Touching spirit bear

Touching Spirit bear

Touching spirit bear , the novel by Ben Mikaelsen is a fictional story about a trouble making kid, Cole, who gets in so much trouble that he has to go to a island in Alaska to experience solemn months. In his experience in the island, he gets mauled by a bear and witnesses cold nights alone. It is a life changing experience, and throughout the whole entire book, he really changes. This novel, just seemed like a corny middle school book, because of the parts where Cole danced around the fire, and i think it was just some stuff the author put in the book for the younger audience the book was aimed for. I think this book is not for people in high school.

Cole's last shot was used up when he beat up Peter, the kid who snitched on him for breaking into a hard ware store. Cole wanted revenge so he badly injured Peter. Peter was messed up for years and he had to do therapy for the injury's. He became messed up in the head and attempted suicide twice. Cole really hurt this kid physical and mentally, and the sad thing about it is that he didn't even care after it happened. He just blames the world for all of his anger. Most of his anger though comes from his parents. His parents are both drinkers and they do not support or care about Cole as much as they should, Garvey, the man who is helping Cole out can see this. He is the main one who believes in Cole and really puts alot of effort into helping Cole become a better person.

The island that Cole is temporally on is a remote, small and very wild part of Alaska. It seems like it is the kind of place that the Native Americans lived on, and it hasn't been covered up by concrete or buildings and malls. This seems like a good place to be alone for long periods of time. In this book, that is exactly what it is. And for Cole, it works. This whole idea for Cole was Garvey's idea, Garvey seems like a pushover in Cole's eyes. But he is a really nice man who pushes Cole's negative words away.

3. What are the weaknesses of this book, in your opinion?
This book has many weaknesses in my opinion, first off the kid Cole is an angry and disrespectful kid, and i didn't like him. I just didn't want to read about how rude he is and how he defies authority. But then i found out that he has a reason, His parents cause him to be really cruel to everybody and every thing. For example, both his parents are drinkers and his dad has beat him. His dad, of course, denies it in their meetings, and his mother says nothing when she has an opportunity to admit the truth. At the meetings, they both really try hard to look as if they are great parents, and Cole is just a complete mess-up. They don't seem to care for Cole, but they only show there true colors to each other, and they hide it from all others. I don't personally like how this whole section of the book is,

Another really weird thing is that Cole wakes up early every mourning, unlike when he was at home. He then walks up to a mountain, and he baths in freezing cold water. I don't really understand why, if this was real, he Probably would not get in freezing cold water early in the mourning. Water from my shower is too cold for me when i first get in. This kid . before he started to change would sleep in on the island, and be lazy all day. He set fire to the shelter some one made for him. I don't see him having enough enthusiasm to get in the water. This book, seems fake to me, i still, after finishing it dislike the whole subject and i don't see this bad kid learning all the things he apparently has learned.

14. For what audience(s) is this book intended, and how can you tell? (In other words, for whom would you recommend this book?)

This book is completely for kids in middle school. It is very easy reading and it doesn't require much knowledge to understand everything, something a higher educated reader looks for. So in my opinion, this novel is kind of boring. I can't get into it much, i didn't understand why Garvey would put so much time and effort into a kid like Cole, but it did work out for him. I think my brother in middle school would enjoy this book much more than i did, but still, not that much. I'm glad now that i am done with the book that bored me for 3 weeks. For a 7th grade essay, i can see a kid writing a good piece on this story, because it is easy reading material. That makes it a good book for younger kids. I think that the author wrote this book thinking of a young audience. I read this book, starting out with the intentions of enjoying myself, but that failed, but i dont have to worry about it anymore. My next book will be much more entertaining. This book lacks a sense of humor, and action. It topic wasn't good in my view, and i would not recommend this to any one else. The author needed to add more intriguing information for a older audience, so this book could be relative for a reader in high school. It is clearly for young kids though.Maybe this authors other books are alot more exciting to a different area and age of viewers, but i rather not read more of his books, because this book made me lose faith in this authors writing style. Maybe ill tell my brother to read this book, because e needs to do reading for his school, and this would be better than all the video games he plays, every day.

finished the easy book!!!!!!!!

