MARVELOUS MIDDLE
GRADE MONDAY
THE SIGN OF THE
BEAVER
Elizabeth George
Speare
I loved “The Witch of Blackbird Pond,” and also enjoyed “The
Sign of the Beaver” by Elizabeth George Speare. It’s an historical novel about life
in Colonial New England in 1768. Matt and his father left their comfortable Massachusetts home to clear land and build a log cabin in
the wilderness of Maine.
Once the cabin was built, Matt’s dad left him in charge and returned to bring
back the rest of the family—Matt’s mother, sister, and new baby.
At thirteen, Matt has the responsibility to finish filling
the chinks between the logs, water their new garden, hunt and cook for himself—and
guard the homestead. He’s entrusted with his father’s best rifle. Complications
arise when a stranger comes, takes advantage of Matt’s hospitality, and steals
the gun. Matt has to subsist on fish and wild plants until he’s injured and is helped
by the leader of the Beaver Clan of the Penobscot tribe and his grandson,
Attean. A bargain is struck and the two boys learn about each other’s lives and
help each other.
This Newbery Honor book is a great coming of age and
survival story. If you liked “Hatchet,” “Brian’s Winter,” and “My Side of the
Mountain,” you’ll enjoy this story. It’s a peek into our nation’s past, showing
how the colonists lived. It also explores themes of trust, friendship across
different cultures, and personal growth. Highly recommended for grades 4 to 7.
Tags:
Elizabeth George Speare, Sign of the Beaver, Matt, Attean, Penobscot tribe, Native Americans, survival, colonial America, Maine, Massachusetts, coming of age, trust, personal growth.
No comments:
Post a Comment