The Sign of the Beaver

This book is about a boy who is in the forest and he meets this indian.

In this book, it had a lot of interesting facts, like how to survive by yourself. and other things like what to eat. This book by Elizabeth Speare is mostly full of suspense and action out in nature. The main character named Matt, can almost be tied to a writer named Thoroue. They both loved the outdoors and loved to discover different types of things. Like how animals react to different types of weather, and new concepts when other animals that live around them. Matt soon met this young Native American that was about his age too. He showed Matt new things that he dint know about, and then soon Matt moved in with him. I recommend this book to a lot of people that love nature, like me. It is full of suspense and has a lot of interesting facts.

Similar in feel to most "Indian captive" style stories (though this wasn't one). I enjoyed watching the boys' burgeoning acceptance of each other, gradual friendship, and eventual brotherhood (I don't really see this as being worth a spoiler alert, as it's par for the course for these types of YA stories). I'd like to know how well the culture of the tribe was portrayed in this, but really can't be bothered to do my own research.

The Sign of the Beaver is a wonderful story set in early America, about a young man watching over his family's new cabin while his father is away for the summer. The summer goes by slowly at first, but after two thefts by man and beast, hunger leads young Matthew into a dangerous encounter, and subsequent rescue by a native American. Through his interactions with a youth from the local Beaver tribe, he becomes more self-sufficient, and grows in maturity.This is a sweet, interesting coming-of-age story by an author who has not disappointed me in the past. Very much recommended.

What a beautiful book to read aloud, curled up on the couch with my daughter and a cat.

I love the slow growth of Matt's relationship with Attean, and how Speare doesn't shy away from writing about the serious problems between the native people and the European settlers. My daughter and I read about the French and Indian War recently, and this novel helped us better understand the tension between the two groups, and just how intractable the conflict between them was, even when connections were made between individuals.

In addition to the historical context, this novel presents a personal story of grown-up choices, the kind that have no right answer because no matter what you choose, you're giving up something else. Beyond all of this, though, it's just a wonderful story.

I feel like I ought to read Mary Rowlandson's captivity narrative again now.

When I read this book at a much younger age, I adored it. Let's be real, I probably had an unrealistic crush on the fictional Attean. Tall, dark, handsome, strong, intelligent, good with hands... ;)

Alright, alright so he is 14 in this book, but I was merely a young lass enamored with the idea of a gorgeous Native American boy to sweep me off my feet.


Now about the book itself... It is an easy read for 2nd-5th graders, I would say. It doesn't teach much but the plot is catching enough that young readers would devour it. A young boy's father leaves him alone in a cabin surrounded by nothing but forest while he returns to Quincy, Maine to retrieve his wife and child. In his absence, Matt [boy] meets Attean [Indian] and against all odds, they become friends. As things progress, he is invited to join the tribe in their move West. Does he abandon the cabin he's guarded for almost a year or does he wait for his family's return? *cue dramatic music* You'll just have to read it to find out!

What I don't like is the inconsistent writing. The author used very ridiculous speech for the Indians. "Me Attean. We no like white man. White man words bad". She gives the boy's father a type of hybrid old-english-southern-alabama accent, while Matt's is plain ol' english. At times, she uses modern slang such as : "the village was awesome" and "now it looks lame".

