[1NJ]≡ Libro Free Ghost of Spirit Bear Ben Mikaelsen Books

Ghost of Spirit Bear Ben Mikaelsen Books

Download As PDF : Ghost of Spirit Bear Ben Mikaelsen Books

Ghost of Spirit Bear Ben Mikaelsen Books

I'm very torn on this book because I think there are some fairly good messages in it, but at the same time, it endorses some things I don't like.

As for the things I like, this book has a strong message of justice, forgiveness, and taking your life into your own hands. Those are really valuable things for teens to learn - that they CAN make change if they persevere. It did a very good job following up on how the lessons Cole learned in the island don't translate directly into the real world, which I think is very helpful in digesting how YOU as the reader can implement change in your own behavior, even if you can't move to a remote island.

The things I didn't like about this book, however, are a little more varied.

I understand that certain things about Cole are based on his past, but I think there was an unrealistic teetering between his delinquent personality and his reformed personality. His aggression toward Garvey when Garvey won't spell things out for him was excessive. I feel like it would be more realistic for him to be passively annoyed about it rather than lashing out. He's known Garvey a long time at this point and he knows from experience that he's incredible wise and experienced. Everything he says has meaning and with the number of times he's proven to be right, I find it unrealistic that Cole would have so little faith in him. One moment, Cole is yelling at Garvey over the phone saying he doesn't know what he's talking about and the next, he's preaching forgiveness and understanding. I know people are flawed, but this seemed more like the author had a vision for the good and changed person Cole was supposed to be but felt he needed to balance it out. Except, in the balancing process, he overcorrected to outward aggression when it would have made more sense for his aggression to be suppressed.

The next thing I didn't like about this book is subjective, but something I feel very strongly about. As someone who grew up in an abusive household, I do NOT like that this book endorses trying to help your abuser. I don't think there's anything wrong with being cordial toward an abuser in the occasion that you come across them, but this book actively encourages its readers to reach out. I think the author had good intentions with this, but the target audience is very impressionable and in the real world, a very high percentage of abusers will not change. There are many that do, but encouraging a teenager, who for all intents and purposes is a child, to reach out and take responsibility for their abusive, adult parent, is horrible writing. Accepting an apology and reconnecting after an abuser has already changed their behavior and wishes to right their wrongs is one thing, but trying to fix them when they're still unrepentant and blaming everyone around them is absolutely detrimental to the healing process of an abuser survivor. Abuse survivors already have serious problems with trying to help their abusers, because it's almost always someone they love (like a parent or significant other). This is one of the reasons the cycle of abuse is so hard to break free of. Having a book encourage this in the band of love and healing is the main reason I knocked my rating down to two stars. I absolutely can't endorse this.

The next thing I didn't like about this book was how sensationalist it felt. There was this constant feeling that Cole was some kind of saint because of his experiences. I know that's not how it was meant to come across, but let me tell you, as a teenager - and even now as a young adult - I would have hated him. He became one of those people who seems like he's on a high horse, constantly regaling his story of redemption in a way that feels like he's trying to show off how 'wise' he is for his age. Teenagers hate that shit. There is absolutely no way that an entire school of students would have backed him when he came off like some kind of holier than thou wiseass. Teenagers in particular, find people like that to be obnoxious. That's why I'd you try to preach your Christianity or something at school, other students will steer clear of you or bully you. It's downright annoying.

The last thing I didn't like about this book was the ending. The author uses coincidence and what was seemingly supernatural to tie up loose ends. It didn't feel satisfying to me and it felt like a cop-out.

All in all, this book had decent parts to it but I cannot recommend it. I know next to nothing about the author's personal life, but this whole book came off like an abuser's 'we can change if you just stick around and get hit long enough' wet dream.


Tags : Amazon.com: Ghost of Spirit Bear (9780060090081): Ben Mikaelsen: Books,Ben Mikaelsen,Ghost of Spirit Bear,HarperCollins,0060090081,Boys & Men,School & Education - General,Social Themes - Violence,Change (Psychology),Change;Fiction.,Conduct of life,High schools,High schools;Fiction.,Minneapolis (Minn.),Schools,Schools;Fiction.,Self-actualization (Psychology),Change,Children's BooksAges 9-12 Fiction,Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9),Fiction,JUVENILE,Juvenile Fiction,Juvenile Fiction School & Education,Juvenile Fiction Social Themes Bullying,Juvenile Fiction Social Themes Violence,Juvenile FictionSchool & Education,Juvenile Grades 7-9 Ages 12-14,Minnesota,Personal & social issues: bullying, violence & abuse (Children's Teenage),School & Education,School & Education - General,Schools,Schools;Fiction.,Self-actualization (Psychology),Social Issues - Violence,Social Problems (General) (Young Adult),Social Themes - Violence,TEEN'S FICTION - GENERAL,TEEN'S SOCIAL ISSUES (GENERAL),United States,YOUNG ADULT FICTION,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Boys & Men,YOUNG ADULT FICTION School & Education General,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Social Themes Violence,Juvenile Fiction School & Education,Juvenile Fiction Social Themes Bullying,Juvenile Fiction Social Themes Violence,Juvenile FictionSchool & Education,School & Education,Social Issues - Violence,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Boys & Men,YOUNG ADULT FICTION School & Education General,YOUNG ADULT FICTION Social Themes Violence,Children's BooksAges 9-12 Fiction,Change,Fiction,Social Problems (General) (Young Adult),YOUNG ADULT FICTION,Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9),Personal & social issues: bullying, violence & abuse (Children's Teenage)