Touching Spirit bear
Dear declan and johhny

This book is, as declan said, corny. I would agree with that statement. As the last section ends, i can see the change with in Cole. It is true so far that he is good, for a kid and he is becoming better. This section, i feel was really about peter, more than the previous two sections.In Each section, Cole is still the main charactor though. So Peter has tried to commit suiside twice, and has many problems from when He was beaten up. Cole really doubts at first that they would even let peter on the island, but he gets there. SO peter and Cole live on the island and do alot of the same things every day, it does get repetetive.

Cole gets up every mournng and does the same thing, i guess this teaches him that he has to take responsibility kind of, he can't just do watever he wants, but what he does is his choice here. Okay, so he wakes up early then takes a rock up a long hill and goes to a pond. he takes a bath in the pond and it helps him to relieve his anger and get rid of his strees from his anger problems. At the end of the book, peter trys to beat up cole, and cole doesn't fight back. This makes peter cry, so it is almost as if they have switched shoes. This book leaves you hanging. It doesn't say anything much after this little event. I would have liked to know a little more, but it's alright. I didn't really enjoy this book a hole lot. I am more excite dfor mu next book. "confessions of an econamic hitman". I am glad this book is done, it is more of an easy middle school book for younger kids.

finished the easy book!!!!!!!!

Touching Spirit bear
Dear declan and johhny

This book is, as declan said, corny. I would agree with that statement. As the last section ends, i can see the change with in Cole. It is true so far that he is good, for a kid and he is becoming better. This section, i feel was really about peter, more than the previous two sections.In Each section, Cole is still the main charactor though. So Peter has tried to commit suiside twice, and has many problems from when He was beaten up. Cole really doubts at first that they would even let peter on the island, but he gets there. SO peter and Cole live on the island and do alot of the same things every day, it does get repetetive.

Cole gets up every mournng and does the same thing, i guess this teaches him that he has to take responsibility kind of, he can't just do watever he wants, but what he does is his choice here. Okay, so he wakes up early then takes a rock up a long hill and goes to a pond. he takes a bath in the pond and it helps him to relieve his anger and get rid of his strees from his anger problems. At the end of the book, peter trys to beat up cole, and cole doesn't fight back. This makes peter cry, so it is almost as if they have switched shoes. This book leaves you hanging. It doesn't say anything much after this little event. I would have liked to know a little more, but it's alright. I didn't really enjoy this book a hole lot. I am more excite dfor mu next book. "confessions of an econamic hitman". I am glad this book is done, it is more of an easy middle school book for younger kids.

This part of the novel was very different than the first part. I got different feekling from the first paper clip to now. We picked a good section to divide the book in. It gets different, at first , after first understanding who cole was, and how he lived, to even beating a kid up to now. I was irrateated at his charactor and seeing how mean he was, he didn't have a care in the world , at all. To now, I feel as if he is more caring and understanding for things and people other than himself.

On the island Cole was convinced that he saw the spirit bear, and it acually mauled him, But what makes this kind of ironic, is he said he caould easily kill the bear and he had absolutely no respect for the bear but then the bear, who i had my bets on, mauled the disrespectful kid. This seriously taught him a lesson though, he now knows he's not all that tough, nd there are things that could easily harm him, or even worst.

There has been more circle justice meetings, and even after trying to escape, and getting amuled, cole gets a second change at the island and takes it over jail, but this time you can see improvment. THis sort-of surprised me, i kind of could tell it was coming from context clues, and it's a book, and things like this happen, ...good endings.Or at least better. At the circle justice meetings, Coles mom is starting to take more of a stand, but the others, beside garvey, mostly, are being rude to him, and are not believing him for the mauling. IT is obvious from scrars but the lawyer on peters side still wants him thrown in jail. I like how cole is becoming with his second change, he is starting to take responsibility and acually trying to make better of his situation, The bear has taught him a lesson i n my opinion.

