English 1 SE Reading Guide: Touching Spirit Bear

Study Guide: Touching Spirit Bear, by: Ben Mikaelsen
Genre: Survival/Coming of age
Summary: ”At fifteen, Cole Matthews has been fighting and stealing for years. The punishment for smashing Peter Driscal’s skull into the sidewalk 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 1 year.”

Chapter 1:
Where is Cole being taken?
Who are the other 2 people on the boat with Cole?
What did Cole do to Edwin to try to make him angry?
Who were the only people Cole could trust?
Who is Peter Driscal? What happened to him?
Who is Nathaniel Blackwood?
What is Circle Justice?

Chapter 2:
What provisions did Edwin and Garvey make for Cole?
Cole pretended to go along with all of the requirements of circle justice. What wee his real intentions?
What is Devil’s Club?
What four things did Edwin tell Cole to learn?
What did Garvey give to Cole to take care of? What do the Tlingits call this?
What did Cole do when Garvey and Edwin drove away in their boat?
What did Edwin tell Cole about his treatment of the animals?

Chapter 3:
Why does Cole feel like nobody cares for him?
What does he tell Garvey that he hates about his life?
What secret about his dad does Cole reveal to Garvey?
When Cole’s mother knew what his dad was doing what did she do?
Explain what Garvey did with the contents of the brown paper bag.
Why do you think he did this? What was the purpose?
Describe the emotions Cole experiences in this chapter.
What does Cole do to escape the island?

Chapter 4:
As this chapter opens, Cole is swimming away from the island he has been banished to. What is his greatest danger at this point?
Who was involved in the Circle of Justice?
What did Cole do to Peter Driscal at this meeting and why did he stop?
The Keeper described Circle Justice-she said that justice often fails because it punishes rather than what? What is the purpose of Circle Justice?
What is the significance of the feather?
Tell how Cole’s mom, his dad, Cole, the lawyer, and Peter Driscal all responded when it was their turn to hold the feather.

Chapter 5:
Where did Cole end up swimming to?
When Cole becomes delirious what does he try to do?
When Cole awakens from his first night on the island, what does he see?
Why did the bear make him so angry?
When Cole heard what his father said at Circle Justice he exploded. Why?

Chapter 6:
As the chapter opens, Cole and his dad are having a very heated exchange of harsh words. Why were they out of line and what did the Keeper do?
Cole begged his mom to say something when she held the feather. What did he want her to say? Did she do it? Why or why not?
Peter’s lawyer said that any solution found by this Circle must do 2 things, what were they?
How does Cole’s dad deal with his anger?
Tell about the one time that Cole’s mom tried to intervene when Cole was being beaten.
What solution does Garvey come up with at the Circle Meeting to satisfy the Driscal’s lawyer and allow Cole not to be sentenced yet?
What does Garvey mean when he says: “If you go to jail, I won’t bet a nickel on your future”?

Chapter 7:
Why does Cole feel the need for a weapon? What does he make?
Cole feeds green wood into the fire to create a lot of smoke. Of what benefit is the smoke to him?
What does he do to satisfy his hunger?
What did he do when he saw the Spirit Bear at the mouth of the bay?
Why do you think he did this? What was he thinking?
Did this frighten the bear? Why or why not?

Chapter 8:
What does the Spirit Bear do when Cole charges him?
Describe the episode Cole has with the white bear.
What are the damages Cole endures?
When Cole realizes where he is, what are the seagulls doing?
How did Edwin tell Cole to live with the other creatures on the island? Is he doing this?
How are Edwin’s words proving to be true?
What emotion did he find more unbearable that the pain?

Chapter 9:
Cole is lying at the mouth of the bay as the chapter opens. What is the one end he believes he will come to?
Cole is obviously injured badly as he lies there on the edge of the bay. What other conditions make this even worse for him?
Cole’s bitterness and anger actually helped him keep from losing consciousness during this time. He was watching baby birds. What did he think he would do if he were the mother bird? Why did he feel this way?
The storm rages on and on until finally lightening strikes right beside him. What does it hit and what happens?
The author says that Cole had to focus on the moon to help him “remain on this side”. What does he mean by that?
Cole tried to remember what Garvey and Edwin had said about circles as he watched the moon. What had they told him?
What does Cole do at the end of the chapter that tells the reader he is beginning to learn and grow?

