Gretchen Carlson
When my fifth grade grandson tells me I should read a specific book, I listen. His teacher was reading The Sign of the Beaver and it captured his interest. I checked it out from our local library and from the first page I was caught by the story and didn’t want to put it down.
It’s about survival and embracing others different from ourselves.
Homesteading in 1769 near the Canadian border, thirteen-year-old Matt must survive months on his own. He helps his father build a one-room cabin and plant crops before the father returns to Massachusetts to bring his mother and sister to the wilderness.
A bear attack, near fatal stings from a swarm of bees, and Matt’s hardships keep the reader engaged. Matt’s only gun is stolen by a renegade trapper, and he faces starvation until he is befriended by Attean, an Indian boy his age.
As Attean teaches him survival skills, Matt’s respect for Indians grows and he learns to appreciate tribal life. The author, Elizabeeth George Speare, weaves historical research into the plot which is fascinating. For example, Attean shows Matt how to make rabbit snares from tree roots. Speare also builds a realistic friendship between the boys that is good but not perfect because of cultural differences.
For a survival story, nothing felt stretched or phony to reach a climax. The chapters are short, and the paperback book is only 135 pages. This would be an easy read-aloud family or classroom book. It’s clean and without violence.
The Sign of the Beaver won the Newberry Honor in 1983, although Elizabeth George Speare is probably more well known for her other two Newberry Award books: The Witch at Blackbird Pond and The Bronze Bow.
Not only do I love books for personal growth and entertainment, but I value those books which connect us to other readers…especially grandchildren! Thanks grandson for the book recommendation!
Happy Reading!
Gretchen Carlson https://gretchen-carlson.com/
Carol Eaton
Julane Fisher
Great recommendation! My family and I love all of Elizabeth George Speare’s books! We’ve even given them as gifts and reread them countless times. Thanks for sharing.
Books are the best gifts! It’s hard not to be a fan of Elizabeth George Speare.
My daughter read Sign of the Beaver for school too, and it’s on my list to read. I also LOVED Witch at Blackbird Pond as a kid, and same daughter will be reading that this year. I’m looking forward to reading it with her. Great recommendations!
I think I’ll introduce my grandson to The Witch at Blackbird Pond. I read it years ago but still think of it as a favorite book. Happy Reading!