Touching Spirit Bear Audio CD – Unabridged, March 11, 2008

This book is an excellent book to use within your family to talk about healthy relationships and how to value yourself. I found at 52, reading it because my 11 year old was assigned it in school, that I was still able to gain valuable insight into things that drive my actions. It helped me understand some of my standard parenting actions which I did not like. (Despite many around me saying I was a great parent). As you get Oder and begin to more easily recognize that life is truly a circle, Touching Spirit Bear has some ideas on how to be a happier and more effective part of your own circle.

I can understand why middle-school children might enjoy the book but, as an adult, I found it boring, repetitive, and not particularly well-written. The protagonist, Cole, has very odd, mentally-unbalanced responses to people, surroundings, and wildlife. After a chapter or two, I had to conclude that the character had some serious bio-chemical imbalances that were pushing him sideways off his mental rocker. (If he had been my kid, he would have been at a nutritionist and then to a lab for blood work at the first sign of trouble.) The book lost me completely when Cole was faced with the presence of the white bear. This 15-year-old kid threatens to kill a bear!? He's a city kid without the strength to nudge an animal of that weight and height, and he's going to kill it? The correct and sane response would to have been petrified in abject fear--and then make a plan to either eventually fight or take flight. I skimmed the last half of the book.

I read this book so I could discuss it with my daughter, who was assigned it in school. I, like the protagonist Cole (and the author), have spent a lifetime enslaved to, trying to understand, strategize around, and resolve my anger. I related to Cole’s explosiveness, the difficulty he had recognizing his problem, the advise he got from Garvey and Edwin, and his eventual transformation.There are many lovely passages in the book, and the story makes for a compelling read. However, here and there I felt there were inconsistencies in the way Cole was portrayed. For example, he might achieve a milestone in his evolution only to be oddly regressed in the next chapter. While this may be realistic in terms of human progress, the author’s presentation sometimes felt like a stutter. Instead of putting me deeper inside Cole’s persona, it drew attention to authorial technique, and thus created a distance.That said, for a teen reader, the book provides an excellent model for facing one’s mistakes, recognizing the emotions that trigger them, taking responsibility, and initiating healing.

I read this book for the first time in seventh grade for my literature class. Rereading it, being an adult now, gave me a new perspective on the events in it.I bought this book nine years later for a reason. It really was as good as I remembered it to be. The messages of taking responsibility for your mistakes and learning to get control of your anger were really strong. Cole being forced into humiliating situations like eating bugs to survive really forced him to become humble in a way that not much else can.Cole's arrogance in the beginning, thinking he could escape, was very realistic. His lack of forethought as to what he would do if he got to land and had a warrant out for his arrest was also very realistic for a hotheaded fifteen year old.I found the dynamic between his parents at the circle meetings to be very relatable, as someone who grew up with abusive parents.Cole's sudden horror at having almost burned the at.oow, the only symbol of trust anyone had ever granted him, was very realistic and understandable.I think there was a missed opportunity at addressing the PTSD that the bear attack must have caused. I find it very hard to believe that he didn't suffer from it.The things I didn't like about this book are few. One of them is the message that everything in life is what you make it. That can be true for a lot of cases, but it's important to remember that no one can turn every instance of suffering into a party just by putting some tomato and pepper onto it. Suffering hurts, and it's unrealistic and damaging to expect people who are suffering to smile through it. Humans have a range of emotions for a reason and consoling others who are hurting with some love laugh love spiel is not going to get you anywhere. Empathy and understanding are important for healthy relationships.While I liked this book, I wouldn't recommend the sequel at all. For any of you considering reading it, go check out my review first.

I had a rough childhood, one where I often found myself outraged by the simplest matters. In middle school, a teacher recommended this book as an alternative to the book the class was reading. It was marvelous, I loved it so much that she let me keep it. All these years later, I found myself rebuying it for myself because I had given my older copy to a relative whom I thought would appreciate it. This book is compelling. At first you might hate the MC, but you grow to understand him, to heal WITH him. I don't want to leave any spoilers, you should read the summary if you want to know more. All I can say is thank you to the author for taking us on this journey of truth and self-discovery.

Oh what a wonderful book such a moving story that had me in tears throughout! Native American belief teaches us how to connect to Grandmother Earth and the Animal Nation and to have respect for all people and all life throughout this story. It was great to see a positive outcome for the main character a much troubled young man and of how he finds himself and is then able to forgive others and heal his life. I loved the story so much that l didn't want the book to end!

This book was recommended as we are going to Canada soon to see Spirit Bears (hopefully) it is clearly described as being suitable for young adults. The book is beyond that. (I am not a young adult, I am an old sack) There are comments or lessons therein which can help everyone. On a superficial level, it is a good read. On a deeper level, you could learn something from it.

Personally I bought the book for my chlidren, but myself found it so interesting, I could not put it down. As a psychotherapist I highly recommend the book, as it contains most valuable insights from my Native American fellowbeings who bring wisdom into even this respect of life. Dealing with hurt and strongly disturbed young adolescents in such a good, yet hard, but successful healing way for all involved in the matter, was yet another relevation about how deeply Native American understanding goes. An absolute joy to read.

good ethos. not that well written but compelling story nevertheless

A thoughtful book about a boy who is almost beyond redemption but with the help of Circle Justice changes his life and outlook.