Observations

1. My first observation is the way Ben Mikaelsen uses the circle. I observed that he uses the geometric circle to represent several things in "Touching Spirit Bear". Circle Justice is one way the author uses the circle, not only is circle in the name, but Circle Justice's process is like a circle. They give back to the community and the community helps them, like a circle. The circle is also used when Cole realizes that everyone and everything is part of a big circle, the circle of life. The final way Mikaelsen uses the circle is at the end of the book when Cole finishes the healing process and craves a circle at the bottom of his totem pole. This circle represents Cole's transformation and how he turned his life completely around. It shows that Cole is whole, like a circle.

2.The weather is my second observation. In "Touching Spirit Bear", the weather was always rainy, cold, and cloudy. I think the is weather is symbolic because it was never perfect, like Cole's like. Cole never had a free ride in life, he always struggled, he even struggled to get into Circle Justice. Cole's life will never be easy, even after the healing process, Cole will struggle to control his anger.

3.My last observation is the at.oow, because it shows that Cole still needs some type of security. When a child is small, most have a favorite toy/stuffed animal. Many have a blanket, to them their blanket is thier security. Cole's "blankie" was the at.oow, it was his security on the island. The at.oow also helped Cole heal. At the end he gave it to someone who needed the security more than him, Peter.