Reflection on Chapters 1-2, Touching Spirit Bear

In Chapter One of Touching Spirit Bear, we learn that the main character is Cole Matthews. Cole is a

juvenile delinquent. After robbing and vandalizing a hardware store, he brags about it at school. A freshman

at Cole's high school, Peter Driscal rats on him. Cole gets really mad and beats his head into the sidewalk.

As punishment for beating Peter, as well as robbing and vandalizing the hardware store, Cole is sent to a

junior jail center. Since his parents are divorced, they only see him one at a time. Since Cole just ignores

them, they just stop visiting. The only people who ever visit are Nathaniel Blackwood, his dad's lawyer,and

Gravey, the youth probation officer. On one of his visits, Gravey offers a second option to jail; Circle

Justice. Circle Justice is a healing version of jail, practiced by Native Americans. It is designed to heal, not

punish. Cole, with help from Gravey, sends in his application.