14 March 2001 TOUCHING SPIRIT BEAR by Ben Mikaelsen, Harper Collins Children's Books, February, 2001

"...What was he doing a million miles from nowhere, sitting in a freezing pond beside a bizarre Tlingit Indian with a stick? ' What's the stick for?' he asked loudly.

Edwin opened his eyes as if coming out of a sleep. Calmly he held up the stick. 'The right end of this stick is your happiness, the left end is your anger,' Edwin said. He handed the stick to Cole. ' Break off the left end and get rid of your anger.'

Shivering, Cole took the stick in his fists and broke off one side.

Edwin shook his head. ' You broke off the left end, but a left end still exists. Go ahead, break it off again.'

Again, Cole broke the stick, and again Edwin shook his head. ' Why did you leave the left end on the stick when I asked you to break it off?'

'That's stupid,' Cole muttered. ' The left end will always be there.'

Edwin nodded. ' People spend lifetimes breaking their stick to get rid of anger. But always anger remains, and they think they've failed.'

Edwin's point is that what you focus on--the anger or the happiness--becomes your reality. This is one of the lessons I gleaned from this wonderful story.

Edwin cites patience, gentleness, strength, and honesty as things that Cody needs to learn. Another lesson, what you do to others you do to yourself, leads to the concept that when a wrong has been committed both victim and perpetrator need healing.

Cody has spent most of his young life in trouble. His reaction to frequent beatings by his alcoholic father has been to strike out at others. When he gravely injures a boy who has ratted on Cody's boasting about a burglary, Cody finds himself scheming to escape trial as an adult by agreeing to participate in a Native American-inspired Circle Justice program. This alternative program, which promotes healing rather than punishment, results in his being banished for a year to a small island off of the southwest coast of Alaska.

The story of Cody's battle within, primarily set on the rugged island, is as exciting and adventurous as it is rich in lessons. His challenge is to survive on the island despite having himself as his own worst enemy. His attempt to swim off of the island and his encounter with Spirit Bear are intense, unforgettable scenes. For teens, whether they can relate to feeling like Cody, know someone who might be wounded like Cody, or are simply up for a great outdoor adventure story, this is a must-read.

Richie Partington

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