Tag Archives: novel study

What Will You do If You Only Seem To See The Left End Of The Stick?

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This project is what we read from our novel, and we came up with a question about it.The right end of the stick is happiness, and the left is anger.Cole (the main character)tried to break the anger off of the stick, but it didn’t work out, anger will still be remaining on the stick.What will you do if you only see the left end of the stick?

This project is what we read from our novel, and we came up with a question about it.This is my answer to the question. When I am only seeing the left end of the stick, I would probably decide to not stare at the flames anymore. I would just think of something else to distract me off of the anger. And I also have a caring family and friends that will help me too.I read that all of life is a hot dog. And if I was angry I can make my life a feast, instead of just being ordinary. And being by yourself for a while will help calming yourself more – like a time out.Garvey (the elder)suggest to sit on a rock in a freezing pond. If the weather is Winter you would probably get rid of your anger faster, because if you are warm and cozy with fire to warm you up then you will stare at the flames of fire, and if you sit in a cold quiet pond there is no anger to stare at – only peacefulness. And maybe you’ll get out of the anger zone and change and move across to the happy zone. Depends on which way you chose to live.

What do you do when you only see the left side of the stick?

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In our Novel Touching Spirit Bear a character named Edwin asked what do you do when you only see the left end of the stick (the left side being your anger and right side being your happiness) When I only see the left side of the stick I try to distract my mind with positive thoughts, sometimes I think about what I’m grateful of, sometimes I think about things I enjoy doing, sometimes I even thing about my favourite treats or food to distract myself! When that doesn’t work I try to focus on soemthing else, like breathing.  Or sometimes it’s just best for me to put my head down and relax

I think banishing Cole was a good idea

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recently in our novel Touching Spirit Bear we have been talking about if banishing Cole (the main character) is a good idea, and I think banishing Cole was a good idea because,Cole could spend time alone and think about himself and all the people he hurt.  I also think its a good idea because he can spend time away from friends, drugs, and other bad things. Like Garvey said in our novel Touching Spirit Bear page 56. “it allows the offender a long period free of friends, drugs, alcohol and other influences that have gotten him in trouble.” Garvey also said “Cole could undergo a vision quest of sorts an extended time alone to face himself and to face the angry sprites inside him” as I also mentioned in my first reason. Cole would also not hurt anyone for a year because he would be on a island

Is banishing Cole the right decision? (Touching Spirit Bear)

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Recently in our Touching Spirit Bear study, we read a part where the main character, Cole Matthews, had severely injured Peter Driscal. The community has been trying to come up with a punishment that will heal Cole. A man named Garvey suggested banishment to an island in Alaska. I think that this is a good idea because, if it was a bad idea, then why would Garvey suggest it in the first place. He is a native Tlingit and is from Alaska, so he would know if it was a bad idea. He says that others have gone and healed there. Banishment for Cole will also be a better choice for Cole than jail. As the Keeper from Circle justice says, jail will not heal, it can only anger them. Jail is not good for Cole because the environment around him is bad, but on the island, he is alone with nature . Banishment can also let Cole be alone and have time think and learn respect and humility. He will be away from people he can hurt and people who anger him. That is why I think Banishment is the best choice for Cole.

Wondering, what would I do?

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We are in the middle of reading R.J. Palacio’s now well-known book, Wonder. Some of us have finished reading it on our own. Some have even already been to see the movie, which is never as good as the book, right‽ As a group, however we are currently in the section from Jack’s perspective.

 

Jack is an interesting character. They all are, but what I find interesting about Jack is the particular set of flaws and challenges he has. Jack’s flaws are different from and less obvious maybe than August’s or less infuriating than Julian’s, but he has them. I find Jack’s challenges interesting to think about because they are familiar and common. How does one actually manage to do the right thing when it would require confronting friends and other peers, would draw a lot of attention and could mean being excluded?

Conflict is unpleasant, but to take on the kind of confrontation Jack might face were he to take a stand and declare his loyalties, especially as an adolescent when peers, friendships and social standing take on new significance, would require not only courage but the ability to think clearly and weigh big issues. Are there any of us who hasn’t avoided having an unpleasant conversation? It might be easy, reading a story, to decide what a character should have done, and that’s one great reason to read novels. Characters & stories give us a chance to think through conflicts that help us figure out who we are and who we want to be. But if I was facing Jack’s situation, as a 5th-grader, I’m not sure exactly how I would have dealt with it. I would hope I’d have done the right thing, but doing the right thing when we are called to act and in the face of all the complications of relationships & emotions is not so easy.

I do think Jack deserves a little of our scorn, but I wouldn’t want to be too quick to condemn him for having a very normal difficulty negotiating the kind of challenge we are all likely to struggle with. His character, his situation, and this whole story all help me reflect on important matters, and that is what draws my interest.

I’d like to know which characters you find particularly interesting. Who do you think is facing a particularly interesting challenge that wouldn’t be so easy to handle? What do you hope you might have done in the same situation? What do you hope the character would have done or will do?