The Sign of the Beaver

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Summary: This is a really good book.
Review: I thought my book was good for two reasons. One reason is because it showed how two completly different types of people can get along together. When Attean and his grandfather saved Matt, I thought that it showed great friendship between the two types of people. Another thing it showed was what hard lives people had in the past. People couldn't just go out and get clothes and food, they had to kill animals for the food and clothes. I thought that this book would be good for fourth and fifth graders to read because I think it's easy to read and to understand.

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Summary: Not the Best Book I've Read But Certainly Not the Worst
Review: For a book report I read Sign of the Beaver.It was an okay book.The main reason I didn't like it very much is because it didn't go into much detail.When Matt tried to get honey from a bee hive, it didn't say much about the hive itself. Otherwise it was a great book.

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Summary: Boring plot.
Review: I have to agree with CaseyNissa from California. I also have to say that the Native American part wasn't very realistic. Not many of them would have even wanted to talk to White men, much less make friends with them. HORRIBLE BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Summary: An awful book!
Review: I was extremely disapointed with this book by the beloved author Speare. The beginning is extremely good and hooks you, reading for more. But after that hook you get a dull part. A very dull part! Nothing seems to happen, and it turns into the average boring must survive in the woods tale. And the ending wasn't anything big so I was glad to get it out of my hands.

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Summary: Very interesting book!!
Review: The Sign of the Beaver is a great book. I just finished reading it in school. Matt Hollowell's father has just left him alone in the desolate cabin in the Maine Territory. Matt, waiting anxiously for his family's return, befriends a Native American tribe, especially the boy, Attean, and Saknis, Attean's grandfather. Matt learns many survival skills from Attean, in return Attean learns to speak the "English tounge" better from Matt. I reccommend this book, The Sign of the Beaver, to anyone who likes historical fiction.

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Summary: "An Unforgettable Story"
Review: "The Sign of the Beaver", a story full of friendship and love is written by Elizabeth George Speare. In this heroic story, a twelve year old boy, is left alone in the deep widerness of Maine. Until his father returns, he is to stay and gaurd his cabin. (Ask yourself, if you are twelve years of age and are left alone in a tottally unfamiliar place, what will your reaction be? If you were asking me, I'd freak out!!! I'm really sorry for the poor grammars and punctuations, but I'm just speaking from my heart. I apologize). Not long after his father were gone, Matt's trouble really started. When Matt was just trying to lend out a helping hand, he let a strang man into his cabin and offered him a place to sleep. But when Matt awoke that very morning, he finds that the stranger had robbed his cabin!!! (I really think Matt is prety foolish, I mean he's actually inviting a stranger to rob his cabin). Matt had already got into another trouble. He was attack by swarming bees. Luckily, he was saved by an old Indian Chief and his grandson Attean. They cured Matt and brought him food. Attean and Matt soon became close friends. Matt was becoming a skillul hunter, while Attean learns to speak English. Months have passed, Winter was coming. Attean ask Matt to join the Bever Tribe and move West. Matt wanted to go, but he couldn't just abandon his family and move on. What should Matt do??? Should he forget about his family and on to a new life??? Or should he say no, and wait until his family returns??? What would you choose??? Do You Wanna Find Out??? I bet you do. If you really want to find out what happens, just read this heartwarming and heroic book. Joanne Lao

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Summary: This was one of the best books I have ever read!
Review: This book made me think of how life could be. I just wish that everyone read the book....!!!!!!!!

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Summary: We love it!
Review: We first checked out this audio-tape out from the library when my son was 7. He loved it on that first long car trip, and we have checked it out 3 more times since then. Today, I bought it on Amazon.com for our trip this summer.
If you have a boy (or girl) who likes to listen to stories, this is a great one. As a Mom, I like that the boy learns to survive, works hard, and shows respect for others and their culture......a great role model for young kids today.

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Summary: Historical adventure that works
Review: A long-ago Newbery Honor book, this used-to-be boy found it enjoyable. Like so many other Newberys, the main character is a young person who finds himself alone without the support of family, in this case, with responsibilties for the newly built family home in Maine around 1770. Matt is taking care of the home he built with his father before his father left to fetch the rest of the family. The location is isolated and Matt finds himself having to fend for himself. He makes understandable, but problem-creating mistakes, and becomes involved in the life of a young Native American from the nearby tribe whose Grandfather rescued Matt from one of his mistakes (trying to get honey). As historical fiction, it stands the test of time better than Newberys that are contemporary when published, but don't read well a decade or two later. A young reader willing and able to identify with Matt's situation and adventures is going to find much pleasure here.

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Summary: Bad Beaver
Review: I read this book aloud to my children and we all loved it! It is an exciting tale of life on the frontier from a young boys perspective. It was a story of friendship and survival. I don't see how this book could possibly harm anyone. Reading some other reviews written,they paint an ugly picture of what it was about. There were things that were reality back then that were sad and unfortunate but why make like it didn't happen? The Native Americans in this book were heros. It was great to see how skilled they were in making tools and surviving in the woods. What is wrong with that? I highly recommend this book. My 9 and 8 year olds were hanging on every word and couldn't wait to read again. (Perhaps the environment that the reading took place wasn't good for some of the other readers. I can't figure it out. We never saw the movie either.) It was a great intro to study of native americans. We built a teepee and made bows and arrows and have an even greater respect for the indians. It was a wonderful book that sparks the imagination and truly give the reader a love for the Native American way of life.