Jorge F. 6 th period

The setting is on an isolated island in Ketchikan, (Southeast) Alaska near the village of Drake. The setting is important because if Cole hadn’t went there he wouldn’t have tamed his anger and he wouldn’t have made things right between him and Peter The setting is on an isolated island in Ketchikan, (Southeast) Alaska near the village of Drake. The setting is important because if Cole hadn’t went there he wouldn’t have tamed his anger and he wouldn’t have made things right between him and Peter.

Cole Matthews is an innocent-looking, baby-faced fifteen-year-old from Minneapolis who has been in trouble with the law half his life. He is also a violent juvenile offender with light skin and short blond hair. Three adjectives for his personality is violent, insecure, and defiant. These adjectives describe Cole because he must bully others to make up for his own insecurity and he does the exact opposite of what he is suppose to do even in front of the people who told him what to do. Peter Driscal is a ninth grader that is a skinny red- haired boy. Three adjectives that describes his personality is truthful, gutsy, and fearful. These adjective describe Peter because he told the truth to the police officer when he was asked if he knew the person who robed a hardware store even though he knew he could get beat up by Cole. Fearful describes Peter because of his eyes when Cole said “you’re a dead man.”

The conflict of the story is man vs Self and man vs man. In the conflict Cole bully’s other people to make up for his insecurity until one day he beats a boy named Peter. Now he must heal emotionally. He must also help Peter and show him that he isn't a monster.

In the exposition Cole gets sent to an isolated island in Ketchikan, (Southeast) Alaska by circle to make up for beating Peter but he only goes to avoid jail. The conflict of the story is that Cole beats Peter and he must help him heal emotionally. There are three events in the rising action. Event 1) Cole burns his shelter and supplies that is on the island because he is mad and thinks that circle justice wanted to get rid of him even though he wanted to go to the island. Event 2) Cole tries to escape the island by swimming in icy cold water. Event 3) Cole sees a spirit bear and he wants to kill it because it is not afraid of Cole. In the climax Cole attacks the spirit bear and he gets mauled by the bear and has a near death experience. Four events happen in the falling action. Event 1) Cole gets saved and goes to a hospital. Event 2) Circle Justice decides Cole has to go back to the island. Event 3) Peter tries to commit suicide and Cole wants to help him so he suggest that Peters comes to the island. Event 4) Peter goes to the island. If you want to know the resolution you must read the book!

The theme of the book is that people can change for the good even though they have had trouble with the law for half of their life. I have three pieces of evidence to support the theme. 1) “People change two ways—with slow persistent pressure, or with a single and sudden traumatic experience.” -Edwin (page 128) 2)3)

The point of view in the story is third person limited. The point of view helps the reader understand the main character’s thoughts. If the point of view was different all the character’s thoughts would be revealed, or one of the characters would be the narrator.

The spirit bear symbolizes change. It symbolizes change because when Cole saw the spirit bear again after he got attacked he started to have feelings. He also started noticing the world around him.

I recommend this book because it shows that people can change for the good even though they have had trouble with the law for half of their life.