Until the day his father returns to their cabin in the Maine wilderness, 12-year-old Matt must try to survive on his own. During an attack by swarm...
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Jun 27, 2008
Sasha
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May 06, 2010
Aaron
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In my book, Sign of the Beaver, Matt an English teenage settler befriends and Indian named Attean. I found this book interesting because during this time the English and the Indians had a relationship that could best be described as fighting.
I couldn’t get over the fact that Matt seemed to be realizing slowly that he wasn’t just bonding with Attean but slowly growing the relationship of a friend. Once Matt started to get to know Attean, through Attean’s father, the boys started to do thi More...
I couldn’t get over the fact that Matt seemed to be realizing slowly that he wasn’t just bonding with Attean but slowly growing the relationship of a friend. Once Matt started to get to know Attean, through Attean’s father, the boys started to do thi More...
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Dec 07, 2011
Aaron
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Sign of the Beaver Book Review
Genre-Adventure
Theme-Never give up
Page 0 Front cover-That was the part that interested me about the book
Page 44 Robinson Crusoe book- Robinson Crusoe book made me think of Alex Rider book series because they have almost the same personality.
Page 32 “In Adam’s fall.”-That saying reminded me of a water fall named after someone named Adam.
Questions that I have
1. Why More...
Genre-Adventure
Theme-Never give up
Page 0 Front cover-That was the part that interested me about the book
Page 44 Robinson Crusoe book- Robinson Crusoe book made me think of Alex Rider book series because they have almost the same personality.
Page 32 “In Adam’s fall.”-That saying reminded me of a water fall named after someone named Adam.
Questions that I have
1. Why More...
Aug 26, 2011
Krista
rated it:
Speare was the it-thing in children's literature in the late 50s; between 1957 and 1961 she published three books, two of which won the Newbery. Then she took 20 years off.
The Sign of the Beaver was her return, in 1983, and it, too, won awards (a Newbery Honor citation, the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, and the Christopher Award). But I didn't want to read it because I never liked her other books when I was a kid.
This one I liked, though, which makes me won More...
The Sign of the Beaver was her return, in 1983, and it, too, won awards (a Newbery Honor citation, the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, and the Christopher Award). But I didn't want to read it because I never liked her other books when I was a kid.
This one I liked, though, which makes me won More...
Jun 27, 2011
Jessica
rated it:
I read The Sign of the Beaver a long, long time ago, back when I was in 4th and 5th grade and trying to read all of the titles on the Newbery poster in the school library (for that reason, I was surprised to learn that The Sign of the Beaver has a Newbery Honor and not a Newbery medal, which is what I had "remembered" all these years). A refresher on plot, for those who have forgotten (as I had): Matt is a 12 year old boy from Massachusetts who journeys to Maine with his father in 176
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Jun 03, 2011
Mr.
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This is a historically rich book that takes place during the 1760's just after the French and Indian War. The young main character, Matt, and his father travel up to Maine to turn their land into a farm and to build a home. Matt and his father finish the cabin and Matt is left behind by his father so he can go back to fetch his family and bring them back. This is terrifying for Matt since he will be left alone all winter. Let's just say he has a lot to learn both about himself and about su
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Apr 07, 2010
Scarlett
rated it: 
Ok. I had heard various Native American reviewers pan this book for its stereotypical portrayals. I'm still not that great at evaluating Native American literature but I'll list some things that stuck out to me:
1. Usage of the word squaw. I'm pretty sure that's generally not ok.
2. Going off #1, Speare gives the impression that women were not valued in "Indian" culture.
3. I don't think a tribe name is ever mentioned. The Indians are referred to and refer to themsel More...
1. Usage of the word squaw. I'm pretty sure that's generally not ok.
2. Going off #1, Speare gives the impression that women were not valued in "Indian" culture.
3. I don't think a tribe name is ever mentioned. The Indians are referred to and refer to themsel More...
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Jan 24, 2010
Kate
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I've loved The Witch of Blackbird Pond since I was about twelve, but I had somehow never read The Sign of the Beaver. A teacher friend outed me for not having read it in front of her whole class of fifth graders, so then I clearly had no choice. And it was good! It's no Witch, but very few things could be. This is aimed at a slightly younger audience, and it's about a boy and rather more action-oriented.
