Meet the Characters
The 13-year-old protagonist left alone in the Maine wilderness to guard his family's new cabin.
Who is Matt Hallowell?
Matt suffers severe stings all over his body after tyring to climb a tree to get this sweet treat.
What is honey?
Matt's father leaves the cabin to return to Massachusetts to fetch these people.
Who are Matt's mother, sister, and new baby (family)?
Before leaving for Massachusetts, Matt's father gives him this valuable family heirloom.
What is a silver pocket watch?
Matt refuses Sakni's offer to move north with the tribe because he needs to stay and do this.
What is wait for his family (guard the cabin)?
The Native American boy who reluctantly agrees to take reading lessons from Matt.
Who is Attean?
The symbol carved into the tree trunks to mark the hunting territory belonging to Attean's clan.
What is a beaver?
The famous adventure novel about a marooned sailor that Matt uses to teach Attean English.
What is Robinson Crusoe?
Saknis gives Matt these comfortable, well-fitting leather shoes after healing his bee stings.
What are moccasins?
To prepare for the harsh Maine winter, Matt uses animal skins to make this warm clothing item.
What is a rabbit-skin cap (mittens/coat)?
Attean's grandfather and the wise chief of the local Penobscot tribe.
Who is Saknis?
A wild animal wrecks the inside of the cabin and eats Matt's flour after smelling this sticky, sweet ingredient.
What is molasses?
To complete his rite of passage into manhood, Attean must go into the forest alone to find this spiritual guide.
What is his manitou?
Before Attean moves north for the winter, Matt gives him this prized personal possession as a farewell gift.
What is his father's silver pocket watch?
Matt makes these special footwear frames out of bent wood and thongs to walk on top of deep snow.
What are snowshoes?
The shady, white stranger who visits the cabin and steals Matt's rifle while he sleeps.
Who is Ben?
Attean teaches Matt how to make this weapon out of a branch, root fibers, and feathers.
What is a bow and arrow?
What is a bear?
Before departing with his tribe, Attean leaves this companion behind for Matt as a gift.
What is his dog?
Matt's family was delayed in coming back to Maine because they were sick with this illness.
What is typhus fever?
Attean's mother was killed by white men for this item, causing his grandmother to hate white people.
What is her hair (scalp)?
Instead of using metal hooks, Attean shows Matt how to catch fish using this natural material.
What are carved wood (twigs)?
Matt rescues this animal from an iron trap, earning the respect of Attean and his family.
What is Attean's dog?
Attean uses the word medabe when speaking to Matt, which means this.
What is brother (friend)?
The month when Matt's family finally arrives at the cabin.
What is December?