Ghost of Spirit Bear
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Ghost of Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen
Welcome to my book review of Ghost of Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen
This is a great young adult reader, but as an adult (even a grandma), I also really enjoyed the book.
Please note that I listened to this book on audio.
See my full review below :)
This is a great young adult reader, but as an adult (even a grandma), I also really enjoyed the book.
Please note that I listened to this book on audio.
See my full review below :)
My Review
Ghost of Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen
Recommended for readers ages 11 to 17. Hey, I'm 44, and I really enjoyed it. My 14 year old got right in to it too.
Cole was a violent kid. He beat up Peter, causing permanent brain damage. His punishment was exile to a remote island off of Alaska. Peter was invited to be on the island with his. Yes, the same boy he beat up.
While on the island Cole learns a lot about himself and his heart. Being attacked by a spirit bear his perspective really changes.
Cole and Peter head back to the city after their time on the island. They are met with a high school that is full of violence, bullies, vandals, etc.
Cole and Peter are told to fight from their heart, not their fists. Besides, if they get in to a fight, they will go to jail. One group of 5 boys is especially hard on Peter. Being handicapped due to his beating makes him a prime target.
Together, the boys try to do things as close to how they did them on the island. Things like sitting in a store freezer to clear their minds. They bought used bowling balls and went to an abandoned building to throw them down the stairs.
It was at this building that they ran into an old homeless man. He never realy spoke to him. They were a little afraid of him. Throughout the story, this homeless man pops in to a lot of places where they are, and then disappears. They compare him to the spirit bear, in fact, at one point they see him lay something in the grass before he disappears. When they go to investigate they find it's a small carved statue of a bear.
When things go from bad to worse at their school....Peter gets beat up by a gang in the school bathroom, and one girl that is constantly being called a slut commits suicide.....Cole takes a stand with the principal and tells her that things must change.
She agrees, no longer afraid of losing her job, that the students come first. They put together some things and the students seem to warm up to the ideas. One of the ideas is to change the school mascot from the Raging Bulldogs to The Spirit Bear.
Changing the school mascot becomes a fight for Cole as he has to take on the school board and angry parents. In the end he does get the approval for the change.
Wondering what ever came about with the homeless man? I was wondering too as the book came to an end. It's a nice surprise ending with that (and no, I'm not telling).
I hope I've told you enough about the book to spark an interest in reading it. It's a touching tale of making the world a better place, one person at a time. This is where I agree with the recommended reading for ages 11-17. I'm not sure that it shouldn't be required school reading!
Recommended for readers ages 11 to 17. Hey, I'm 44, and I really enjoyed it. My 14 year old got right in to it too.
Cole was a violent kid. He beat up Peter, causing permanent brain damage. His punishment was exile to a remote island off of Alaska. Peter was invited to be on the island with his. Yes, the same boy he beat up.
While on the island Cole learns a lot about himself and his heart. Being attacked by a spirit bear his perspective really changes.
Cole and Peter head back to the city after their time on the island. They are met with a high school that is full of violence, bullies, vandals, etc.
Cole and Peter are told to fight from their heart, not their fists. Besides, if they get in to a fight, they will go to jail. One group of 5 boys is especially hard on Peter. Being handicapped due to his beating makes him a prime target.
Together, the boys try to do things as close to how they did them on the island. Things like sitting in a store freezer to clear their minds. They bought used bowling balls and went to an abandoned building to throw them down the stairs.
It was at this building that they ran into an old homeless man. He never realy spoke to him. They were a little afraid of him. Throughout the story, this homeless man pops in to a lot of places where they are, and then disappears. They compare him to the spirit bear, in fact, at one point they see him lay something in the grass before he disappears. When they go to investigate they find it's a small carved statue of a bear.
When things go from bad to worse at their school....Peter gets beat up by a gang in the school bathroom, and one girl that is constantly being called a slut commits suicide.....Cole takes a stand with the principal and tells her that things must change.
She agrees, no longer afraid of losing her job, that the students come first. They put together some things and the students seem to warm up to the ideas. One of the ideas is to change the school mascot from the Raging Bulldogs to The Spirit Bear.
Changing the school mascot becomes a fight for Cole as he has to take on the school board and angry parents. In the end he does get the approval for the change.
Wondering what ever came about with the homeless man? I was wondering too as the book came to an end. It's a nice surprise ending with that (and no, I'm not telling).
I hope I've told you enough about the book to spark an interest in reading it. It's a touching tale of making the world a better place, one person at a time. This is where I agree with the recommended reading for ages 11-17. I'm not sure that it shouldn't be required school reading!
Buy Your Copy Here
Ben and Buffy
Please visit Ben Mikaelsen's website to learn more about their bear, Buffy. You will also find great resources on his page including FREE downloadable lesson plans!
http://www.benmikaelsen.com/
Find His Books on eBay
About The Author
Ben Mikaelsen (born c.1952, Bolivia) is a writer of children's literature.
Mikaelsen is a Settler in the United States of Danish descent. He wasn't sent to school until the fourth grade where he was heavily bullied for his race. Some years later, Mikaelsen moved with his family to the United States where he entered the seventh grade. He began writing full time in 1984, and has won many awards, including the International Reading Association Award and the Western Writers' Golden Spur award. He has also gained many state Readers Choice Awards. He is a sky diving champion and has written many novels such as Tree Girl, Touching Spirit Bear, Ghost of Spirit Bear and Petey. Mikaelsen owned a male American Black Bear named Buffy for 26 years until its death on September 1, 2010.[1] Mikaelsen eventually considered Buffy a "750-pound member of my family."[2] He does not believe it is right to take an animal out of its natural environment.[citation needed] Today, Mikaelsen lives outside Bozeman, Montana with his wife and kids. He has been writing books for 26 years.
Information taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Mikaelsen
Mikaelsen is a Settler in the United States of Danish descent. He wasn't sent to school until the fourth grade where he was heavily bullied for his race. Some years later, Mikaelsen moved with his family to the United States where he entered the seventh grade. He began writing full time in 1984, and has won many awards, including the International Reading Association Award and the Western Writers' Golden Spur award. He has also gained many state Readers Choice Awards. He is a sky diving champion and has written many novels such as Tree Girl, Touching Spirit Bear, Ghost of Spirit Bear and Petey. Mikaelsen owned a male American Black Bear named Buffy for 26 years until its death on September 1, 2010.[1] Mikaelsen eventually considered Buffy a "750-pound member of my family."[2] He does not believe it is right to take an animal out of its natural environment.[citation needed] Today, Mikaelsen lives outside Bozeman, Montana with his wife and kids. He has been writing books for 26 years.
Information taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Mikaelsen
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Ruthi
Apr 1, 2012 @ 6:41 pm | delete
- Ghost of Spirit Bear sounds like an interesting book, especially for teens. I am guessing from your book review there will be a few good lessons to be learned.
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Sylvestermouse
Jan 2, 2012 @ 2:08 pm | delete
- Sounds like a wonderful book! I will indeed have to read it. Thank you for the recommendation
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cffutah
Nov 9, 2011 @ 8:04 am | delete
- well done lens, enjoyed your review on this book, I hadn't heard about it before but I do have a avid 11 year old reader who reads books like Beauty did in Beauty and the Beast. Happy to give you a 'thumbs up' on your lens this morning.
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OrganicMom247
May 20, 2011 @ 8:21 am | delete
- Great information on a great writer and book
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