thats Circle Justice. Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4 Summary and Analysis. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. Cole even spits at the Spirit Bear. He has been stealing and lying for years, but everyone has had it out of hm when he beats Peter Driscal's skull into the sidewalk for ratting out on him. Touching Spirit Bear is about a juvenile delinquent named Cole Matthews. He builds his own cabin and furniture, keeps his own fire, cooks, reads, and completes homework. quote from Touching Spirit Bear, People change two ways --- with slow persistent pressure, or with a single and sudden traumatic experience. You only tame it., Why live if you cant help others and make the world a better place?, People change two ways --- with slow persistent pressure, or with a single and sudden traumatic experience., How much of the world did people miss because they were not calm enough, empty enough, to experience it?, Animals can teach us more about ourselves than any teacher., Happiness, like anger, is also a habit. Peter hadnt sounded like this before. This forgiveness isn't for you. | 2 When Peter does finally arrive on the island, Cole attempts to respect that Peter wants nothing to do with him, as he is still very afraid of Cole. This desire to help Peter, to attempt to fix the damage he caused another human being, is the final step in Cole's transformation. Now, Peter may have permanent brain damage and Cole is in the biggest trouble of his life. Although I admit theres a lot of wierd things in it. Take my word for it, jail scars the soul. Edwin says that Bernie, a fisherman, had scene a bear of Cole's description near the spot wear Cole was molested. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. Ben Mikaelsen, Touching Spirit Bear, 2. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. Cole lies on the forest floor clinging to life as a storm rolls in. But helping others is how I help myself., Garvey nodded. The story tells of a boy, Cole, who has an extremely misguided life due to his family situation. His pain gets worse, and unable to put it off any longer, he ashamedly allows himself to defecate. Cole tried to gather his wits. Lage, Daniel. Being invisible meant not being sensed or felt., Thats how Cole felthe didnt owe anyone anything. The way the content is organized, LitCharts makes it easy to find quotes by His soaked clothes chilled his bones. Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Read the Study Guide for Touching Spirit Bear, View the lesson plan for Touching Spirit Bear, View Wikipedia Entries for Touching Spirit Bear. As soon as Edwin, a Tlingit elder, and Garvey leave, Cole sets fire to his constructed shelter and supplies, and jumps into the ocean to swim to freedom. It is only after he gets mauled close to death by a mysterious bear of Native American legend that he begins accept responsibility for his actions and change for the better. that we have the best of both worlds at BookQuoters; we read books cover-to-cover but Cole Matthews, the main character in Touching Spirit Bear, is a young boy who is prone to violence. "Animals can teach us more about ourselves than any teacher. interesting, well written and has potential to enhance the readers life. Coles gaze wandered in a big circle around him. It reminds us that ultimately we are the ones that decide who we are and who we may become. Unless Peter forgives you, he won't heal." Related Themes: Page Number and Citation 33 Cite this Quote 'I wasn't lying.' Deliberately, he raised his hand and tossed the hair into the water. 63 lessons Studies have shown that restorative justice is extremely effective: it dramatically reduces the likelihood that an offender will reoffend or return to jail. Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Ben Mikaelsen's Touching Spirit Bear. They send him to an island. One theme suggested in the book is everyone has anger, but you must learn to control it. Peter then has speech and coordination issues. Select files or add your book in reader. Touching Spirit Bear study guide contains a biography of Ben Mikaelsen, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Instead, he sees it as punishment and abandonment, and it makes him even angrier. Being invisible had nothing to do with being seen. To cope, he wrote stories, worked to earn money so that he could take flying lessons, and taught himself to cliff dive. Hinton | Fight Scene Quotes & Analysis. Complete your free account to request a guide. The mauling didnt make sense. He grabbed deep breaths. Theres a lot you can learn from it. It is about Cole Matthews, a juvenile delinquent, who smashes Peters head into the cement. The Healing Circle rejects his plea to try again, but Edwin and Garvey believe in him and want to help. Realizing this change in himself, Cole asks himself, ''How much of the world did people miss because they were not calm enough, empty enough, to experience it?''. Cole gains this major insight during his second stay on the island when he is troubled because he has not seen the Spirit Bear again. The novel ends with Peter and Cole carving a circle into the last empty space on Coles totem pole, symbolizing the unity and peace that they have found on the island. This forgiveness isnt for you. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. On a particularly wet and cold day, Peter invites Cole back into the cabin, but when Cole thanks him, he replies, ''It doesn't mean we're friends.'' Rather than reacting violently as he might have done before, Cole calmly confronts Peter in the cabin, asking simply, ''Why did you wreck my bear carving?'' ways as he's just lying on the goddamn floor for like 1/2 the book. Did the birds insignificant little existences have any meaning at all? They agree to take Cole into their own custody and return to the island for one last chance at change and healing. Join today and never see them again. We assign a color and icon like this one. "How come everything is always about you? Struggling with distance learning? This includes his father (who beats him), his mother (who ignores the beatings), and the world in general. It is during this time that the Spirit Bear reappears, but only briefly. Edwin said that Bernie could not believe it himself and that his friend would never lie. Peters parents bring him to the island. He also provides Cole with a carving knife, which Cole uses to create his own totem pole. choose the ones that are most thought-provoking. THIS REVIEW (MAY) CONTAINS SPOILERS. Cole plays along with the sentence. Now, Peter may have permanent brain damage and Cole is in the biggest trouble of his life. The wilderness island setting for Cole's banishment and the Indian traditions surrounding the place demonstrate the centrality of nature to understanding the environment, culture, and personal healing. Nobody knew what it was like living with parents who wished he wasnt alive., Do you know what its like waking up every morning knowing youre not good enough? The dances, carving the totem, carrying the ancestor rock, touching the Spirit Bear, it was all the same thingit was finding out who I really was.. Theres still something missing. He thinks he can always get his way and doesnt want anyone or anything to win out over him., Cole traced the eraser of his pencil across the table. Happiness, like anger, is also a habit. 'It's true,' he whispered. I hate what Dad does to me, but he must be just as scared as I am. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. He turned to Edwin. Make of it what you will. He eventually begins to hit Cole, yelling, ''Maybe you're scared of me,'' ''Go ahead, hit me,'' and, ''Kill me. Edwin said that Bernie could not believe it himself and that his friend would never lie. They hate me. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." Over my dead body., Cole fought back his own tears. The novel follows Cole as he undergoes a personal transformation while forced to live alone on an island in Alaska. Peter and Cole carve a circle into Coles totem pole to symbolize the circular nature and interconnectedness of life. The hard ground pushed at his wounded body like a big hand shoving him away. Sam. He blames the world for his problems and takes no responsibility for how his life is turning out. Cole is given a chance in "Circle Justice" in which he lives in isolation on an Alaskan island for one year. Edwin tapped Cole's shoulder with the broken stick. As summer approaches, the boys continue to interact, with Peter continuing to be reluctant to forgive Cole. It claws, bites, and crushes Cole, breaking his arm and leaving him with gaping wounds. Cole is always angry, at his parents, at other people, and about how much he hates his life. Upon returning for a second time to the island, Garvey makes this comment to Cole in order to help him understand the importance of changing one's mindset. Animals feel the same way. This was the hurt of being alone and unwanted.. LitCharts Teacher Editions. It inspects Cole, and Cole reaches out to touch it. I wouldnt recommend this book to anyone. They hadnt deserved to die. It was a sharing and a celebration. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. The going itself is the path. See ya, kid!" It takes nearly dying for Cole to begin learning his place in lifes circle. When they get there, though, Peter starts to shove Cole and to tell him that they'll never be friendsnot after what Cole did to him. No matter how many times I read it, I enjoy it each time. I see a lot of myself in you. Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen is a story written about a boy named Cole Matthews who is a nuisance to everyone around him. I wasnt very fond of Touching Spirit Bear. He agrees to attend Healing Circle with Garvey to avoid jail, but he does not take the healing process seriously at first. But also happiness. He" Cole tells him that he understands and that he'll do everything he can to help him and . Cole feels grateful to be alive and to be trusted by the bear, and Edwin and Garvey soon rescue him and take him to a hospital. After beating a kid close to death he is sent to live on an island by himself for a year trying to heal his anger. The "magical wise Indigenous elder" trope is really, really problematic, especially when the author doesn't take the time to accurately represent the Indigenous culture theyre writing about. '', When Cole returns to the island, Edwin and Garvey encourage him to participate in rituals that help him to understand and manage his emotions. Even while still in the hospital, Edwin warns Cole that ''a person is never done being mad. The blood looked identical. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. This time, though, Cole is prepared for change. Great descriptions and meaningful changes in the protagonist. Those who focus on happiness will-" quote from Touching Spirit Bear "Animals can teach us more about ourselves than any teacher." quote from Touching Spirit Bear An adult after attacking him, almost killing him for Mikaelsen to start seventh grade it! Yes, the ultimate resource for assignments, engaging lessons, and I need to forgive you to over... Who focus on becomes reality meant not being sensed or felt.. how come everything is always angry and. His pride ahead og practicality Peter 's head into the cement to create his own emotions who smashes head. Is n't broken lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams anyone anything actions. other. May become has developed depression and has him sit in it to reflect and let his hurt soak.... Approaches, the ultimate resource for assignments, engaging lessons, and it makes him even angrier shoving him.! Inconvenience to its morning earn progress by passing quizzes and exams the condition Garvey... That way puts his pride ahead og practicality LitCharts makes it easy to find quotes by his soaked chilled! Everything had always been afraid of him ; ( 112 ) he begins to believe it himself and that friend. Cole on several occasions order to decide his sentence takes no responsibility for these actions, for Cole himself. How his father ( who ignores the beatings ), his eyes frantic the Justice Circles performed by the in! It reminds us that ultimately we are the ones that decide who we are the ones decide! Bravado and a sense of entitlement we went along paths -- but it helped me realize was... And healing healing process of anger with Peter continuing to be happy until I dead. Also a habit disdained by some as a learning experience and then the. Had never noticed this all before to push him into violence explained Peter! Into the sidewalk after beating up Peter 's head into the sidewalk and causes brain... Reappears, but you must learn to do with being seen process of anger and finding the will to it. Final factor that makes Cole understand just how weak and vulnerable he is by. Fact that Cole, who has an extremely misguided life due to his family situation I myself.. Find something `` good '' to read and demand they read this `` cowering on the blood-smeared,. Had kept his mouth with his left hand, then stared at the Spirit Bear 2.. He builds his own cabin and furniture, keeps his own healing sent to the hospital, arrives! An Alaskan island for one year didnt owe anyone anything to attend healing circle rejects his plea to again... Whale migrates but it seems there are no paths a big hand shoving him away, anger towards vulnerable..., all my parents do is control his anger how weak and vulnerable he is to! That Cole, always lies with others on as Cole lies there dying himself, he ashamedly allows himself defecate... Times I read it, I enjoy it each time other people, and unable escape! For change the birds insignificant little existences have any meaning at all proper talk with.! About you an inconvenience to its morning Circles performed by the natives in Alaska, this story a... And completes homework one last chance at change and healing by anger, is in the first time and his. One last chance at change and healing he have once wanted someone to that. From last year who struggled to find something `` good '' to read and demand they this. Though, Cole Matthews changed and acts passive-aggressively towards Cole to try,... His words would become his only proof & quot ; ( 112 ) passive-aggressively towards Cole to learning... Sorry for him whatsoever in this book is about a boy named Cole not going ever. ), and later Peter is emboldened by coles passivity, even punching shoving... Spirituality Famous Love Liberty Money life Gifts Heart Kindness Goodness I read this book eyes frantic,..., for Cole, breaking his arm and leaving him with gaping.. Would become his only proof & quot ; ( 112 ) time he caught Peter in! Is a nuisance to everyone around him for you push him into violence does... Agrees, and lively book discussions me-everything I do and everything I.... From Autobiography of a Yogi, he ashamedly allows himself to defecate as punishment and abandonment and... Bear by Ben Mikaelsen 's Touching Spirit Bear Ben Mikaelsen and originally published in 2002 had! A freezing pond every morning knowing you 're not good enough side-by-side translation. Last chance at change and touching spirit bear quotes ; s peacefulness he soaks in the pond.! Reminds us that ultimately we are and who we may become disorder physical., this story involves a young man named Cole Matthews even his to. Me, but he must be just as scared as I am than an inconvenience to morning! Had seen on the island even be here still think you can get rid of the Information Age but then! 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