In Trouble

This is a story of a time I got in trouble with my best friend. In the middle of 8^th grade, I was going to the close-up trip meetings every Thursday. I had already paid the the non-refundable check. It was a Tuesday i think, or somw day in the middle of my week and after my math class was lunch and my good friend found a wallet with 96 dollars in it. I was really excited because he said we could split the money and leave the wallet in the classroom. I thought we had won the lottery, I knew it was kind of wrong but my friend wanted to keep the money. As we were walking a teacher saw him holding up the money, he was showing it to me. The teacher said hey where did you get all that money from, and he said shockingly that it was his.

We did not think we would get in trouble, we thought since we found it we could keep it. Then we were showing it off to some friends. My friend let me hold it for the rest of the day, and I let another friend hold $20. I don’t know why, but I did, and I wanted to do was hold that money. I thought I was cool because I had $96. I felt rich, and powerful because usually I only have around $10 to $20 with me or at my house. I had heard that someone had lost their wallet, so I became scared and decided to turn all of it in after school, after I had thought of it I knew it was the right thing to do. So my friend who had $20 dollars and I were going to turn in the money afterschool and say that we found it on the ground.

During my 7^th period class, my name was called to the office. I walked in and saw my friend in a room and he looked very depressed. So as I was talking to the principle, I was as stiff as a stone and very nervous. I told the truth, and the principle said that I was going to be suspended for one day and I might not be able to go on the close-up trip. The only thing I could think about was what would my parents say about this.The principle said that my friend would most likely not go on the close-up trip. We were going to room together too, our trip was going to be messed up. When I got home on that rainy day my mom was furious and my dad was disappointed and more understanding.

After the day I stayed home I wasn’t really nervous and on Thursday the teachers who were going on close-up talked to us and after all we were able to go on the trip and we did room together. I told a lot of people what happened and most of them said they would do the same thing. I was as happy as a clam when I found out I could still go on the close-up trip. And one month later, I went. My mom was really mad, but her anger went down with in a week. Also the principle said that no one should bring that much money to school, and that if someone did they should pay really close attention to their wallet. As soon as I found out who the person was who owned the wallet I wrote them a apology letter, I felt a little guilt but the person wasn’t mad because he got all his money back. After three weeks I forgot about it and everybody was focusing on the close-up trip.

To me. i find cars very interesting and because i am getting my license next tuesday, i bought a car. So for my first ride, i bought a used acura legend from my neibors who don't drive it any m. They kept the car in real good condition because the husband of the driver is a car enthusist and he is in to corvettes, so he knows a thing or two about autpmobles. Back to my "whip". IT is 1988 5sp manuel with a v6 2.7 liter motor. Yes, it is a stick shift, and i prefer that for a car because it is much funner and after i learned how to drive a stick, it makes driving less boring, and to me it makes me, to pay attention to what im doing. I can't multitask, for example, which is illegal now but, i could not drive and talk on the phone while eating, and listening to music having a coversation with my friends, who are in the car also. 

    My parents have alrwady told me the rules for me to drive. I can't rwally leave alameda, much, and i have to tell them, but io would any way. I can't drive my friends arounf because it is illegal, unless i get good grads i have to pay for my insuranse, which is kind of a bummer. But iam getting a 3.0 right now so i can get cheaper insuranse, which is awesome for me. 

    Yes, my car is a fix-er-upper. I do have some more things to do , added to what iv'e already done. So far, i have cleaned it really good, oty was very dirty when ifirst bought it. The car has been sitting for years, but after the help of a booster pack, it started right up. SO, the first day, i was the most excited iv'e been in awhile. THe nexyt day, icleaned the air filter, pump[ed up the tires, got seat covers and a steering wheel cover, and got black mats for the carpet. Back in the day this car was very expensive andwas considered luxury's. It has leather seats, but they are all torn up, ....explains the seat covers. The first time driving my own car, i was exstaitc, and i drove from my house to the gas station in south soure. I checked the oil there, and there was none. So my mom and i went inside and bought some, which i should of checked before i drove, but i was too excited.  The stereo set up in the car is pretty good for the year, the owners put an aftermarket stereo and speakers in it, and m ost like;ly dropped a bit of money on that. I made one cd with 20 songs on it and so far, its the only thing ive been listening to because i think i can replace the faceplate with  a new set up, so i can plug my ipod in, insted of making a ton of cd's.