Even as a young adult who had never read this work before, I definitely enjoyed The Sign of the Beaver. It was a welcome change from the children's wilderness literature to which I am accustomed, since it takes a different route from the usual "dropped into the wilderness with no supplies" story line. Matt and his father have already settled a piece of land by the time the story begins, and so it was interesting to see how the author depicted the ways in which a young settler, rather than a hopelessly lost and previously urban teenager, would work to survive when left alone in the wilderness. Speare creates a landscape and characters that are detailed enough to make the story easy to picture, but not so detailed that they bog the reader down and leave him or her mired in names, places, and relationships, which makes this a quick, pleasant read, perfect for filling up an hour or two of free time.One aspect of the story that I really appreciated was its potential for helping children understand the importance of questioning the messages hidden in things that they see, hear, or read. Upon meeting Native Americans and building relationships with them, Matt begins to become aware of the "white superiority" messages hidden in his favourite book, Robinson Crusoe, and reflects on the ways in which those messages may or may not actually apply in real life. This could make the book a useful tool for parents and teachers who want to encourage children to evaluate the truth of the things that they read, especially since, in the story, the reading of Robinson Crusoe and Matt's questioning of the validity of the text's message about Native peoples both occur within a few pages, solidifying the connection between them.With that said, I think it worth it to add a few words of caution to anyone who, like me, has never picked up this book before and wants to read it for the first time as an older reader. First, it is such a quick read that one can reach the end without feeling like anything has really been read, and the story can seem a bit bland because, due to the length of the story, the characters and the relationships between them grow and change very rapidly, to the point where it sometimes seems unrealistic (for example, a deep dislike can become open friendliness after a single small deed is done). Second, especially towards the end of the story, Speare devotes a lot of space to descriptions of various things that Matt does around the house, which can become a bit tedious if one is not fascinated by that kind of thing. Finally, Speare's attempts to emphasize Matt's growing understanding of the Native Americans and their way of life, as well as his growing awareness of the situation that the arrival of white men creates for the Native Americans, can sometimes be so glaringly obvious that they almost seem silly to an older reader who understands from the start that that will be the "moral of the story."However, all of my mild criticisms come from the fact that the book was intended for children, and so I highly recommend it to readers of that age group, who will likely enjoy the characters' rapid changes and be at least mildly impressed by the positive message presented in the text, as well as older readers who do not mind reading a pretty predictable (but still quite pleasant) short story.

I believe the teen chews tree sap instead of gum? This blew my mind. I tried it, but either did something terribly wrong or I'm just not 'core enough.

Read this as a read aloud a few months ago. My daughter and I enjoyed this book: the adventures were exciting, and we found we learned quite a bit about trying to forge a living out in the woods. Makes you appreciate the conveniences we have, like heat and a change of clothes.

This classic tale by Elizabeth George Speare outlines a young boy, Matt, left to fend for himself on his family's new homestead. When he has a scary accident, nearby Indians intervene to help him and exchange a trade for his knowledge of reading. In the end, however, he is more enriched by the agreement, as he learns how to live in harmony with the land through the example of his new pupil, another boy around his age. The themes of coming-of-age as well as race relations are explored in a sensitive, profound way. I will admit I shed a tear at the end, as well! Great for kids ages 8-13.

Matt and his father have been working hard to prepare their homestead in Maine for the arrival of Matt's mother and sister. Now, Matt's father must make the long journey back to Massachusetts to fetch them -- and Matt must stay and take care of the cabin and the crops. When Matt's gun is stolen by a sketchy trapper who happens by, he worries how he will get along without the ability to hunt. He sees a lot of fish in his future! When Matt gets into trouble with a swarm of angry bees, a Native American man Saknis and his grandson Attean come to Matt's rescue. In gratitude, Matt offers them one of his prized possessions: a copy of Robinson Crusoe -- but the Native Americans do not know how to read English. Matt agrees to teach Attean to read. At first, Matt and Attean do not get along very well, but over time they come to understand one another better. When winter comes and Matt's family has still not arrived, Matt must make a difficult decision: will he keep waiting at the cabin, or will he travel with Attean and his tribe? What if Matt's father never comes?This is a gripping story, but it has many problematic aspects, particularly in its treatment of Native American culture. Some of the author's word choices are especially poor -- Attean and his grandfather tend to speak in "grunts," women are sometimes referred to as "squaws," and when Matt observes a ceremonial dance, he compares it mentally to a clowing routine. On the other hand, by the end of the novel, Matt has come to a greater appreciation of Native Americans, recognizing that they have taught him how to survive is the wild and have extended hospitality and friendship to him, and there is a sense that he regrets the fact that the Native American hunting grounds will soon be full of white settlers. Matt's nuanced character development is probably what earned this book its Newbery Honor, but it isn't enough to offset the problematic attitudes inherent in the book, and I'd have a hard time recommending this book to young readers of today.I listened to the audiobook version, and was not particularly impressed. The author has a tendency to use too much emphasis, a delivery that comes across as forceful and distracting to me.

this is a exiting book. A boy gets left alone because his dad has to get his wife and dahter for the new home

