"Rescue Josh McGuire" by Ben Mikaelsen

Rescue Josh McGuire is a story about adventure and protecting a bear cub that I'm glad I didn't pass up although it's a book for kids. Josh flees to the mountains with his dog and a bear cub on a dirt bike to keep the orphaned bear cub from being taken by the Montana Fish and Game Department to be used for lab experiments. After Josh's older brother died, Josh's father became an alcoholic and accidentally shot the cub's mother when hunting with his son but wouldn't admit it. It's a very good story about the difference this one boy made and the search to find the boy. He was determined not to return home until he could keep the cub and the law would be changed to not permit bear hunting in the spring when cubs were generally born. I recommend it to boys and animal lovers

(Karen's 4/15/09)

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"Petey" by Ben Mikaelsen

Petey by Ben Mikaelsen is a really good book and a fast read about how a deformed baby with Cerebral Palsy was misdiagnosed as an idiot and institutionalized in an insane asylum in the 1920s.  Most thought he couldn’t think but a few of his attendants and one other resident discovered he could think.  When he was in his 40s, he was finally transferred to a nursing home where he was able to go outside and do things.  A boy protected him from some bullies who were throwing snowballs at him one day and the 13-yr. old boy became his good friend.

Petey had a great attitude about life, even though he needed people to take care of his basic needs and couldn’t do much for himself.  This book showed what people with deformities go through and that we need to take time to get to know people and not write them off because of their appearance.  Petey shows us how good life is.  I thought this book would be depressing, but on the contrary, although it was very sad, I found it to be very interesting and heartwarming.  I highly recommend it for something out of the ordinary.

(Karen's review 12/5/09)

comments moved from other blog:
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Thanks! This sounds great. I'll have to see if my local library has a copy.
By urbansuburban on December 05, 2009 10:03

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Looks like a very interesting and thought-provoking book. Thanks for sharing the review. :)
By Cindy @ Fenced in Family on December 05, 2009 11:26

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The book was great.I read it and couldnt believe how said it was.it is the best book.
By Hot Cheeto on December 16, 2009 18:21

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book it was horrible
By me on December 16, 2009 18:22

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super sad
By Fred Figglehorn on December 16, 2009 18:22

Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

Stranded by Ben Mikaelsen

Stranded by Ben Mikaelsen is a young adult fiction book about a Jr. High girl who has lost her foot in an accident and finally gets accepted at school when everyone hears about her saving two whales.  The story delves into her feelings about her parents separation, school, fears of what others think about her and how she finally accepts herself.  In reading this book, I learned a bit more about whales and liked the theme that was not to judge people by how they look on the outside, but to look deeper at who people really are.  Her special relationship she had with the whales was interesting.  I enjoyed this light, fast read very much.  I think the author did a fantastic job at getting inside the head of a young girl.

 (Karen's review 11/20/09)

Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"Touching Spirit Bear" by Ben Mikaelsen

Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen is about an angry kid with an alcoholic father named Cole who is abused and beats up a kid named Peter. Cole has to live on an Alaskan island by himself as part of Circle Justice. He changes with some wise help along with this experience on the island. I got into Touching Spirit Bear from the beginning! It's a page turner with a somewhat predictable ending, but a good read!" (GERARD'S REVIEW 8/7/08)

K

Touching Spirit Bear is an excellent story about Cole, an angry abused boy, who was mad at the world and his personal journey of dealing with his anger and becoming a better person through Circle Justice or Restoration Justice.  He beat up Peter to the point of causing him permanent harm and never took any responsibility for his actions until he faced death and began questioning his life.  This is a story about helping others and how the Circle Justice system works which Native Americans practiced for years. 

The idea is to restore the criminal to become a good citizen and not just punish them.  Instead of jail or a detention center, Cole was banished to live for a year on an island in Alaska alone.  At the end of the year, the Circle Justice group, made up of all those involved, would meet again and determine if he should go to jail or not.  Cole had a traumatic experience while on the island and after just three days was hospitalized after being mauled by a spirit bear.  After his rehabilitation he went back.  Peter tried committing suicide twice and Cole learned much while on the island, including how many mistakes he made and wanted to make things right if he could. 

I really liked Touching Spirit Bear a lot and had trouble putting it down.  I was anxious to see what would happen next.  There is no boring part in it.  There are many themes running through this book such as abuse, justice, survival, anger, forgiveness, healing.

(KAREN'S REVIEW 8/1/08)