Questions

1.) Cole made a good choice for a bad reason; choosing Circle of Justice over jail. If Cole had known the what was going to happen his first stay on the island do you think he would have chosen jail?

Ans. I think Cole would have still chosen Circle of Justice. In the beginning of the book Cole feels like no one can take him down, he's the hot shot. Cole said if he saw the Spirit Bear he would kill it. If Cole knew what was going to happen on his first stay on the island that would just make him more determined. He would get the bear before it got him.

Follow Up. Then if Cole was so driven and determined to get the Spirit Bear first wouldn't that have ultimately led to his defeat?

2.) Cole had stated, not aloud but subconsciously, that he didn't need any help. what he needed was for the world to butt out. Do you think that the Spirit Bear was just karma coming back at him? That Cole deserved ever bit of what he got from the Spirit Bear due to all the trouble he caused?

Ans. I do think the Spirit Bear was karma. Cole needed to be set straight, he needed to know what it was like to be at the other end of a beating. I do think he deserved what happened to him that day. Sure he was severely injured but Peter Driscal now had slurred speech and a limp in his walk. Cole would heal but Peter would forever stay that way.

Follow Up. If the Spirit Bear was just there to set Cole in the right direction then why did it only show up when Cole was at peace with himself?

3.) Why do you think Cole accepted his mother so quickly when she gave up drinking and testified against his father?

Ans. I think Cole accepted his mother as quickly as he did because all his life all he had wanted was for his parents to accept him. His mother had given up drinking, something she always did to avoid reality, to finally give his father what he deserved.

Follow Up. If so, do you think that Cole would forgive his father if he apologized for becoming a drunk monster and beating him?