Chapters 25 and 26 Summary

In chapters 25 and 26 of Touching Spirit Bear Cole told Edwin he thought if Peter came to the island, it would help him heal.  Even though it was a totally outrageous idea, it was the only solution anyone could come up with. So after about two weeks, Edwin returned to the island with Garvey, Peter, and his parents. Cole told Peter and his family everything that had happened to him, from the beating to where they were today.  He told them about the pond  he soaked in everyday, the ancestor rock, his dances, and even his totem pole. They saw that he had changed. He looked at life in a different way and acted as though nothing else had ever happened. He acted like he had started his whole life over (I personally admire Cole for being able to do this because it would not have been easy). The next day Peter’s parents and Edwin left.  Only Garvey, Peter, and Cole were left on the island.  Cole had decided that no matter what, he was going to help Peter heal. Part of that was staying out in a cold, leaky tent, while Garvey and Peter were in the nice warm cabin because Peter was still afraid of him. At the end of the chapter Peter was gradually getting accustomed to Cole. He even lets Cole sleep in the cabin!

Chapters 23 and 24 Summary

In chapters 23 and 24 of Touching Spirit Bear Cole figured out how to be invisible. Being invisible had nothing to do with not being seen. Being invisible meant not being sensed or felt. Cole also danced the dance of anger and from the dance he realized what the last step of his healing process was. He learned that in order for him to heal he needed to help Peter heal. Peter had become suicidal and his parents were frantically searching for ways to help him; sadly they haven’t found any solutions. Cole has a way that might help Peter heal.

Spirit Bear Theme Moodle

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Chapter 17 & 18 Summary

In chapters 17 and 18 of Touching Spirit Bear Cole learned some very important lessons. He learned that no matter what, your anger is with you. It will always be there, you have to focus on happiness instead. Cole also learned some very helpful ways of releasing his anger and frustration. Edwin showed him a pool that he used to soak in to clear his mind when he was banished to the island. Edwin also showed him a way to learn from his ancestors. What Cole did was he carried this rock, called the ancestor rock, to the top of a very large hill. The rock was his ancestors and the hill was his life. It showed him that his ancestors helped guide him through life and shared their experiences with him. Once he got up to top of the hill he set down the rock. At that point, it changed to represent his anger.  Cole pushed the rock down the hill and watched his anger roll away. One other thing he did was at the end of the day after dinner, he danced. Everywhere around him there were powers like animals, seasons, and emotions. Each had something to teach him. Earlier that morning he had seen a group of humpback whales breaching, so that night he danced the whale dance. Cole learned something from his dance that night; whales migrate but never have a home. Cole shared that feeling.

Chapters 15 & 16

            Cole tried to convince the Circle Justice that he really had changed. No one bought it.  It reminded me of the boy who cried wolf. Cole had lied so often, that no one believed him when he was telling the truth. Luckily, Cole had two very trustworthy people on his side that fought for him, Edwin and Garvey. Miraculously, they were able to convince the Circle to release Cole into their hands.  Cole went back to Southern Alaska, to the island where he had been mauled by a bear not even a year before.  He rode an aluminum skiff back to the island.  Cole, Garvey, and Edwin unloaded supplies and ate over a campfire.  Cole was taught something special that night, as they all celebrated while sharing a hotdog. Cole learned that everything is what you make of it. If you choose to eat your normal, monotonous, hotdog that is all it will be, a hotdog. If you choose to share it and make it a celebration, it is something special, something much more than just a hotdog- it’s life.

Reflection of Chapters 13 & 14

Cole was safe (at least from the wilderness) in a hospital in Ketchikan. Cole had broken ribs, maybe a broken pelvis, a broken arm and leg, and hypothermia. This was all from his two day visit to the island. Cole was airlifted to Minneapolis, where he recovered, then had to face his parents, Peter Driscal, and the Circle Justice.  Six months later, Cole’s ribs, leg and arm had healed, although he would never regain full mobility of his arm. Cole was released from the hospital and moved to a detention center.  After a week of visits from Garvey and his mother, Cole is attending his first Circle Justice meeting since his return from the island. All the Circle members are convinced that since Cole broke his contract his case should no longer be handled by the Circle.  Now Cole has to persuade them that he actually has changed and that they should let him go back to the island.

            I believe that Cole really has changed. He used to be like Two-Bit from the Outsiders, always wanting to get the last word. Now, I think he is just a kid that wants to make up for what he’s done to the community.  He has been blaming everyone else for everything that has gone wrong and he finally realizes that it was his fault.

Chapter 11 & 12 Reflection

 

           Cole wakes up with the spirit bear towering over him. Expecting to die, Cole at least wants to touch the creature that is going to kill him. He reaches up and feels the bear’s soft fur, then his warm, solid body. He feels something else that he can’t explain - trust. For once in his life, Cole has established trust with someone. Cole also realizes that there is beauty in the world; you just have to stop and look. At the end of the chapter Cole is about to cross the line between life and death when Edwin and Garvey find him and rush him back to the mainland to get taken care of.

            People get angry for many reasons. One time I got angry because I was tired and everyone was telling me what to do. My house was loud and obnoxious; I got so frustrated I had to go outside for some peace and quiet. I think this happens to Cole sometimes, only he doesn’t have a safe place to go and calm down. Instead he takes his anger and frustration out on other people.

            Everyone has a right to express themselves as they see fit, as long as it doesn’t negatively impact anyone else.  Everyone also has a right to their own opinion. I personally agree that actions speak louder than words, “anger is a memory never forgotten”, it's not important what others think and kids whose parents mistreat them will probably, in turn, mistreat their own kids. Something that I don’t agree with is that people never change.

            I don’t agree with this because people can change. A traumatic experience can often turn someone’s thinking around, so that they view the world in a different way. People can also learn from their mistakes and change. For example, when I annoy my older brother too much he gets mad at me.  So I learned from my mistake and I only annoy him to the point just before he gets really mad.  I think people can change and it’s a good thing we have the capacity to learn from our mistakes.