Please note that some reviewers feel that Mikaelsen writing in _Touching
Spirit Bear_ is flawed when dealing with the Tlingit culture. Here's a
snip of the review at www.oyate.org
All of this having been said, Touching Spirit Bear is fatally flawed by
Mikaelsen's inexcusable playing around with Tlingit culture, cosmology
and ritual; and his abysmal lack of understanding of traditional
banishment. It is obvious that what he doesn't know, he invents. Edwin,
the Tlingit elder, instructs Cole to: jump into the icy cold water and
stay there as long as possible; pick up a heavy rock (called the
"ancestor rock") and carry it to the top of a hill; push the rock (now
called the "anger rock") back down the hill; watch for animals and dance
around the fire to impersonate the animal he sees (called the "bear
dance," "bird dance," "mouse dance," etc.); announce what he's learned
about the characteristics of that animal from his dance; and finally,
carve that animal on his own personal "totem pole."
~ VAN
Diane Van Gorden, Librarian
Baker High School
Baker Middle School
PO Box 659
Baker, MT 59313-0659
voice 406-778-3329
fax 406-778-2785
email: vangordend @ baker.k12.mt.us
books. cats. quilts. life is good!
-----Original Message-----
From: School Library Media & Network Communications
[mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Stein, Patti
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 11:53 AM
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: book suggestions - survival
Touching Spirit Bear, by Ben Mikaelsen, is an excellent novel that deals
with the issues of survival and personal growth. It is extremely popular
with my middle school students. The sequel, Ghost of Spirit Bear, is
now available, and is also very good.
Patti Stein
Librarian
Bohannon Middle School
San Lorenzo, California
Currently reading: Ghost of Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen
Cheng Hsin: Principles of Effortless Power by Peter
Ralston
From: Robin Metaj <robinmetaj@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Target: book suggestions
Good Morning,
Our Middle School is undergoing a major Language Arts curriculum
revision, and teachers are looking for suggestions for novels. Does
anyone have any title suggesions for the following themes:
Survival
Personal growth/journey
Coming of Age
Any title suggestions appropriate for Middle School will be appreciated.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
To change your LM_NET status, you send a message to:
listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER:
1) SIGNOFF LM_NET
2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL
4) SET LM_NET DIGEST
* LM_NET Help & Information: http://lmnet.wordpress.com/
* LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
* EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://lm-net.info/join.html
* LM_NET Supporters:
http://lmnet.wordpress.com/category/links/el-announce/
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
To change your LM_NET status, you send a message to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER:
1) SIGNOFF LM_NET
2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL
4) SET LM_NET DIGEST
* LM_NET Help & Information: http://lmnet.wordpress.com/
* LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
* EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://lm-net.info/join.html
* LM_NET Supporters: http://lmnet.wordpress.com/category/links/el-announce/
--------------------------------------------------------------------
LM_NET
Mailing List Home