Summary

The first section is “Touching Spirit Bear.” Chapter one opens with Cole Matthews seated in a skiff that is headed toward an island off the mainland of Southeast Alaska. He has traveled with a parole officer named Garvey from his home in Minneapolis, Minnesota, first to Seattle then to Ketchikan, Alaska, before arriving at Drake, Alaska. Drake is a native village of the Tlingit Indians. A Tlingit elder named Edwin is also in the boat. Cole is to live on the island for a full year. He will be alone and the banishment is an alternative to jail time.

Cole is fifteen. He is smirking as they ride in the boat though he is furious at the situation. Cole is here because of a decision by a new program called Circle Justice. He has been in trouble for most of his life but...