Ghost of Spirit Bear Ben Mikaelsen Books Reviews

This book was okay. It was nice to see what happened to Cole and Peter after the island, but I don’t think this book was totally necessary. It does have a great message about changing yourself in order to make a difference around you, though.
I gave this book only three stars because I thought the book series was about bears in the wild not about a bad high school kid's experiences.
This is the sequel to Touching Spirit Bear and is a must read! These books have sparked a love for reading in my teen son who is a very reluctant reader. We started reading the first book as a read out loud. My son got in a hurry and finished the book on his own. When this book arrived in the mail, he sat and read the whole thing in one afternoon....a FIRST! Thank you for a wonderful story Ben Mikaelsen!
What do you do after significant life change? Good handling of main character's anger issues and resolution of reentry into normal life after banishment. Author continues rebuilding relationship with main character's victim. Best part of the book is the author's analysis of the writing process and self-revelation in the novel. Good read!
This is the best book I have ever read, and I have read thousands of books. I won't go into everything I liked about it because that would take forever, but I will talk briefly about one. The characters felt so real in the book,I felt their emotions as I read about them. When Cole felt angry, I felt angry. When he felt helpless, I felt helpless. The author is truly talented, and this is a very well written and thought out book.
I read this book because I read the first one. My son was reading Touching the Spirit Bear as a class assignment. I was trying yo help him answer some questions and was hooked. So after reading the first one I really wanted to see what the next step was for Peter and Cole. Even a screwup can make a positive impact.
My school began using Restorative Justice last year. We read the book's prequel Touching Spirit Bear and the students loved it. It helped students grasp the concepts of Restorative Justice. They requested more. I just finished Ghost and we will read this one to start our new school year. In Spirit Bear Cole learns ways to control his emotions when he is by himself. In Ghost he must apply these new skills when faced with others. I work with students identified with emotional and behavioral problems in grades 7-12.
I'm very torn on this book because I think there are some fairly good messages in it, but at the same time, it endorses some things I don't like.

As for the things I like, this book has a strong message of justice, forgiveness, and taking your life into your own hands. Those are really valuable things for teens to learn - that they CAN make change if they persevere. It did a very good job following up on how the lessons Cole learned in the island don't translate directly into the real world, which I think is very helpful in digesting how YOU as the reader can implement change in your own behavior, even if you can't move to a remote island.

The things I didn't like about this book, however, are a little more varied.

I understand that certain things about Cole are based on his past, but I think there was an unrealistic teetering between his delinquent personality and his reformed personality. His aggression toward Garvey when Garvey won't spell things out for him was excessive. I feel like it would be more realistic for him to be passively annoyed about it rather than lashing out. He's known Garvey a long time at this point and he knows from experience that he's incredible wise and experienced. Everything he says has meaning and with the number of times he's proven to be right, I find it unrealistic that Cole would have so little faith in him. One moment, Cole is yelling at Garvey over the phone saying he doesn't know what he's talking about and the next, he's preaching forgiveness and understanding. I know people are flawed, but this seemed more like the author had a vision for the good and changed person Cole was supposed to be but felt he needed to balance it out. Except, in the balancing process, he overcorrected to outward aggression when it would have made more sense for his aggression to be suppressed.

The next thing I didn't like about this book is subjective, but something I feel very strongly about. As someone who grew up in an abusive household, I do NOT like that this book endorses trying to help your abuser. I don't think there's anything wrong with being cordial toward an abuser in the occasion that you come across them, but this book actively encourages its readers to reach out. I think the author had good intentions with this, but the target audience is very impressionable and in the real world, a very high percentage of abusers will not change. There are many that do, but encouraging a teenager, who for all intents and purposes is a child, to reach out and take responsibility for their abusive, adult parent, is horrible writing. Accepting an apology and reconnecting after an abuser has already changed their behavior and wishes to right their wrongs is one thing, but trying to fix them when they're still unrepentant and blaming everyone around them is absolutely detrimental to the healing process of an abuser survivor. Abuse survivors already have serious problems with trying to help their abusers, because it's almost always someone they love (like a parent or significant other). This is one of the reasons the cycle of abuse is so hard to break free of. Having a book encourage this in the band of love and healing is the main reason I knocked my rating down to two stars. I absolutely can't endorse this.

The next thing I didn't like about this book was how sensationalist it felt. There was this constant feeling that Cole was some kind of saint because of his experiences. I know that's not how it was meant to come across, but let me tell you, as a teenager - and even now as a young adult - I would have hated him. He became one of those people who seems like he's on a high horse, constantly regaling his story of redemption in a way that feels like he's trying to show off how 'wise' he is for his age. Teenagers hate that shit. There is absolutely no way that an entire school of students would have backed him when he came off like some kind of holier than thou wiseass. Teenagers in particular, find people like that to be obnoxious. That's why I'd you try to preach your Christianity or something at school, other students will steer clear of you or bully you. It's downright annoying.

The last thing I didn't like about this book was the ending. The author uses coincidence and what was seemingly supernatural to tie up loose ends. It didn't feel satisfying to me and it felt like a cop-out.

All in all, this book had decent parts to it but I cannot recommend it. I know next to nothing about the author's personal life, but this whole book came off like an abuser's 'we can change if you just stick around and get hit long enough' wet dream.