13-year-old Matt and his father have traveled to the Maine wilderness to build a ho More...
13-year-old Matt and his father have traveled to the Maine wilderness to build a ho More...
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Aug 04, 2009
ci
rated it:
one of the best must-have children's books I've met, one of a whole battalion I met through Calvert School's excellent English program.
not only providing a wonderful experience of American backwoods pioneer and Red indian life,it's a story of love, loyalty and choices between and to, family and friends. one of the simplest, subtlest books focusing on family ties and affection.
Matt is left to look after the cabin he built with his father in the woods, a young boy by himself , while hi More...
not only providing a wonderful experience of American backwoods pioneer and Red indian life,it's a story of love, loyalty and choices between and to, family and friends. one of the simplest, subtlest books focusing on family ties and affection.
Matt is left to look after the cabin he built with his father in the woods, a young boy by himself , while hi More...
Apr 29, 2009
Jennifer
rated it:
2.5 stars
This book was a well-written and entertaining boy-coming-of-age-in-nature story in the same genre as books like My Side of the Mountain, Summer of the Monkeys, and Where the Red Fern Grows. However, since it as copyrighted in 1983, and concerns Indians, I couldn't help but be wary of it, especially considering that it is a Newbery Honor book that I remember was required reading for most 4th graders when I was in elementary school. While the portrayal of Native Americans in More...
This book was a well-written and entertaining boy-coming-of-age-in-nature story in the same genre as books like My Side of the Mountain, Summer of the Monkeys, and Where the Red Fern Grows. However, since it as copyrighted in 1983, and concerns Indians, I couldn't help but be wary of it, especially considering that it is a Newbery Honor book that I remember was required reading for most 4th graders when I was in elementary school. While the portrayal of Native Americans in More...
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Jan 30, 2012
Mark
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Mark Tucker
Writing W.S
1.24.12
The Sign of the Beaver
By: Elizabeth George Speare
The sign of the beaver is an amazing book about a boy and his father who build a cabin
in the Canadian wilderness. You never know what’s going to happen when a war was only five years back. The natives could still be taking aim from behind the brush
Oh and when twelve-year-old Matt is left to watch the claim while More...
Writing W.S
1.24.12
The Sign of the Beaver
By: Elizabeth George Speare
The sign of the beaver is an amazing book about a boy and his father who build a cabin
in the Canadian wilderness. You never know what’s going to happen when a war was only five years back. The natives could still be taking aim from behind the brush
Oh and when twelve-year-old Matt is left to watch the claim while More...
Jan 04, 2010
Rachel
rated it:
Matt and his father have moved to Maine to build a homestead in the wilderness. When Matt's father leaves to retrieve Matt's mother and sister from Massachusetts to bring them to the new home, Matt is left alone to defend the small cabin against the wild, against intruders, and against Indian attack. But when Matt finds himself defenseless against the untamed wilds, he quickly learns that the help of "savages" may be his only hope for survival. And Matt soon discovers that the Indians
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Oct 31, 2011
Emily
rated it:
This is not my genre of literature. When I first started this book I thought to myself "here is another manly story about survival", but I was pleasantly surprised. The themes of equality, friendship, bravery, self discovery, and many more make this novel difficult to put down. I think that this would be an awesome story to read aloud to a class of any age, even adults. It deals with pride, insecurity, and even humility. It goes to show that when we are humble, we can learn so much fro
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Mar 10, 2011
Rachel
rated it:
I just finished reading this out loud to the kids. They loved this book. Every night they begged to read, "just one more chapter."
Great book about a yound settler boy, Matt, who becomes friends with a Native American boy, Attean.
The story begins when Matt's father must leave Matt, and the cabin that they had built together, to go back to Massachusetts to fetch the rest of the family. Matt is all alone, surviving in uncharted territory, fending for himself More...
