Touching Spirit Bear

Chapters 1-6

Reading Check

1. Peter Driscal (Chapter 1) 

2. Garvey (Chapter 1)

3. Tlingit (Chapter 1)

4. He tries to swim to the next island. (Chapter 3)

Short Answer

1. Cole is first and foremost angry, though there are strong hints of loneliness and fear underneath this resentment. (Various chapters)

2. Cole burns down the shelter. He believes that nobody actually wants to help him, and he is angry at the world. He burns it down in defiance, rage, and an attempt at revenge. (Chapter 3)

3. A Healing Circle is an ancient Indigenous tradition that draws upon the power of the community to bring healing to the perpetrators and victims of crime, as well as to heal the community in which they live. Cole attends a Healing Circle as part of his sentencing instead of going to jail. The Healing Circle decides to banish Cole for a year so he can reflect and heal. (Part 1)

Chapters 7-13

Reading Check

1. The Spirit Bear mauls, bites, and crushes Cole, leaving him within inches of his life. (Chapter 8)

2. Baby sparrows (Chapter 9)

3. Bugs, worms, a mouse (Chapters 10-11)

4. Garvey and Edwin (Chapter 13)

Short Answer

1. As Cole is lying on the ground dying, the Spirit Bear comes back. It looks Cole right in the eyes, staring at him with understanding and patience. Cole reaches out to touch the bear, feelings its fur and heartbeat. After this, Cole sees the world’s beauty and feels connected to it because the bear trusted him. (Chapter 12)

2. Cole tosses the tuft of fur into the bay, letting it drift away in the same direction that the bear swam off. This says that Cole no longer feels the need to prove himself to other people or to lie. He knows the truth within himself, and that is all that matters. (Chapter 13)

Chapters 14-20

Reading Check

1. Sell all of his belongings (Chapter 16)

2. He cuts a hot dog into three and shares it with Cole and Edwin. (Chapter 16)

3. Soaking in the pond and carrying/rolling the ancestor stone (Part 2)

4. Whale dance (Chapter 18)

Short Answer

1. Cole gets lazy and a little bit angry, saying that he would rather go bed instead of make dinner for everyone. He also wants to skip doing the wolf dance and gives Garvey attitude, acting rudely toward him. When Cole hears that he might be sent back, he understands that he will be okay no matter what because he has already begun to heal and change. (Chapter 19)

2. Cole feels sad and scared when Edwin and Garvey leave the island. He is worried about doing well and making the most of his last chance at redemption and avoiding jail. This is different than the first time, when he was angry, determined to escape, and full of vengeful thoughts. (Chapter 21)

Chapters 21-28

Reading Check

1. Possible answers include the Spirit Bear, sparrow nest, beaver, eagle, wolf, salmon, and mouse. (Part 2)

2. Spaghetti with hot dogs (All chapters)

3. A circle (Chapter 28)

Short Answer

1. The dance of anger is the most important dance because it is what finally allows Cole to forgive those who have hurt him, as well as himself. (Chapter 23)

2. Peter has tried to die by suicide twice and Cole wants to help him heal. Cole also knows that by helping Peter heal, he will help himself heal. The two boys spend many months at odds on the island before finally forgiving themselves and each other. (Chapters 24-28)

3. The Spirit Bear appears for the last time when Peter and Cole finally resolve their anger toward one another. As Cole is hugging Peter after Peter attacked him, the Spirit Bear appears a distance away, watching them. Cole believes that it is because they made themselves "invisible,” connected to and part of nature, through the power of forgiveness. (Chapter 28)