Ghost of Spirit Bear

Touching Spirit Bear was an interesting story. I liked the whole survival process he went through on the island. The solitude, the peace in him was uplifting as he went from out of control delinquent to getting a handle on himself. When I saw there was a sequel, I thought what else can he write, Cole's story is complete. But upon reading the sequel, I see he has taken it to the next step. It takes Cole tackling real life, being back in high school, dealing with large quantities of people again. It is a story about a high school gone wild. Bullying, suicide, vandalism and lack of respect, rather than getting an education are the themes at the high school.

In it, Cole and Peter are the ones who are bullied. In the first book, Peter is the reason Cole is on the island. Cole nearly killed him and because of his injuries, Peter doesn't move like others. His injuries were very bad. Cole was injured too, on the island by the Spirit Bear so his arm hangs at his side. In confronting the bullies, Cole wants to beat them up like he did Peter and rather quickly through the course of the book goes back to what he was taught on the island. It's a very short book. They have an idea to change the school mascot to a Spirit Bear instead of a growling bull dog, thinking that people will start to care again. They are aided by a new principal and have to battle the school board and the town board.

I think the book was too short, it didn't have time to really get into the characters. I found it did not live up to its predecessor and was disappointed. It takes a lot more time to change a condition at a high school. And I think more could have been spent on Cole and Peter just getting used to being back home before jumping them into High School drama. Bullying, etc. is a very important subject to explore in our schools and I felt not enough time was given to give it justice.

Books about troubled kids "finding themselves" are a dime a dozen, but "Touching Spirit Bear" is one that stands out from the rest. In this sequel, Cole is ready to leave the island where he spent his year of banishment and learned to overcome his anger and care for others. Still a bit rough around the edges, Cole and his friend Peter find it harder than they expected to keep alive the mindfulness, inner peace, and tender strength they discovered on the island, as they reenter society - high school society in particular. Both Cole and Peter are immediately subjected to bullying; Cole wants to stand up for Peter, but knows he could lose his probation for getting into a fight. Cole learns to fight with his head and his heart rather than his fists, but when another bullied student at their school commits suicide, Cole decides it's time for the whole school to join the Circle and take itself in a new direction.

Just as in its predecessor, redemption is hard-won in "Ghost of Spirit Bear." The changes in Cole and Peter are realistic, as are their struggles. It isn't necessary to have read the first book to enjoy this one, but those who have read "Touching Spirit Bear" will have a special appreciation for how far Cole and Peter have come, and how great are the challenges that still lie ahead of them.

I was very disappointed in this sequel to the wonderful Touching Spirit Bear. The sequel had none of the genuineness and authenticity of the first book. The writing and the plot situations seemed very contrived; none of it felt authentic. It is ironic that the first book, set on an island with a mythical spirit bear, seemed much more realistic than this sequel set in a modern-day high school. The writing seemed very stilted at times, and none of the characters were very well-developed. For instance, the grocery store owner who allows the boys to use her freezer seemed like she might be an interesting and important character, but she simply disappeared after the first few chapters.

I was also disappointed with the way the school, the teachers, and the principal were portrayed. The whole "violence and gang-ridden school with the uncaring staff who look the other way" is such an overused stereotype. None of those scenarios rang true or had any depth to them. The oversimplified conflict and the ultimate resolution also felt very contrived, rushed, and undeveloped.

I have loved all of the other Mikaelsen books I have read; unfortunately, this was not one of his best.

This is the sequel to Touching Spirit Bear (rack). It is about how a violent kid really changed and helped others to change too after returning from being banished on an Alaskan island for a year. Very inspirational and a great read for young adults. Maybe not very realistic, but certainly nice fiction. It showed how a former bully dealt with being bullied himself and how he really made a difference in his school. I look forward to reading other books by this author who lives in Montana and has a pet bear! I recommend this book to anyone who likes reading inspirational books about teens and bullying but only after reading Touching Spirit Bear first to get the full impact of how much Cole changed.

Touching Spirit Bear is about how a violent kid, and how he really changed and helped others to change too. Cole is banished to an Alaskan Island by himself for a whole year is an awe inspiring story. He had to build his own little house and survive on his own. He was checked on regularly by his case worker. He went from out of control delinquent to getting a handle on himself. Cole now tackles real life, being back in high school, dealing with large quantities of people again.

It is a story about a high school gone wild. Bullying, suicide, vandalism and lack of respect, rather than getting an education are the themes at the high school.

He realises bullying at schools has to stop. Cole starts to take steps to make a huge difference.

If anyone has a child who is bullied or who is a bully this story is essential listening.

Very inspirational and a great read for young adults.

In Ghost of Spirit Bear Cole and Peter are headed back to Minneapolis and their old lives. While in the Alaskan wilderness Cole and Peter learned to control their emotions, to live in harmony with the land and effectively changed their lives. Now that they are back in their home and thrown back into all the same problems they are not sure they can effectively keep up the change they made in Alaska.

Though Ghost of Spirit Bear is little hard to believe at times it still effectively addresses a problem that many teens face--how do they keep up changes in their life in their same old environment? It is also effective that in the book the boys and eventually their whole school get to work together and bring about a change in their school. This is an important lesson for teens for two reasons. First, they need to know that they can make a difference. Secondly, if bad conditions in a person's environment are going to change, that individual has to step up and change them. Throughout the story Cole wanted the vice principal to change the problems in the school but they did not change until Cole, working with others, changed them. Overall, a good book, an enjoyable read and good sequel to a great book!

"Touching Spirit Bear" and "Ghost of Spirit Bear" have made a reader of one of my students! He couldn't put them down and now is asking for more - and he said he hated reading! I really enjoyed them, too.