The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare has been reviewed by Focus on the Family’s marriage and parenting magazine.
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare has been reviewed by Focus on the Family’s marriage and parenting magazine.
After Matt and his father build a wilderness cabin in Maine, Matt’s dad leaves him in charge and journeys to collect the rest of the family. When Matt is attacked by a swarm of bees, a Native American chief and his grandson, Attean, nurse Matt back to health. The chief sends Attean to learn English from Matt. The young Indian behaves badly, however, and Matt learns it’s because white men killed Attean’s parents. Matt and Attean eventually become friends and teach each other ways to survive. When Matt’s family is late in returning, Attean invites Matt to join his tribe.
Matt’s father has only one book, the Bible. Matt shares the stories with Attean because they’re full of adventure, and he’s trying to get Attean interested in learning English.
When Matt tells Attean the story of Noah, Attean says he already knows a similar tale about an American Indian who created people as well as other creatures and objects. Attean also goes on a hunt with the older men as a rite of passage to find his manitou, or the spirit assigned to him.
Though a kind, encouraging role model, Matt’s father leaves him alone for months, out of necessity, as he goes to get the rest of Matt’s family. When Matt’s mother finally arrives, readers learn she pushed the journey along with no regard for her own serious illness so she could get back to her son. Attean’s grandfather looks after Matt and teaches his grandson to do the same, despite the animosity between their cultures.
None
None
Get free discussion questions for this book and others, at FocusOnTheFamily.com/discuss-books.
You can request a review of a title you can’t find at [email protected].
Book reviews cover the content, themes and worldviews of fiction books, not their literary merit, and equip parents to decide whether a book is appropriate for their children. The inclusion of a book’s review does not constitute an endorsement by Focus on the Family.
