Themes and Lessons
What is the purpose of Circle Justice?
A. Punishment and jail time
B. Protecting the government
C. Healing and restoration
D. Separating youth from society
C. Healing and restoration
Why is Cole sent to the island?
A. To attend wilderness school
B. To visit family
C. To escape the police
D. Circle Justice to seek healing
D. Circle Justice to seek healing
What animal attacks Cole?
A. Wolf
B. Spirit Bear
C. Eagle
D. Moose
B. Spirit Bear
Why is Peter’s mental state declining?
A. He wants attention
B. His friends move away
C. His trauma from the attack worsens
D. He refuses to take medicine
C. His trauma from the attack worsens
What important change does Cole make with food?
A. He hides it
B. He fasts often
C. He shares it with Peter
D. He throws it into the ocean
C. He shares it with Peter
What does the Spirit Bear symbolize?
A. Anger and revenge
B. Fear of the wild
C. Respect and truth
D. Power through violence
C. Respect and truth
Who is the boy Cole beat up?
A. Garvey
B. Peter Driscal
C. Edwin
D. Jacob
B. Peter Driscal
What major lesson does Cole learn during the mauling?
A. He can overpower nature
B. Anger controls him
C. He is smarter than Garvey
D. He is part of the world, not the center of it
D. He is part of the world, not the center of it
Who suggests Peter come to the island?
A. A doctor
B. Edwin
C. Cole’s mom
D. Peter’s therapist
B. Edwin
Why does trust slowly build between Cole and Peter?
A. Peter watches Cole’s consistent actions
B. Edwin demands it
C. Cole sends gifts home
D. Garvey forces them to talk daily
A. Peter watches Cole’s consistent actions
What physical object shows Cole’s growth over time?
A. A scrapbook
B. A carved spear
C. His totem pole
D. A journal from Edwin
C. His totem pole
What does Garvey’s hot dog lesson teach?
A. Food is more important than friends
B. Sharing ruins everything
C. Life is what you make of it
D. You should eat fast
C. Life is what you make of it
How does Cole survive after the attack?
A. He eats insects and grasses
B. He sleeps continuously
C. He drinks from coconuts
D. The bear feeds him berries
A. He eats insects and grasses
How does Peter first treat Cole on the island?
A. He thanks him
B. He mocks him
C. He ignores and attacks him
D. He instantly trusts him
C. He ignores and attacks him
What realization does Cole make about anger?
A. It is always someone else’s fault
B. It keeps him safe
C. He can control how he responds
D. It will disappear one day automatically
C. He can control how he responds
Why is the Spirit Bear called “spirit”?
A. It floats above ground
B. It symbolizes deeper truth and respect
C. It glows at night
D. It is invisible to adults
B. It symbolizes deeper truth and respect
What does Cole do soon after arriving on the island?
A. Prays for help
B. Sets up camp properly
C. Destroys his belongings and tries to escape
D. Writes an apology to Peter
C. Destroys his belongings and tries to escape
Who helps guide Cole through his healing?
A. Peter and his teacher
B. Edwin and Garvey
C. His father
D. The judge
B. Edwin and Garvey
Why doesn’t Cole fight back against Peter?
A. He feels guilty and chooses peace
B. He is afraid of Edwin
C. Peter is stronger
D. Garvey orders him not to
A. He feels guilty and chooses peace
Seeing the Spirit Bear again means:
A. Cole is hallucinating
B. The bear respects him
C. The bear is planning another attack
D. Nature wants revenge
B. The bear respects him
What is the best theme of the novel?
A. Violence brings justice
B. Healing comes through responsibility and forgiveness
C. Nature is too dangerous to trust
D. You can’t change who you are
B. Healing comes through responsibility and forgiveness
Why does Cole try to swim away?
A. He sees a boat nearby
B. To get back at Garvey
C. He thinks he can outswim the tide
D. The Spirit Bear chases him
C. He thinks he can outswim the tide
Why does Cole soak in the icy pond?
A. To punish himself
B. To strengthen his body
C. To calm anger and find clarity
D. To attract fish
C. To calm anger and find clarity
The ancestor rock exercise teaches that:
A. Respect requires yelling at nature
B. Anger must be carried or released
C. Rocks represent enemies
D. Strength solves problems
B. Anger must be carried or released
What is the purpose of the dances?
A. Entertainment
B. Moving exercise
C. Learning from life and nature
D. Showing off to Garvey
C. Learning from life and nature