Another great read on my summer list is this coming of age story about a young teenage boy who runs afoul of the law and ends up facing time in a juvenile detention center. The boy, Cole Matthews, struggles with serious anger issues rooted in a trouble home life that contribute to his violent actions toward his peers, one in particular, who ends up badly injured by Cole. A wise and compassionate social worker intervenes in Cole's case and offers him the opportunity to serve time in a different prison: isolation on an island south of Alaska as part of a Native American ritual known as Circle Justice. Cole seizes the opportunity and confronts the mythical Spirit Bear. The story digs deep into the human psyche and presents a thoughtful meditation on justice, human behavior, anger, and ultimately, redemption. I was deeply moved by the characters and story.
I give the novel an A+. I've recommended it to several people who were also taken with the story. Highly recommended for all readers 12 and up; for strong readers younger than that. I'm eager to read Mikaelsen's other books.
A brief biography of the author on the Scholastic website:
If you like this book, you might also enjoy: Peak by Roland Smith; Hatchet by Gary Paulsen; The Great Wide Sea by M.H. Herlong; The Other Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George.
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