Setting

Cole is from Minneapolis. He is sent to a remote island in Alaska and must learn how to survive on his own for the first time by building his own shelter and finding food. The island is not an easy place to live with its bugs and freezing waters.Cole has to adapt to the wilderness and learns that he is not invincible.

Point of View

Third person pov. I believe that the author did this because Cole is not a dependable narrator. His maturity and emotions would have opinionated impacts on the situations. As the story progresses and Cole matures, the author switches to Cole’s POV more and more often and the reader is able to see the story through other perspectives.

Plot Diagram

Exposition

Cole Matthews faces charges for assault against Peter Driscal, and could get a sentencing of jail for several years. Instead of spending the time in jail, Cole agrees to participate in the circle justice. Garvey, his parole officer, and Edwin, a Tlingit elder, encourage him to go through this process, and believe this will help him deal with his problems.

Rising Action

Cole arrives on the island, and soon after he plots different methods to escape the island. He burns the cabin given to him as a place to stay, and makes a failed attempt to escape the island. During his time here Colle sees the spirit bear several times. The next time he sees it he decides to attack it, but ends up mauled by the bear. Balancing on the brink of death, Garvey and Edwin come to check on him, and rush him to the hospital. He remains here for 6 months in order to recover.

Climax

Cole is now able to leave the hospital, but transfers to a detention center. There he awaits his fate, while the Circle of Justice decides whether or not they should allow him to return to the island. Cole goes to the final meeting, and Edwin attends it as while. Edwin convinces the rest of the people to let Cole return back to the island.

Denouement

While all three of them live on the island, Peter does little things to get back at Cole for what he has done. Instead of responding to these actions angrily, Cole responds kindly and acts as if nothing happens. Peter and Cole end up in a big fight where Peter beats up Cole even though he does not fight back. When they stop, both of them see the spirit bear, and forgive each other for what they have done.

Time Period Research

Falling Action

Cole spends his time on the island channeling his anger. he goes through daily routines that teach him to let go of his anger such as, swimming in a cold lake, and rolling a stone down a hill. While on the island, Edwin informs Cole that Peter tried to commit suicide twice. Cole suggests that Peter come live on the island too. Peter ends up coming to the island with Garvey, and live there for the next couple of months.

The time period of the setting is not stated anywhere throughout the book so the reader is to assume that the book takes place in the present.