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Overview
In the wilderness, Cole found peace. But this isn't the great outdoors. it's high school.
At fifteen, Cole Matthews faced a prison sentence for slamming another student's head against a sidewalk. To avoid prison, he volunteered for Native American Circle Justice and agreed to a year in exile on a remote Alaskan island. There he was mauled by the legendary Spirit Bear and nearly faced death . . . but finally found redemption.
Now, his banishment over, he has to return home and face the one thing he may not be able to handle: high school. Gangs haunt the hallways. Cole finds violence at every turn and as the hate-filled school reaches its boiling point, the hibernating rage inside Cole begins to stir. In this tale of urban survival and self-awareness, Cole realizes it's not enough to change himself. He has to change his world.
Synopsis
In the wilderness, Cole found peace. But this isn't the great outdoors. it's high school.
At fifteen, Cole Matthews faced a prison sentence for slamming another student's head against a sidewalk. To avoid prison, he volunteered for Native American Circle Justice and agreed to a year in exile on a remote Alaskan island. There he was mauled by the legendary Spirit Bear and nearly faced death . . . but finally found redemption.
Now, his banishment over, he has to return home and face the one thing he may not be able to handle: high school. Gangs haunt the hallways. Cole finds violence at every turn and as the hate-filled school reaches its boiling point, the hibernating rage inside Cole begins to stir. In this tale of urban survival and self-awareness, Cole realizes it's not enough to change himself. He has to change his world.
ALA Booklist
“Mikaelsen provides a seamless transition between the two stories, as well as a highly satisfying resolution, and readers will find that, despite the new setting, this novel is just as much a survival story as its predecessor.”
Editorials
ALA Booklist
"Mikaelsen provides a seamless transition between the two stories, as well as a highly satisfying resolution, and readers will find that, despite the new setting, this novel is just as much a survival story as its predecessor."KLIATT -
In Touching Spirit Bear, Cole was exiled to a remote Alaskan island for a year after beating up a boy named Peter. In this sequel, Cole must face a different survival challenge: high school back in Minneapolis, with its bullies and gangs. Now 17 and on probation, Cole must learn to control his anger and his tendency to lash out, or he'll go to jail. But when some would-be tough guys pick on Peter, who is now a close friend of Cole's, Cole reacts violently and ends up in the principal's office. He realizes that changing himself is only part of the answer: he must also work to change the culture around him. He and Peter come to the aid of a homeless man, and Cole unexpectedly finds himself in a leadership position at school, lobbying to have the school's mascot changed from a snarling bulldog to a Spirit Bear to help create a new school atmosphere free of fear and intimidation. While the plot of Touching Spirit Bear is summarized at the beginning, this sequel will work best for those who have already read that book. Gripping and fast moving, both novels will appeal to boys especially and to reluctant readers, and they provide an excellent opportunity to discuss bullying and its consequences as well as anger management. Reviewer: Paula RohrlickSchool Library Journal
Gr 6-10
Mikaelsen's sequel to Touching Spirit Bear (HarperCollins, 2001), the much-lauded novel exploring the psychology and community dynamics of bullying, is likely to draw a split decision among potential audiences. While teachers and counselors may find it to be an inspiring, timely, and instructive piece of bibliotherapy, street-smart students might find it improbable, pat, and didactic. The story picks up with newly reformed bully Cole Matthews and the boy he once beat mercilessly, Peter Driscal, returning to the demoralizing realities of their beleaguered urban high school after having spent extended therapeutic time exploring their inner lives on a remote Alaskan Island. While Cole had realized genuine peace and personal insight in exile, he can sense his old rage beginning to resurface when Peter, whom he now considers his best friend, becomes the target of gang attacks. Ultimately, in the wake of the suicide of a bullied classmate, Cole decides that the only real hope for changing the self-destructive attitudes and behaviors in his high school is to appeal to his principal to let him lead an attempt to heal its overall spirit using some of the same techniques his Tlingit mentor, Garvey, had employed with him. She does agree, of course, as obstacles tend to topple just a bit too easily in this overly whitewashed sequel.-Jeffrey Hastings, Highlander Way Middle School, Howell, MI