Chapter 10:
Cole is slipping in and out of consciousness as a new pain was building in his body. What happened to Cole that caused him “painful shame”?
When Cole finally found the baby birds, what had happened to them? Why was Cole envious of them?
Cole comes to the conclusion that he wants to live-why did he choose life over death?

Chapter 11:
Before Cole ate the mouse for energy he said he “pitied the little mouse”. How is this different from his attitude earlier in the story?
Cole felt satisfaction after he ate, explain why.
How did Cole get water?
Describe Cole’s emotions when the Spirit Bear returned.
Why did he spit at the bear?

Chapter 12:
Why did Cole cry when the Spirit Bear left him alone?
The Spirit Bear returns and this time Cole’s response is different. How?
Why did Cole reach out and touch the bear?
What does the bear do that Cole didn’t expect?
What does Cole discover about the world just as he was growing delirious?
What does Garvey believe happened to Cole?
How does he react when he realizes that a bear has attacked Cole?
What does Cole mean when he tells Garvey he is okay?

Chapter 13:
Who is Rosey?
Describe the difference in the way Cole treats Garvey and Edwin now and how he treated them in the first chapters.
Edwin, Garvey, and the nurse discuss Cole’s condition and Edwin says that he’ll be all right if he ever finds a reason to live. What did he mean by that?
Describe Cole’s nightmare. Who does he call out for?
Garvey admits that he is helping Cole for himself. Explain.
Rosey gives Cole good advice. What is it?
Why does Cole throw away his only proof that the Spirit Bear was real?

Chapter 14:
What did Cole’s dad do for him during his hospitalization? His mom?
Why did Garvey warn Cole that the healing of his physical wounds was the easy part?
What has happened to the at’oow at this point?
What has happened to Cole’s mom? Why is she doing so much better?
What information does his mom reveal to him about his dad?
What was Garvey’s surprise for Cole at the Circle Justice meeting?
What members of the circle were missing this time?

Chapter 15:
What did most members of the Circle believe should happen to Cole?
What information did Peter Driscal’s lawyer reveal about his recovery?
Describe Edwin’s demonstration for the circle.
What lesson did Edwin want the Circle members to gain from his demonstration?
What conditions for returning to the island did Edwin suggest to the members of Circle Justice?
Why did Cole say that on the island he “realized he was dying and I had never really even lived yet”?
Why was Cole’s father so angry and abusive?
What did Circle Justice decide to do with Cole?

Chapter 16:
What news does Garvey break to Cole once they are back on the island?
What does Edwin do to the skiff that demonstrates a lack of trust for Cole?
What does Cole learn about trust?
Why is “the whole world a hotdog”?
What were the words to the friendship song Garvey and Edwin were humming?
What did Edwin tell Cole to celebrate when Cole complained about nothing to celebrate?

Chapter 17:
What keep Cole awake all night the first night back on the island?
What new experiences did Edwin introduce Cole to at dawn? Why?
Describe Edwin’s demonstration for Cole with the stick. What lesson did he want Cole to learn?
Cole told Edwin that his demonstration with the stick made more sense than all the weird things the counselors and psychologists told him. Why did Edwin say that this was true?

Chapter 18:
Why wouldn’t Garvey and Edwin help Cole build his new cabin?
What were some of Cole’s responsibilities on the island to prepare for his banishment?
Who paid for all of the new supplies and cabin materials?
Why did Edwin insist that Cole do the whale dance?
What does each person do after his dance?
Why didn’t Edwin have Cole dance an anger dance to release his anger yet?
Cole wanted to skip a day of going to the water. When did Edwin say he could do that?
Describe what Edwin had Cole do to meet his ancestors and why he did it.
What does the rock become once it is set down? What was Cole suppose to imagine as the rock went rolling down the hill?

