1. Touching Spirit Bear
What do you think?
Journal Prompts

2. Fall seven times, stand up eight.
Deep Thoughts…
Think about the following Japanese
proverb…
Fall seven times, stand up eight.
In your own words, explain the meaning of this saying. Describe a situation when this proverb applied to your life experiences. Predict how this proverb will relate to our novel.

3. Chapters One/Two
Anger is a very strong emotion. Most readers would agree that Cole has trouble dealing with his anger.
How do you handle your anger? What types of things do you do when you are angry?
Have you ever lost control and done something that you regretted later?
How did it make you feel when you
were reading the paragraph where
Peter gets beat?
How would you have handled the
same situation?

4. Mental Painting
Metaphors are a terrific writer’s tool to create vivid mental pictures for the reader. In chapter two, the author uses a metaphor involving the idea of fire for rage. When you try to start a fire, you use multiple steps to be successful. Cole’s rage grows using these same steps. Using comparisons like gunpowder, explosion, fuse, flare, and igniting the author is able to build the idea of rage by comparing it to a process or series of steps the reader is familiar with. He is also careful to match rage with an item that makes a strong metaphor, like fire.
Use your imagination to create a series of “metaphor steps” with your choice of emotion. Create 8 sentences/steps that successfully match your emotion to an item and a process.

5. Cole describes the main ingredients in his life:
LIFE CAKE
Cole describes the main ingredients in his life:
Loneliness
Bullies
Teasing
Arrests
Parents arguing
Beatings
Being Ignored
What items(events) make up your life cake? Make a list of 10 events that define who you are today…your life. Although Cole includes all negative responses, every life is made up of good and bad. We learn and develop from both types of experiences. So, please try to create a balanced list for yourself with a bit of both.

6. Chapter Four
Consider the idea of Circle Justice. As you look through the Police Blotter from the newspaper, are there any incidents that you think could be handled with Circle Justice?
Describe the incident you chose
Explain why you think it would be a good candidate for Circle Justice
List the people that you would like to see at the Circle
What would be a good sentence or outcome for the crime you chose?

7. Chapter Five
Reread the second paragraph in chapter five. Close your eyes and put yourself in Cole’s position as he swims with all of his strength, yet makes no progress. In your opinion, what does this worthless swim toward freedom represent(SYMBOLIZE) in Cole’s life?
Why isn’t he able to make any progress?
What does he need to do first before he will be able to move forward?

8. Chapter 6
In our novel we get to know Cole and the other characters through their actions, thoughts, and dialogue. If an author is successful, you the reader will feel like you know each character by the time the story concludes. Think about the character you feel you know best. What characteristics does that character have? Optimistic, critical, brave, disrespectful, irresponsible…the list of possibilities is endless.
Choose a character and create a list of 5 character traits that he/she has exhibited so far in the novel.
Now comes the hard part! In your novel, find a quote for each of the characteristics that you have chosen that proves your characteristic is correct.

9. Chapter Seven
As the tension between Cole and the Spirit Bear reaches its highest point, Cole has the opportunity to back away, yet ignores the chance. “No one was watching. He could easily back away from this bear and not a single human being on the planet would know.” Is there anything that you do/don’t do when no one is watching? Explain. Keep it appropriate…

10. Chapter Eight
After the attack, Cole begins to regret his choice of banishment. A jail cell is looking like a much better place to spend his sentence. He explains, “At least in jail he would have been in the safety and comfort of a cell. He would have had some control.” If you were in the position to choose between banishment on a completely uninhabited island and a jail cell…which would you choose? Make a list of the pros and cons for each setting. Choose jail or banishment and list 10 pros and 10 cons in column form.

11. Chapter Nine
Cole feels jealousy toward the baby birds. He resents the fact that they have a mom to care for them and show them love. These are two things that Cole desperately wishes for.
When you consider your own life and those of your friends, what do you feel you lack?
What makes you feel jealous about other’s lives and why?
Where do you think the emotion jealousy comes from? Is it a positive or negative emotion? Why?

12. Chapter Ten
Survival is often a desperate situation. People are able to do things they may have thought impossible before. Imagine you are in a life or death situation like Cole’s.
Would you be able to eat insects, live mice, and your own vomit to stay alive?
How far would you be willing to go to live another day?
In your opinion, what would be the most difficult survival situation for you to handle?

13. Chapter Eleven
Cole spits at the Spirit Bear. Spit, after all is only saliva…something we all have. Why then is spitting at someone such an insulting action?
Think about all of the ways we offend or insult others when we are angry or hurt. What do you think is the ultimate insult and why?

14. Chapter Twelve
Garvey and Edwin locate Cole in pretty bad shape. Some would even say that it is their fault as they were the ones that suggested the banishment. Both of the men feel terrible guilt and remorse for what has happened.
Think about the last time you felt truly guilty for something you caused. Describe what happened and how it made you feel. Do you know why you chose to do what you did? Was it worth it?

