What’s to be done?

We’re not too far into our novel, but there has been some talk about anger, violence, protecting a community and healing. The character facing the possibility of jail, Cole, is definitely in favour of avoiding jail. Some characters argue that he must be sent to jail; his violent attack has done serious, permanent damage to another person after all. Others think that banishment should be considered as (at least a temporary) alternative.

Is banishment the right decision for a teen who has been seriously violent, or is banishment for this particular teen a bad idea? For those of you reading Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen, please let us know what you think and why.

2 thoughts on “What’s to be done?

  1. Cole Injuring Peter Driscoll
    We read a part where,  Cole Matthews (Main Character), Injured Peter Driscal.

    by punching him on the face several times, after a few seconds/minutes,

    Cole Matthews Jumped on Peter Driscoll And slammed his head to the sidewalk.

    It took 6 STUDENTS! to take cole away, PeteTagsr’s face was covered smeared blood on his face.

     Is it the right decision to banish cole?
    After all the damage cole has caused Peter Driscoll,

    He should be banished, The damage might be insanely terrible.

    Banishing cole would teach him a lesson after cole causing the damage to Peter Driscoll.

    Inland Passage
    The Inland Passage. This is something first nation people

    have done for hundreds of years. Would anyone be with him keeper said,

    “No.” Garvey shook his head. “Occasionally an elder would check on him. What makes the

    banishment work is extreme isolation. It allows the offender to spend a long period free of all friends, drugs, alcohol and other influences that have gotten them into trouble. Its a time to think”

    • Thank you for using the comments feature to post your writing while we work on getting your blog set up. I’m not sure what you mean about the Inside Passage being something that indigenous peoples have done.

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