Bearstone
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Overview
A Dramatic Tale of Grizzlies and Gold
Fourteen-year-old Cloyd Atcitty has been skipping school for years. He's run away from a group home for Native American boys, and is now being sent to work for Walter Landis, an old rancher on an isolated Colorado farm.
In a cave above the ranch, Cloyd finds a turquoise carving of a bear. Knowing that his people, the Utes, have a special relationship with bears, he keeps the small stone, hoping it will bring him strength. A terrible blow-up with Walter ends in near disaster, but the old man offers Cloyd one last chance: they'll ride together into the mountains to reopen Walter's abandoned gold mine. Among the high peaks that harbor Colorado's last grizzlies, Cloyd's courage and loyalty will be tested to the limit.
A troubled Indian boy goes to live with an elderly rancher whose caring ways help the boy become a man.
Synopsis
A Dramatic Tale of Grizzlies and Gold
Fourteen-year-old Cloyd Atcitty has been skipping school for years. He's run away from a group home for Native American boys, and is now being sent to work for Walter Landis, an old rancher on an isolated Colorado farm.
In a cave above the ranch, Cloyd finds a turquoise carving of a bear. Knowing that his people, the Utes, have a special relationship with bears, he keeps the small stone, hoping it will bring him strength. A terrible blow-up with Walter ends in near disaster, but the old man offers Cloyd one last chance: they'll ride together into the mountains to reopen Walter's abandoned gold mine. Among the high peaks that harbor Colorado's last grizzlies, Cloyd's courage and loyalty will be tested to the limit.
Voice of Youth Advocates
Bearstone is destined to achieve the status of Hinton's Tex.... This story has something for everyone....
Editorials
School Library Journal
Starred review. Far above other coming-of-age stories.
Voice of Youth Advocates
Bearstone is destined to achieve the status of Hinton's Tex.... This story has something for everyone....
Children's Literature
This is the paperback edition of a wonderful story about a troubled, young Native American boy coming of age. Cloyd Atcitty is fourteen and totally miserable. In hopes of helping him turn his life around, his parents send him to work for the summer for an old farmer named Walter Landis. The farm is near Durango, Colorado, and Cloyd, for the first time, experiences the beauty of the mountains. Quite by accident he discovers a small turquoise carving of a bear that he keeps because his people, the Utes, consider bears to be a source of strength. Things seem to work well for awhile, but soon Cloyd's anger and hurt lead to a great confrontation with Walter. Fortunately, Walter agrees to give Cloyd a second chance and they go into the mountains to reopen Walter's long abandoned gold mine. When Walter is badly hurt, Cloyd realizes how much he owes Walter and that he can begin to "Live in a good way" as his grandmother always told him he should. Hobbs really knows the area and the culture of its native people. Readers are sure to be drawn to his many other adventure stories, including Beardance and Downriver. 2004 (orig. 1989), Aladdin Paperbacks, Ages 10 to 14.—Sylvia Firth