The Sighn of the Beaver is about a boy named Matt who is left alone in the woods, his father and him build a log house there where matt would stay in for a few months. Matt's father leaves, to pick up Matt's mother, sister, and new born baby sister, now Matt is alone with only his dad's rifle. This rifle is eventually stolen a few days later by a random hunter, how will Matt hunt for food now? Later Matt meets an Indian who rescues him from a swarm of bees, the Indian is named Attean. Matt and Attean make a deal: Matt would teach Attean how to read while Attean would get food for Matt he has no rifle. Attean also teaches Matt how to hunt with traps, how make a fish hook, and how to make/ use a bow and arrow. Months go by and his family is still not here, and winter is almost here. Since winter is almost here Attean has to leave, Attean offers Matt if he would like to come with him to go hunt, but Matt says no hoping that his parents will come back soon. Will Matt's parents come back soon or will Matt be in the freezing cold all by himself?I give the book, The Sign of the Beaver ***** because it is interesting and has lots of action/ adventure. I really like how Matt is left alone in the woods and has to try to survive by himself with no gun. I thought it was nice of Attean to hunt food for Matt while Matt teaches Attean how to read. I also thought it was nice of Attean to teach Matt how to hunt by himself without a gun, how to make a fish hook, and how to use/ make a bow and arrow. I recomend this book to everyone, it will keep you excited from all of the action/ adventures. I hope to read another on of Elizabeth Spheare's books one day. You can really understand the theme and plot of this book. Who doesn't like books with action, care, and excitement.

I read this book aloud to my children. It has won several literary awards, including: 1984 Newbery Honor, 1984 Scott O'Dell Award, and 1988 Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award Nominee.Wow, what an adventure! I love survival stories like this.The story takes place in 1769 and involves a 12 year-old boy named Matt. Matt's father has bought land in a new township in Maine, and the two of them have been building their new log-cabin home as well as planting crops. Matt's mother, sister, and new baby stayed behind in Massachusetts while the "men" got things set-up for the family's permanent move to Maine.During the summer of 1769, Matt's father makes the trek back to Massachusetts to bring the rest of the family to the new home in Maine. It is expected that it will take six to seven weeks, round-trip. Matt is left in charge of the home and crops in Maine, with his father's rifle for both protection and hunting.There is much work to be done tending to the crops and chinking the spaces between the logs of the cabin. Matt works hard, and he keeps himself busy to help pass the time while he is alone. Of course, he experiences some adventures along the way! He makes friends with the local Beaver tribe, who initially are very hesitant to trust a "white" boy.August, the time for Matt's family to arrive, comes and goes. Autumn passes, and soon it is winter. The chief of the local Beaver tribe tells Matt that they intend to leave the area and travel north to follow the moose. The tribe worries that something has happened to Matt's family and fear that they will not return now that it is already winter. They invite Matt to come with them, and the chief lovingly promises to treat Matt as his own blood. It is a heartbreaking moment, and Matt must decide whether to try to brave the harsh winter completely alone and isolated or go with the Beaver tribe where he will be safe. What would you do?We loved this story! This is one of those books where my kids actually begged, "Just one more chapter, please?" It was hard for even me to put down, and it took a lot of discipline to keep my own hands away from the book and not read ahead!This is a fantastic book to read with your kids, and I highly recommend it! This would also be a perfect choice for someone who is a reluctant reader.MY RATING: 5 stars!! We loved it!!

Excellent read aloud especially during the Native American 4th grade unit.

A review by Blake: A good book. Surprises around a lot of the corners. The ending was really good. Some of it was kinda sad though.

This is the story of two young boys, one white and one Native American, who rely on each other in order to survive in the wilderness.

One of my favorite children's books. It provides an appreciation for basic survival skills, but also helps question values and assumptions about relationships between different people groups.

I read this book with my class at school. And my teacher really did a good job by helping us understand what the author was trying yo say. Books can mean more than a story, they are lessons of life in words, and this book is an amazing example of that. Most people think a friend is someone you've known for long time even if you don't know who they really are in the inside. But I think that in this book both Matt and Attean learn that you can't have a real friendship without trust or respect. This is true because in the beginning, when Matt and Attean first mat they had no trust, respect, or friendship what so ever. They both didn't like each others cultures and as a result, didn't like each other. I think that they were to prejudice and that everyone should at least get to know who the person is before judging them. Attean didn't want to take reading lessons because he didn't want to read but also because it was by Matt and he was white but also because he didn't want to admit Matt was more educated then he was. When Attean gave Matt a rabbit for his half of the treaty and Matt said that there was no hole, Attean offered to teach him how to make snare, instead of a gun or arrow. Matt was excited and astonished by Attean's knowledge and he respected that, and Attean respected Matt now. Now, their friendship had begun. When Matt saved Attean's dog from the white man's metal trap Attean tried not to show how grateful and happy he was, but he didn't trick Matt. They each trusted each other now, and are like best friends, or even more, like Attean said, brothers. This is why, you can't have a real, true friendship without either trust or respect.