Chapter 19:
Cole sees a wolf along the shoreline. Garvey announces that to honor the animal they will do what?
What will be Cole’s last chore before leaving the island?
What happens when Cole announces he is hitting the sack for the night?
Why does Garvey tell Cole he is finished on the island?
When Cole apologized to Garvey and Edwin, what did they tell him?
What did Cole do after Garvey and Edwin went to bed? What did he learn?
What did Cole do the next morning?
What did he see at the end of the chapter?

Chapter 20:
What does Cole tell Garvey and Edwin he has learned when he returns to camp following his morning soak?
On page 169, Cole is glowing with satisfaction, why?
Describe the evening meal he prepared for Edwin and Garvey. Why did he do this?
What dance does Cole choose to do? Why?
Describe what Cole learned in this chapter.

Chapter 21:
Describe a day in Cole’s life on the island.
How did Cole get a log large enough for a totem pole?
What were his first thoughts about the log?
How did it make him feel when he was thinking about escape? What did he do about it?
What reason does Edwin give Cole that he isn’t seeing the Spirit Bear?
Why can’t Cole dance the dance of anger yet?

Chapter 22:
What does Cole carve first in his totem pole? Why?
Why does he carve the wolf next?
What does he learn from the beaver?
What about Edwin’s behavior troubles Cole when Edwin drops off supplies?

Chapter 23:
Cole finally discovers the secret of becoming invisible, what is it?
Describe Cole’s experience of becoming invisible. Did he get what he wanted from this experience?
How did he celebrate his ability to become invisible?
Which dance was Cole finally able to perform? Describe what happened during this dance?
When Cole cried out “I’m sorry!” which people do you believe he was apologizing to?
He also came to a final point where he began to cry and cried loudly “I forgive you!” Who did he forgive? Why?
What did Cole learn in this chapter?

Chapter 24:
Cole learned something very critical about his anger-what was it?
What is it that Cole had to discover before he could heal his wounded heart and broken spirit?
What does Edwin reveal to Cole as the reason for Garvey and him to be helping Cole as much as they are?
How does Cole celebrate Christmas?
What word does Edwin bring Cole about Peter in February?
Why does Edwin believe Peter tried to take his own life?
Why is saying he was sorry not enough to help Peter?
What solution does Cole come up with to help Peter?

Chapter 25:
How does Edwin respond to Cole’s idea to bring Peter to the island?
Why does Edwin tell Cole that he and Garvey are proud of him?
How long is Cole willing to stay on the island in order to help Peter?
What surprise do Edwin and Garvey bring Cole?
What does Cole tell everyone about the island?
Edwin forces Cole to tell the group why he hasn’t carved the bottom of the totem pole yet. What does he tell them? How does Peter respond?

Chapter 26:
Describe how Cole treated his guests the first night they were on the island?
Where does Edwin have Cole sleep? Why?
What are Cole’s thoughts as he soaks in the pond the next day?
What is Peter’s attitude about staying on the island with Cole?
When Cole is frustrated that Peter doesn’t appreciate what he is trying to do, what does Garvey remind him of?
Peter is confused about how to respond to Cole-he does some strange things. He is nasty and nice. What threatening things does he do?
What kindness does he extend to Cole?

Chapter 27:
Describe Peter’s behavior toward Cole.
What was the last straw for Cole?
How does Cole respond? What kindness does he show Peter?
Why did they dance the mouse dance? What did they learn?
What did Garvey tell Cole when Cole said that Peter would never forgive him?
How does Cole explain to Peter why he threw away proof that he had been mauled by a white bear?
What does Peter do to Cole’s totem while he and Garvey are out looking for whales?

Chapter 28:
What does Peter propose for their morning soak?
Describe his treatment of Cole. Why do you think he did this?
How did Cole respond?
What did the boys carve together at the bottom of Cole’s totem? Why?