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Cole Matthews is angry. Angry, defiant, smug--in short, a bully. Hisanger has taken him too far this time, though. After beating up a ninth-gradeclassmate to the point of brain damage, Cole is facing a prison sentence. Butthen a Tlingit Indian parole officer named Garvey enters his life, offering analternative called Circle Justice, based on Native American traditions, in whichvictim, offender, and community all work together to find a healing solution.Privately, Cole sneers at the concept, but he's no fool--if it gets him out ofprison, he'll do anything. Ultimately, Cole ends up banished for one year to aremote Alaskan island, where his arrogance sets him directly in the path of amysterious, legendary white bear. Mauled almost to death, Cole awaits his fateand begins the transition from anger to humility.

Ben Mikaelsen's depiction of a juvenile delinquent's metamorphosis into acaring, thinking individual is exciting and fascinating, if at timesheavy-handed. Cole's nastiness and the vivid depictions of the lengths he mustgo to survive after the (equally vivid) attack by the bear are excruciating attimes, but the concept of finding a way to heal a whole community when oneindividual wrongs another is compelling. The jacket cover photo of the author ina bear hug with the 700-pound black bear that he and his wife adopted and raisedis definitely worth seeing! (Ages 12 and older) --Emilie CoulterBook Description
Within Cole Matthews lies anger, rage, and hate. Cole has been stealing and fighting for years.  This time he caught Peter Driscal in the parking lot and smashed his head against the sidewalk.  Now, Peter may have permanent brain damage–and Cole is in the biggest trouble of his life.

Cole receives a one-year banishment to a remote Alaskan island. There, he is mauled by a mysterious white bear of Native American legend.  Hideously injured, Cole waits for death. His thoughts shift from anger to humility. To survive, he must stop blaming others and take responsibility for his life.  Rescuers arrive to save Cole's body, but it is the attack of the Spirit Bear that may save his soul. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (261)

Touching Spirit Bear
The first time I read this novel was with my oldest son when he was in 5th grade. It appeared in the curriculum for a sophomore special education literacy workshop class that I was teaching years later. I knew the students would enjoy the premise of the book but ran into a problem when the school did not have enough copies for all the students. I checked with Amazon and found they had paperback copies available at a discounted price for multiple copies ordered. I was able to purchase enough copies to cover my classes at a reasonable price and get free delivery. The novel was well received by the students and generated much discussion about survival, justice, anger and society.

School project
I want to start off by saying, this is a very good book. Anybody reading this book would enjoy it.It is about a boy named Cole Matthews, he is a very troubled boy. If anyone even looked at him wrong they would regret it.Not only did he fight for stupid reasons, he also stole from stores and people.If you read this book you will see Cole's life go through a dramatic change.After picking his last straw by bashing Peter Driscal's skull into a sidewalk.That was it, it was over, he would either face one year of jail or circle justice and what ever they decided to do with him.His sentence was to go away to an unoccupied Alaskan island for one year.He got off to a bad start by burning down his shelter and trying to make a getaway.But he failed to do so and soon got torn up by a bear.On the verge of dying will he make it or will he not.So go buy the book and find out.
Byron Elliott

Excellent read!
This book offers a satisfying read for those looking for a story with some "tough love" teaching to it.Great for high school age students.

powerful tale of change and self-discovery for all young adults
A very angry, abused, violent, troubled teenager, Cole Matthews, horribly beats a schoolmate and then decides to participate in Native American Circle Justice. Cole is sentenced to a year of banishment on a remote Alaskan island. While banished, Cole faces a Spirit Bear and is nearly killed. This story is a powerful and realistic account of a very trouble young man and his (and others') incredible challenge in changing his ways. Cole must realize that the cycle of anger only causes more and more pain, that he really isn't in control of his life. He must be humbled by nature, become helpless, become connected to life. In the wilderness, Cole must find himself. This novel is a beautiful and very powerful "wilderness/survival" tale, but with more story, more spirit, more characterization than perennial favorites Island of the Blue Dolphins, My Side of the Mountain, and Hatchet. An incredible and powerful tale beautifully written, full of compelling metaphors and themes. Grade: A

Touching Spiriit Bear by Ben Mikaelson
I read a book by the name Touching Spirit Bear.Cole was a troubled teenaged boy. He always thought he could get away with anything, until one day he makes the biggest mistake of his life. Now he has to try and make things better.
To me this book was excellent because it talks about how he became the way he is now. It can relate to alot of other people's live's.
There aren't many people in this book so you can easily keep track of what is going on. I would recommend this book for anyone that thinks they could do anything and get away with it. ... Read more