It's the mid-1700s and Matt and his father have built a cabin in the Maine wilderness. His father must go back and bring the rest of the family back to their new home, leaving Matt on his own to look after their property and crop. Matt soon learns it's not easy to take care of yourself and an Indian comes to his rescue. A deal is made with the man and Matt agrees to teach the Indian's grandson to read the white man's scratching in exchange for food. As the story progresses Matt learns more from the Indians than the boy learns from him. Matt's father also does not come back as the months go by.A wonderfully, beautiful story of friendship between two people of different cultures. Matt's misconceptions of the Indians are challenged as he learns a new way of living. The Indian boy is disdainful of the white boy who does squaw work and doesn't know how to do anything. A bond slowly grows between the boys as they learn from each other and prejudices are set aside.This is not a plot driven story but more of a slow moving story of two people and their cultures. I've read this about three times now and both my older son and the 8yo really were riveted with the storytelling. Speare is a writer who writes beautiful language and weaves a tale that really makes the reader (or listener :-) care deeply for the characters. I think this book will especially be appreciated by boys and I recommend it wholeheartedly to everyone. A favourite!

Matt is in charge of caring for his house and growing corn while his family is gone. He starts out well, but as time goes on and his father doesn't return, he finds life more and more difficult. He develops a friendship with Attean, a local Native American boy, who teaches him what he needs to know to survive far from others and without his family, but he doesn't earn Attean's respect until he chooses to wait for his family instead of going to the hunt with Attean's tribe.

How cultures can learn from one another, how survival is taught, how friendships are made. Matt and Attean have quite a bit to discover about each other, their cultures, how they can interact, and themselves.

The year is 1768. A man and his twelve year old son have traveled to the territory of Maine to start a new farmstead. Now that the land has been selected and the cabin built, the man heads back to fetch his wife and daughter, leaving his son alone to till their field and protect their cabin. Can the boy survive the six weeks alone? Well, we never know, because he's befriended by neighboring Indians who help him survive and lead him to discover not only their culture but a few things about himself as well. "The Sign of the Beaver" is a nice tale, centering on the relationship between Matt, the English boy, and Attean, a native one. It's chock full of information about the lifestyle of the local people (Penobscots, I think, but the book's a bit unclear on that point) and the English settlers. Definitely a book to let your kids check out so you can sneak a peek at it as well.--J.

Highly recommended book. Both my kids and I enjoyed it.

Great historical fiction. We enjoyed the story line and learned much

Interesting historical fiction. Perfect novel study for social studies.

Matt, a 13 year old settler, and Attean, from Clan of the Beaver, become friends after a rocky exchange of reading for hunting prices. Matt gains an enormous respect for the Native American as he learns daily that he can create the tools for his survival. Well researched with detail to transport the reader to the cabin in the woods and the Native American village.

This a great coming of age story, taking place during colonial America. Such an important reminder of how we are created relationships. Easy read that I encourage you to enjoy.

Not Very Great.

It was a must read when I was growing up, part of our school curriculum, and it is still as touching to me today as it was amazing back then. When I was younger this was a story about living in another time, practically in another world from my own, where children were left on their own to hunt and fend for themselves and no one thought twice of it. A world of living with Native Americans before there were too many whites to influence the culture and interfere with the culture of the tribes. As an adult, it is a story about the comparisons between the two cultures, reflecting how each is similar and how each struggle is fought in different ways by boys who are at the age where they're ready to make their own way in the world, but still young enough to be learning a little more about what life means in the process.A short story and quick read, this book is filled with enough adventure to keep any reader happy and has enough emotion to turn any heart soft for just a little while. A classic story of a time lost to us that shouldn't be forgotten.