Touching Spirit Bear
Part I.
Name ______________________________________
Multiple Choice - Circle the letter of the correct answer.
1. This book's main character is
a) Nathaniel Blackwood
b) Cole Matthews
c) Garvey
2. He is from
b) Buffalo
c) Minneapolis
a) Drake, Alaska
3. He has a parole officer named
4. He beat up a kid at school for
a) Edwin
a) an insult
5. Before that he got caught for breaking into a
b) Bob
b) to get money
a) bank
d) Edwin
c) Peter
d) Canada
d) Garvey
c) for telling on him
b) liquor store
c) church
d) just to do it
d) hardware store
6. As an alternative to court and jail time, he is told about a) Family Justice
b) Cowboy Justice
c) Circle Justice
d) Island Justice
7. The person who runs those meetings is called a
a) mediator b) Judge
c) Counselor d) Keeper
8. One person speaks at a time, when passed the
a) stick
b) ball
c) feather
d) doughnut
9. The story mentions Peace-making Circles, Talking Circles, and Community Circles. The aim of all of these is...
a) Healing
b ) an eye for an eye
c) Punishment
d) justice
10. Early in the book, Cole's attitude is
Part II.
a) positive
b) mellow
c) calm
d) nasty and mean
True or False
At the beginning of the book, the main character often thinks to himself that nobody cares about him. _______
The adults who allow Cole to participate in Circle Justice believe that it is an easier way out than jail. _______
When the Spirit Bear mauls Cole, it is acting defensively. _________ Cole holds on to the tuft of white hair that he
pulled from the Spirit Bear's chest so that he could prove to others that he had really seen it on the island. _______.
Part III.
Write in your correct Short Answer
On the island, the first shelter Cole was supposed to live in was built by _____________ , the Tlingit elder .
What happened to it? _____________________________________________________________________ .
What's an at.oow ? ______________________________________________________________________ .
In this book, the characters' dances
around the campfire include the ______________ Dance, the _____________Dance, and the ____________ dance.
Cole's ideas shift to healthier perspectives a few times in this book. The biggest changes in him occur
when _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Part Four
Short Essay Answers -
Full sentences (showing some thought on your part) are appropriate here.
1. What was your favorite part of this book? Describe what happens in that part.
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2 a. Cole starts getting along better with his mother halfway through the book. How does she change?
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b. Write about things his mom tells him, which help him gain more understanding about his anger.
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3. Are there any examples of “forgiveness” in this book? When? About what, and between whom?
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4. Describe what happens in the book, between Peter and Cole, at the end. What can Peter do better?
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