Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen is a compelling coming-of-age novel that follows the journey of Cole Matthews, a troubled and defiant teenager with a history of violence. After a brutal attack on a classmate, Cole is given the choice between juvenile detention and Circle Justice, a Native American alternative that focuses on healing and rehabilitation. As part of his sentence, Cole is sent to a remote Alaskan island where he must confront his inner demons and the harsh realities of the wilderness.
John Darnielle’s second book is about the space between two separate worlds – the one we live in and the one we think we live in. It’s a place where aspirations are born, where imagination develops . . . also where great loneliness lives.
