Touching Spirit Bear

Reading Check and Short Answer Questions on key plot points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Part 1, Chapters 1-6

Reading Check

1. What is the name of the classmate Cole attacked?

2. Who is Cole’s youth probation officer?

3. Which tribe do Edwin and Garvey belong to?

4. How does Cole attempt to escape the island?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What is the main emotion that Cole seems to feel?

2. What does Cole do to the shelter and why?

3. What is a Healing Circle and what is its role in the novel?

Paired Resource

“Our History”

• The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska presents this brief description of the history of the two tribes and key cultural elements of each.
• Which Tlingit cultural artifacts or values are present in the story, and what might they symbolize?

“Organized Village of Kake Circle Peacemaking”

• Describes the restorative justice Healing Circle process used in the novel
• Connects to themes of Healing and Reconciliation, Both Within and Outside of Oneself and Life as a Circle
• Why did Garvey want to send Cole to the Healing Circle rather than jail? How might Circle Justice help Cole heal?

Part 1, Chapters 7-13

Reading Check

1. How does the Spirit Bear react when Cole tries to kill it?

2. What type of animal does Cole see in a tree during the storm?

3. What does Cole eat to stay alive as he lies dying?

4. Who rescues Cole from the island?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What happens when the Spirit Bear returns during the storm, and how does it affect Cole?

2. What does Cole do with the tuft of bear fur, and what does this say about the way he is changing?

Paired Resource

“The Spirit Bear”

• Short video explaining what a Spirit Bear is and showing where they live and what they look like
• Why do you think the Spirit Bear is the primary animal in Touching Spirit Bear? What is unique about these bears?

Part 2, Chapters 14-20

Reading Check

1.  What does Cole do to afford supplies for his second trip to the island?

2.  How does Garvey turn a regular meal into a celebratory feast?

3.  Which two habits does Edwin want Cole to adopt while on the island?

4.  What is the first animal dance that Cole, Edwin, and Garvey perform?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why do Edwin and Garvey threaten to take Cole back to Minneapolis, and how does he react?

2. How does Cole feel when Edwin and Garvey leave the island, and how is this different than the first time he was left alone there?

Paired Resource

“Interconnectedness”

• First Nations article explaining the cultural principle of interconnectedness of all life
• Connects to the theme of Life as a Circle
• How does Cole begin to learn that everything is connected? What symbols along the way help him to see this truth?

“Tlingit Storage Chest”

• Photo and detailed description of the origin and significance of a Tlingit cultural artifact
• How do the traditions and artifacts of the Tlingit culture aid Cole in his healing journey?

Part 2, Chapters 21-28

Reading Check

1. What are two animals Cole carves on his totem pole?

2. What is Cole’s favorite food to prepare?

3. What do Peter and Cole carve into the bottom of Cole’s totem pole?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What is the most important dance that Cole performs, and why is it significant?  

2. Why does Cole want Peter to come to the island, and how does this idea help them both heal?

2. When does the Spirit Bear appear for the final time, and why does it appear in this moment?

Recommended Next Reads

Rumble Fish by S. E. Hinton

• A 1975 young adult novel about gang violence and familial issues including neglect, abandonment, and alcohol addiction
• Rumble Fish on SuperSummary

The Barren Grounds by David A. Robertson

• A 2020 middle grade fantasy novel that draws on Robertson’s Cree heritage
• Connects to the theme of Life as a Circle in its exploration of the relationship between Indigenous peoples and the natural world
• The Barren Grounds on SuperSummary