touching spirit bear chapters 1-2

Why is Cole Matthews banished to live alone on an island in Southeast Alaska for one year?

• Cole is banished to the island for his own protection. Peter Driscal has vowed to get revenge on Cole.

• Because Cole is a Tlingit Indian, court officials are allowing the Native American method of justice.

• Cole abuses drugs and alcohol. Banishment is an effective way to help him stop.

• Cole robbed a store and nearly beat Peter Driscal to death. Banishment is the only alternative to jail.

Why doesn't Cole trust Garvey, his parole officer?

• Cole thinks Garvey is odd and can't relate to teenagers, so Cole is wary of him.

• Garvey doesn't fear Cole, and Cole doesn't trust people who are not afraid of him.

• Cole doesn't trust anyone in the criminal justice system.

• Cole is prejudiced against Native Americans. Garvey is a Tlingit Indian, so Cole doesn't trust him.

Why does Edwin, the Tlingit elder, require Cole to wear his clothes inside out?

• It is Edwin's way of getting back at Cole for spitting on him.

• The purpose is to show humility and shame, and force Cole to realize that he is no longer in control of his life.

• Cole has to learn to do what people in authority tell him to do without questioning them.

• It is a symbol of the fact that Cole needs to correct his internal (emotional) problems.

What is Cole's philosophy about fear?

• Cole believes that the fear is the only sincerely felt human emotion.

• Cole believes that fear is necessary for success in life.

• Cole believes that no one is fearless; everyone is afraid of something.

• Cole believes that no one should be afraid of anything.

What does Cole learn from "being referred" repeatedly while each time being told that it is his last chance?

• Cole learns there are many agencies available to help him, but they need more well-trained staff to be effective.

• Cole learns that one must keep trying. No matter how many times he fails, he has to resolve his own problems.

• Cole learns there is no solution for his problems, and no one takes responsibility of telling him so.

• Cole learns that it is the adult term for passing the buck and that he can always count on having one more "last chance".

Why do you think counseling has no effect on Cole based on what we have read so far?

• Cole feels people have their own motives for helping him; threats are never followed up with action.

• Cole is required to use public service counselors who do not care about the people they are assigned to help.

• Counselors don't really listen to what Cole is saying when he answers their questions; they hear what they want to hear.

• Cole's parents are never present at the counseling sessions, so his real issues are never addressed.

How does Cole describe his parents near the beginning of the story?

• Cole describes his mom as "a strong, smart, and beautiful woman" and says that she married such "a temperamental man who abuses her."

• Cole describes his mom as "just like a Barbie doll, beautiful with a seemingly perfect life." He says his dad "Is (his) mom's Ken. He is not very bright, but a good man at heart.

• Cole describes his mom as "a wimpy alcoholic" who occasionally beats him. His dad is "equally as wimpy" and beats him worse than his mom does.

• Cole describes his mom as "a scared Barbie doll, always looking good but never fighting back or standing up to anyone." He calls his dad "a bullheaded drinker with a temper."

Cole has a habit of blaming others for his mistakes. Which of the following is an example of this behavior from the text?

• Cole tells Edwin "everything is determined by fate anyway, so no one really makes his own choices in life."

• Cole says Garvey is responsible for "getting (him) stuck on this lousy island."

• Cole believes that if Peter had learned to fight back, he wouldn't have been hurt so badly.

• Cole believes that his mother's abusiveness toward him makes him want to lash out at others.

What is Circle Justice?

• Circle Justice focuses on healing through group discussions and therapy with a trained group leader called a"Keeper."

• Circle Justice is the Native American term for "justice as nature would have it." It focuses on punishment through natural consequences.

• Circle Justice is a method of punishment that involves physical hardship and pain as a means of revenge.

• Circle Justice is a form of justice practiced by native cultures for thousands of years. It focuses on healing, not punishment.

What was the first sign that Cole does not plan to honor his commitment to stay on the island for one year?

• The statement "If these fossils really thought he was going to live in that shack, they were nus," implies that Cole intends to leave the island.

• When they approach the island in the skiff, Cole tells Garvey that he "has no intention of staying on the island."

• Even as the circle Justice leaders are deciding whether to send him to the island, Cole thinks of several possible ways to escape.

• Before Cole leaves for Alaska, he calls a friend and makes it clear that he will be back "sooner than anyone thinks."