Touching Spirit Bear

Touching Spirit Bear
by: Ben Mikaelsen
HarperTeen, 2005

Cole Matthews has so much anger inside of him he can't control it and he doesn't want to. When the abuse he receives at home builds up inside of him he blames everyone else for his problems. When someone at school rat's him out, Cole blames Peter. He beats him up so savagely that Peter suffers brain damage because of the impact. All hope seems lost for Cole, no one thinks he will change except for his parole officer. In an attempt to avoid jail Cole uses the judicial system to involve himself in Circle Justice, thinking that he can find a way out of isolation. When faced with near death, Cole finally begins to change and is allowed back to the Island where he learns out to control his anger. Will Cole be able to function in society again? What about Peter? Will he ever be able to overcome the pain that Cole so brutally forced upon him?

Personal Review: I thought this book was great. It made me really think about the justice system. For youth especially it isn't doing anything to help them. There are lots of kids that are like Cole and they have no hope of becoming a contributing member of society. It is these troubled teens that need help. They need hope. They need someone to help them. I think this book was beautifully written. I was amazed at how the author described Cole's transformation. I found myself liking Cole, the violent teen, over Peter. Cole was an amazing dynamic character to read about.
Warning: This book is about violence and anger. It also describes gruesome images.
320 pages