15. Chapter Thirteen
Edwin did not believe Cole about his interactions with the Spirit Bear. However, Cole decided that proving himself was not important. He felt that as long as he knew he was being honest, that was more important.
Do you agree? Why/why not?
Have you ever been accused of something that didn’t involve you?
Were you able to prove your innocence? How or why not?
Do you think it’s ok if some people don’t believe you as long as you know the truth?

16. Chapter Fourteen
Cole returns to The Circle for a second hearing. Many new pieces of information are revealed about his past and his parents’ lives, too.
If you were in the circle this time, what would your recommendation be for Cole? Why?

17. Chapter Fifteen
Cole makes the comment, “I realized I was dying and I had never really even lived yet.“ Many people feel that there are things they really hope to accomplish, see, or participate in before they die. Sometimes this is called a “Bucket List.” Any ideas why it’s called this?
What would your bucket list look like right now?
What items would you put on such a list
and why?

18. The whole world is a stage and we are but actors upon it.
Chapter Sixteen
The whole world is a hot dog! Really? This may seem like a very unusual metaphor for the world but in our story, it works.
Think about your vision of our world. What would you compare it to and why.
Draw a simile or metaphor for the world.
The whole world is a stage and we are but actors upon it.

19. Chapter Seventeen
What do happiness and anger have in common? Nothing, you say?. I disagree. Think about the last time you were overjoyed. How did you feel, sound, act, look? Now think about the last time you were enraged. Again, how did you feel, sound, act, look? Any similarities? Tell me your thoughts about what these two strong emotions have in common. I bet it’s more than you think!

20. Chapter Eighteen
Learning to roll the ancestor rock requires Cole to think about his past, his ancestry, his mistakes and those that were made by others before him.
If you had to choose three pieces of sage advice that you have learned from your ancestors, what would they be? Be specific and explain why you chose them as important.

21. Chapter Nineteen
Edwin and Garvey trust Cole to soak and roll the ancestor rock without their presence. He has earned this trust. However, he soon realizes that without them “babysitting” him he could easily skip the soak and they wouldn’t know. He doesn’t.
Think about a time you were supposed to do something but because no one was watching you, you didn’t. Describe the event and how you felt about your choice. Would you make the same decision again?

22. Chapter Twenty
Trust is a major theme in our novel. When Garvey and Edwin no longer take the spark plugs out of the boat motor you know that they now trust Cole.
All of us have betrayed someone’s trust at one time in our lives. Describe a time when you were guilty of losing someone’s trust. How did it impact your relationship with that individual? How did you repair the relationship? Or…maybe you didn’t?

23. Chapter Twenty-One
Cole learns not to lie to himself. Write about a time when you lied to yourself, and you knew it. Cole chopped his potential canoe up to keep from acting on his lie - what did you do to protect yourself from your lie?

24. Chapter Twenty-Two
Emotions have a way of reappearing when we think we have gotten over them. For me, every time I drive past the funeral home that held my grandparents’ funerals, I tear up. I remember being there to say goodbye to them, years later.
What events cause emotions to have that pull on you? Explain.

25. Chapter Twenty-Three
Do you think you should always forgive? When would it be “ok” to not forgive? Do you think by forgiving you are helping yourself? Why/why not?

26. Chapter Twenty-Four
If the totem symbolizes lessons learned, now that Cole has danced the dance of anger what would be an appropriate symbol to represent this important moment?
Explain what you believe would be a good symbol and why.

27. Chapter Twenty-Five
Cole mentions that he believes he has the ability to help Peter. Considering their history together…what on Earth could Cole offer that would heal Peter physically and more importantly emotionally? Explain your thoughts.

28. Chapter Twenty-Six one page=full credit
Now that Peter is on the island, what do you think of the situation? Consider his behavior, the presence of his parents, and his physical struggles. Put yourself in Peter’s shoes.
In another paragraph…
As Peter…write a journal entry about your day on the island. Be sure to include how you think he feels about his situation and those around him..his parents, Garvey, Edwin…not just Cole. Become Peter!

29. Chapter Twenty-Seven
What was your reaction when Peter invited Cole into the cabin? Think back over the past chapter or two. Can you remember any foreshadowing that would have provided a hint that Peter’s attitude was changing?
Describe your reaction to the invitation and support it with details from the story. What do you think this new development means?

30. Choose 5 animals that would complete your totem.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Cole was able to put his anger aside and learn from the animals around him. From each one he gathered a life lesson that will help him continue on as a better person. Think about your own life and the lessons that you have learned and now live by. What animals would be on your totem?
Choose 5 animals that would complete your totem.
With each animal, include the life lesson that it teaches and how/why it is important to you.
Be sure to think about life lessons, not physical attributes like speed or agility.

31. Conclusion
You have had the opportunity to experience the world Ben Mikaelsen created over the past several weeks. If you could speak with him personally, what would you ask? What would you like to know about his story? His writing experience? His ideas or thoughts? What did you like? Use your letter writing skills to compose a letter to the author. Share your thoughts with him. Remember, in order to be taken seriously, your letter must be professional. Remember your heading and closing, your return address, and your best spelling and grammar skills. Be honest but productive. Imagine you are having a face to face conversation with him.