Great book about a yound settler boy, Matt, who becomes friends with a Native American boy, Attean.
The story begins when Matt's father must leave Matt, and the cabin that they had built together, to go back to Massachusetts to fetch the rest of the family. Matt is all alone, surviving in uncharted territory, fending for himself More...
Dec 05, 2011
The genre of this book is survival.
my summary:a boy named matt is left alone in a forest while his father goes back to there home town to bring their family to live in the forest they were in.
I think the compelling literary element was the plot more than the setting or characters because you can't say being left alone in a forest to survive by yourself isn't exciting. seeing a young boy survive alone in a forest in practically the middle of no where is very exciting.
in chapter thr More...
my summary:a boy named matt is left alone in a forest while his father goes back to there home town to bring their family to live in the forest they were in.
I think the compelling literary element was the plot more than the setting or characters because you can't say being left alone in a forest to survive by yourself isn't exciting. seeing a young boy survive alone in a forest in practically the middle of no where is very exciting.
in chapter thr More...
Sep 09, 2010
Gordon
rated it:
I have a soft spot for stories where family is a central theme. In The Sign of the Beaver, Matt, the protagonist, is faced with a dilemma when his new family, a group of local Indians, offers to take him into their village. You see, Matt was left alone in the Maine wilderness when his father went to pick up his mother, sister, and new baby. Unfortunately, Matt's family is delayed and he is left alone for nearly six months. During that time, he is rescued an befriends the local Indians. He grows
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Mar 06, 2008
Jeremy
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An amazing story of a young man left to dfend his family's new homestead in Maine as his father travels back to MA to bring back his mother and siblings. During his time alone, he is comes to depend on the Native inhabitants of the region and learns about cultural differences between them.
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Jan 08, 2010
Heather
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Its about a teenage boy who's father left him alone becaus ehe had to go for 6 months or so and his name was andrew. He found his own food and gaherd his own waterand tookcare of his crops as his dad had left him to.When he was fishing he smelt something so sweet, he climed the tree and he found honey. he stuck his hand in the whole and got the rickh honey soon enough bees fell over him as he was stung here and there and blacked out when he wolk up a indian man was holding him he wanted andrew t
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Apr 02, 2008
Emily
rated it:
This was a quick one. The thing I like about Elizabeth Goerge Speare is how she makes a place and time come alive. When I read her books I feel like I'm in the story. This was a lovely story about a white boy all by himself and what he learns from an Indian boy. A nice, quick read.
Jan 02, 2010
Jonathan
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I read this book for school, and it is another good read from the author of The Witch of Blackbird Pond. The book is a wilderness survival novel focusing on the fate of a 12-year-old boy left in the big woods of colonial Maine. He survives theft, killer bees, and a marauding bear, befriends his Indian neighbors, and makes it through the winter to reunite with is family. I am impressed with Speare’s treatment of the Native Americans. Whereas I thought Scott O’Dell’s Sing Down the Moon (another bo
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Feb 10, 2011
Elaine
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The language is dated, but I enjoyed listening to this on audio. I felt so sad at the end knowing what happened to the Native American populations in this country. I am glad the book didn't demonize the white man, though, because that is as unfair as saying that all Indians were savages. There were good and bad on both sides and there was just a fundamental misunderstanding of each others' culture. I'm not forgiving anything the American colonists did, but I can understand why things happene
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Apr 10, 2010
Sue
rated it:
This story takes place in the year 1768, in what will eventually become the state of Maine. Matt, a twelve-year-old boy is left alone in the wilderness while his father leaves to bring back the rest of his family. He must use skills he learns from the Indians who live nearby in order to survive. When Matt meets Attean, a young Indian boy about his own age, they grow together into manhood. As the boys become friends each learns important skills from the others’ culture. Matt becomes a skilled hun
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May 22, 2010
Susan
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In a well-intentioned book that means to talk about the breaking down of prejudice, it's unfortunate that the author's portrayal of Attean, the Penobscot boy, is a white person's imagining of the character rather than an accurate portrayal. Attean speaks in what a Lenape friend of mine calls "early jawbreaker;" he expresses a derogatory view of women (a white viewpoint here projected onto a Native culture); he calls himself an Indian (as if a German would describe his own culture as E
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Dec 14, 2008
Niken
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belajar tuh bisa dari sapa aja. mo belajar baca tulis pergilah ke si muka pucat. kalo mo belajar berburu dan membaca jejak, datanglah ke si kulit merah. getoooo....
