Touching Spirit Bear Comprehension Questions & Reading Journal
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Touching Spirit Bear has 28 chapters · 282 pages
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Inside the journal: 28 chapter pages, one question each · 3 example answers · a cover for your reader’s name
Written for this book Questions about this story, good after any chapter.
In this chapter, what problem or conflict feels most important for Cole Matthews? How does he react to it?See all 28 questions ↓
About the book
This gripping, graphic survival story from an award-winning writer paints an unsparing picture of a violent teen named Cole Matthews and offers a poignant testimony that pain can both hurt and heal.
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Touching Spirit Bear questions by chapter
We know the book, its characters, setting and story, but not what happens in each chapter. So every question is written for this book, and any of them works wherever your reader has just stopped. One question per chapter, across all 28 chapters, and every one is editable before you print. The example answers under 3 of the chapters are the ones printed at the front of the booklet.
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Chapter 1
In this chapter, what problem or conflict feels most important for Cole Matthews? How does he react to it?
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Chapter 2
What do you learn so far about why Cole has trouble taking responsibility for his actions?
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Chapter 3
How does the setting, such as the Circle Justice meeting or the Alaskan island, affect the mood of this chapter?
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Chapter 4
Which words or phrases in this chapter help you picture Cole's anger, fear, or loneliness?
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Chapter 5
What role does Garvey play in Cole's life so far? Use evidence from the chapter to support your answer.
Example answer: I think Garvey is like a guide for Cole, even when Cole does not want help. Garvey does not just excuse Cole's actions, but he also does not give up on him. In this chapter, Garvey's words make it seem like he wants Cole to understand responsibility, not just avoid punishment. That makes Garvey important because he pushes Cole to look at himself.
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Chapter 6
How does Edwin's advice or behavior show a different way to think than Cole's?
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Chapter 7
What choice does Cole make in this chapter, and what does that choice reveal about him?
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Chapter 8
How are Peter Driscal and his family affected by what has happened? What feelings do you notice?
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Chapter 9
What do you think the Spirit Bear represents so far? Explain your idea with details from the story.
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Chapter 10
When Cole blames other people, what does that show about his character at this point?
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Chapter 11
What moment in this chapter made you feel surprised, worried, or hopeful? Why?
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Chapter 12
How does the author use nature to teach Cole or challenge him in this chapter?
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Chapter 13
What is one question you have after reading this chapter, and what clues might help answer it later?
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Chapter 14
Compare Cole's outside behavior with what he may be feeling inside. How are they alike or different?
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Chapter 15
What does this chapter suggest about justice: should it be mostly punishment, healing, or both?
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Chapter 16
Choose an important word from this chapter. What does it mean, and why does it matter to the scene?
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Chapter 17
How does Cole's relationship with one adult, such as Garvey, Edwin, a parent, or another adult, change or stay the same?
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Chapter 18
What is one sign that Cole is beginning to understand something, or one sign that he still refuses to understand?
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Chapter 19
How does the island setting make Cole face himself in a way he might avoid at home?
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Chapter 20
What prediction can you make about Cole's next step, based only on what has happened so far?
Example answer: I predict that Cole will have to make a choice that shows whether he is really changing or only pretending. So far, adults like Garvey and Edwin have tried to help him, but Cole still has to decide for himself. I think the next step will be hard because he cannot fix everything with words. He will need to prove his change through actions.
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Chapter 21
Which character do you feel the most sympathy for in this chapter, and what made you feel that way?
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Chapter 22
How does this chapter show the difference between saying sorry and truly making things right?
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Chapter 23
What lesson about anger does Cole seem to be learning or resisting right now?
Example answer: Cole seems to be learning that anger can hurt him as much as it hurts other people. He often acts tough, but his anger makes his choices worse. I think he is still resisting the lesson because he wants to blame others instead of looking at his own actions. The chapter shows that controlling anger is not quick or easy for him.
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Chapter 24
How do symbols, such as the bear, the fire, the pond, or other natural things, add meaning to this part of the story?
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Chapter 25
What is a hard decision a character faces in this chapter? What would you do in that situation?
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Chapter 26
How does the author help you understand pain, healing, or forgiveness without making it seem easy?
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Chapter 27
Looking back over the story so far, what is one way Cole has changed, even a little? What caused that change?
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Chapter 28
What important idea from this final chapter connects to the title Touching Spirit Bear? Explain your thinking.
Discussion questions for after Touching Spirit Bear
Bigger questions for when the book is finished, each printed on its own ruled page at the end of the booklet.
- How does Cole Matthews change over the whole story? In your answer, explain what he is like at the beginning, what people or experiences affect him, and what he learns about responsibility, anger, and healing.
- What do you think Touching Spirit Bear is really about? Choose one big idea, such as forgiveness, justice, survival, family, or making amends, and explain how the characters and setting help show that idea throughout the book.
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How to use this Touching Spirit Bear reading journal
At home, as a discussion guide
After each chapter your reader writes a few lines on that chapter’s question. Read the answer together at bedtime: it shows what they understood and gives you something real to talk about, without a quiz.
In class, as a novel study
Print a class set (booklets fold from plain letter paper) and use one question per chapter as the reading-response or literature-circle prompt. The example answers at the front show what a full answer looks like.
Homeschool
One booklet covers the whole book, 28 chapters, so it doubles as the reading log for Touching Spirit Bear. Reword any question before printing to match your reader.
Printing
The booklet PDF prints on ordinary 8.5 × 11 paper: print double-sided (flip on the short edge) at 100%, fold the stack in half and staple on the fold. There is also a one-page-per-sheet PDF and A5 binder pages.
Where the questions come from
Questions about this story, good after any chapter. We know the book, its characters, setting and story, but not what happens in each chapter. So every question is written for this book, and any of them works wherever your reader has just stopped. The questions were drafted with AI from what is known about the book and checked before publishing; every one is editable before you print.