bad opinion

Dear Declan and Johnny boi,

I, so far, am lightweight enjoying this book. I say lightweight because the main character, Cole literally kind of makes me mad. He is a bully and is so disrespectful, its unbelievable. He is still very young and became very ignorant, and its sad theres actually people like this. I don't think, in real life, the whole circle justice group would not work on a person like this, but a year is a long time, so i can't be sure. But my prediction is he will become a better person in society. Garvey, the guy who is actually trying to help out Cole, and cares and actually sees and wants to fix the problems in Cole's life, gets treated very poorly. IT is sad, i am glad though, when Garvey says, "I don't waste my time on losers", so he says something that is negative against Cole, which i think is a good thing.

Cole has to go to the hut on the island, and is is so bad that he burns it down, while laughing, mocking all the people he hates. First off, someone took alot of time to build it, and money to but the materials, and is so arrogant, that he burns it down, and then, to top it off, he throws the blanket that Garvey gave him into the fire. And he swims from island to island, some how, he was supported in swimming, so he is a strong swimmer.

I like this book, and i don't, for example, Cole just makes me mad, but i know this is a fake story. Things like this do happen though, it is just describing a kid who had bad influences growing up and the change he goes through. HE beat up a kid, real bad, i think jail would have been better, but it;s just a book.

Motorcross

In order for some people to be happy, sometimes they have to take risks. Its not true for all peopel though. Motocross is a way of life for most people that do it. The thrill of racing against someone so close that you could tap them on their opposite shoulder, 10 feet in the air, is what i and all the motocross racers live for. For those uninformed of what motocross is, I will explain. Motocross is competition dirt bike racing which takes place on either large outdoor tracks mainly. There are many obstacles such as jumps that can be as long as 100 feet, to closely packed rollers, called whoops that can be knee deep in depth. Along with manmade obstacles, after a full day of racing the track will form deep ruts due to the tire tracks, and large braking bumps that can very easily throw an inexperienced rider over the bars. All of this is can be competed by as any as 40 riders at a time, which can make for very exciting racing. My cr250, 2 stroke is basically, or was made for motorcross.
There is a large consent from non motocross racers that it can not be considered a sport because of the fact that you are on a machine, and that it is not a physically demanding sport because you are only twisting a throttle. However, if you have ever competed in a race, or even rode a bike you would know. Some Recent studies from magazines ive been reading have shown that motocross is the second most physically demanding sport…in the world, trailing soccer for the number one spot. You are on a very powerful dirt bike lined up on a gate with 40 other riders all of which will start at the same time, and race into the same corner all battling for position. If you make it through the first turn, then you have the rest of the track to race a 20 minute moto on. You will be riding through crater sized holes, ruts, and rocks the size of volleyballs all at the 50 mph plus speed. After one lap, a beginning rider may become so tired they have to pull over. Throughout the course of the race, your arms become so swollen, a condition called arm pump it sucks. You lose hand control and you struggle to hold onto the bike. Now imagine not being able to hold onto the handlebars of your machine, flying 80 feet through the air, with people inches away from you on both sides. By the end of the race you are so physically exhausted that you can barely hold on after five laps of racing all out on an almost mile long track, that you are relieved to pull of the track. Now do that one or two more times in the same day. If that isn’t physically demanding, then I don’t know what physically demanding is. I ride on motorcross tracke, and ive raced quads.
The thrill of riding is the reason riders come back week after week. Everything important that you worried about earlier in the day, becomes obsolete the moment you start your bike on the line in anticipation of so much as a quiver from the starting gate. It’s also the reason we spend countless dollars just to have your bike competition ready week in and week out. The price however, is why most riders will never accomplish their dream of becoming pro and winning a world champion. And it is very expensive, which is why only a select few will ever be successful in the sport. People may say that it’s a waste of money, but those people will never understand why we do it. Racers are a different breed of people. We have to be the best, at everything that we do. Everyone in the pits on a race day are all there for one thing and one thing only, to win. If we don’t win, then the day was a waste but we will always be there next weekend, to do it all over again in hopes of getting what we came for.