I picked this up at the Reuse Center because they were doing a buy one, get one free sale for children's books. I grabbed a couple books that seemed like they would be a good fit for the Indigenous Peoples box that I am participating in.

The box arrived the same day I bought this book, so I have not had a chance to read it. Based on the description, it seems like it could go either way, being either a super stereotypical portrayal, or an interesting look at the conflict between modern Western culture and Native traditions.

Added to the Indigenous Peoples Box

I'm claiming this from the Indigenous Peoples bookbox, largely on the strength of the bear on the cover {wry grin}.

Later: A mix of troubled-youth/coming-of-age/wilderness-survival, plus nods to Tlingit "circle justice", a concept of bringing those who commit crimes to realize their connection to others, and where the offenders and the victims work together to come up with suitable restitution. The theory's a good one (though there are some crimes for which I'm not sure it is possible!), and while I've seen critical reviews of Mikaelsen's interpretation of Tlingit tradition, it's still presented as an unusual, difficult, but potentially healing way of handling (in this case) viciously angry bullies.

The chapters in which we first meet Cole - a very angry bully indeed - and where we find out what he did, are tough to read. And then he has a near-fatal encounter with a bear while alone in the wilderness, leading to a grisly survival sequence that could make a movie all by itself. But his physical recovery isn't the important thing - he has to reach out to the boy he beat up, in hopes that he can gain forgiveness.

I left this book in the Little Free Library on this warm spring afternoon; hope someone enjoys it!

[See other recent releases in NH here.]

*** Released for the 2018 Keep Them Moving release challenge. ***