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May 15, 2011
Angela
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Listed to on audiobook, a recommended format and story for summer travels.
I don't think I read this one when I was younger, but I think my nine-year-old self would have loved it. Like JULIE OF THE WOLVES the outdoor adventure, historical ties, representations of Native peoples, self-sufficiency and industriousness of the lead characters are wonderful. Recommended for boys and girls age 8-10, as a family read aloud, and for anyone looking for an outdoor summer adventure with substa More...
I don't think I read this one when I was younger, but I think my nine-year-old self would have loved it. Like JULIE OF THE WOLVES the outdoor adventure, historical ties, representations of Native peoples, self-sufficiency and industriousness of the lead characters are wonderful. Recommended for boys and girls age 8-10, as a family read aloud, and for anyone looking for an outdoor summer adventure with substa More...
Nov 28, 2008
Megan
rated it:
WOW!!! Awsome book! I read it as a school requirement, all night. It's a shorter book but has so much meaning you really have to think about what Matt (Main Character) goes through.
In the very beggining of the book you find out that Matt who has lived in Massachussetts all his life, now has to move to the Territory of Maine (Takes place in the late 1700's) Together Matt and his dad build a cabin, plant crops and set up their land. It is then that Matt is told by his father that he'll More...
In the very beggining of the book you find out that Matt who has lived in Massachussetts all his life, now has to move to the Territory of Maine (Takes place in the late 1700's) Together Matt and his dad build a cabin, plant crops and set up their land. It is then that Matt is told by his father that he'll More...
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Jun 22, 2010
Julie
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Totally a guy book. But, as a girl reading it, I must say that I stayed interested the whole time! Matt and his father, in the 18th century, go to Maine to get everything ready for his mother and sister's arrival such as building the log cabin and planting crops. But Matt's father must go back to get the girls and Matt is left alone in the cabin for the time. Things happen that he can't control and he must learn how to deal with these things until finally some local Indians have pity on him an
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Dec 25, 2008
Claire
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A book that I reread now and again- set in the wilderness of Maine. Matt is left by his dad to keep the crop and cabin going while he goes back to get Mom and the younger kids. The mishaps pile up, a rifle stolen, a destructive bear foraging, and then Matt is stung by a hive of bees. Facing certain death, Matt is rescued by local Indians, his payment to them is to teach reading to a young brave who will be a leader in the tribe. A thorny relationship develops between the boys. Matt gains respect
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Dec 24, 2011
Darlene
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I read this book aloud to my children. It has won several literary awards, including: 1984 Newbery Honor, 1984 Scott O'Dell Award, and 1988 Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award Nominee.
Wow, what an adventure! I love survival stories like this.
The story takes place in 1769 and involves a 12 year-old boy named Matt. Matt’s father has bought land in a new township in Maine, and the two of them have been building their new log-cabin home as well as planting crops. Matt’s More...
Wow, what an adventure! I love survival stories like this.
The story takes place in 1769 and involves a 12 year-old boy named Matt. Matt’s father has bought land in a new township in Maine, and the two of them have been building their new log-cabin home as well as planting crops. Matt’s More...
Oct 13, 2009
Carol
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Award-winning historical novelist Elizabeth George Speare's last work is about a thirteen-year-old boy who must survive on his own as he cares for the family's new homestead when his father returns to bring back Matt's mother and siblings. When Matt is stung by a swarm of bees, an Indian chief and his reluctant grandson Attean take care of him. In return for their kindness, Matt agrees to teach Attean to read. As their friendship grows, Matt learns much about how to survive in the wilderness
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