Helpful Score: 4
Wonderful book about a boy who is on his own in a cabin in the wilderness. He makes friends with a young indian boy. Great family read-aloud...even my husband is waiting to hear the next chapter every day! :)
This book is used in Sonlight Core 3.
This book is used in Sonlight Core 3.
Helpful Score: 2
When his father returns East to collect the rest of the family, 13-year-old Matt is left alone to guard his family's newly built homestead. One day, Matt is brutally stung when he robs a bee tree for honey. He returns to consciousness to discover that his many stings have been treated by an old Native American and his grandson. Matt offers his only book as thanks, but the old man instead asks Matt to teach his grandson Attean to read. Both boys are suspicious, but Attean comes each day for his lesson. In the mornings, Matt tries to entice Attean with tales from Robinson Crusoe, while in the afternoons, Attean teaches Matt about wilderness survival and Native American culture. The boys become friends in spite of themselves, and their inevitable parting is a moving tribute to the ability of shared experience to overcome prejudice
Helpful Score: 2
Captivating story full of emotion and suspense as two young boys from different worlds come to learn and appreciate one another's ways. Wonderful inside look at the daily life of Native American Indians during the beginning of the Westward Expansion of the U.S.
Helpful Score: 2
My daughter absolutely loved this book about a young boy who is left by his father in their wilderness log home in the Colonial times to fend for himself. He meets an Indian boy who shows him how to survive and their friendship flourishes. Your children will love this book.
Helpful Score: 1
Great story. We loved the lessons it teaches about a boy's learning to survive and all the little tips it gives us about life during this difficult time. Highly recommended.
Helpful Score: 1
A sturdy, never faltering story of wilderness survival.
Helpful Score: 1
When his father returns East to collect the rest of the family, 13-year-old Matt is left alone to guard his family's newly built homestead. One day, Matt is brutally stung when he robs a bee tree for honey. He returns to consciousness to discover that his many stings have been treated by an old Native American and his grandson. Matt offers his only book as thanks, but the old man instead asks Matt to teach his grandson Attean to read. Both boys are suspicious, but Attean comes each day for his lesson. In the mornings, Matt tries to entice Attean with tales from Robinson Crusoe, while in the afternoons, Attean teaches Matt about wilderness survival and Native American culture. The boys become friends in spite of themselves, and their inevitable parting is a moving tribute to the ability of shared experience to overcome prejudice. The Sign of the Beaver was a Newbery Honor Book; author Elizabeth Speare has also won the Newbery Medal twice, for The Witch of Blackbird Pond and The Bronze Bow.
Helpful Score: 1
School Library Journal
Gr 5-8-Elizabeth George Speare's acclaimed, captivating historical novel (BDD) set in the 1700s receives a fresh treatment here, thanks to narrator Greg Schaffert's fine, crystal clear narration that brings the story to life. Speare's evocative tale tells of the mutually beneficial friendship that develops between Matt, a 13-year-old white boy living alone in the wilderness, and Attean, a proud Native American on the verge of manhood. Matt is guarding his family's newly built cabin while his father travels to retrieve Matt's mother and sister. Attean saves Matt's life after a terrifying bee attack (beautifully brought to life by both Speare and Schaffert). The two become reluctant pals: Matt teaches Attean how to read, and Attean shows Matt how to hunt, set traps and gather. Soon Matt must make a choice: join Attean's tribe or wait for his family to return. Speare's Newbery Honor winner is a good adventure story that will hook those interested in survival stories. It will also serve multicultural collections.-Brian E. Wilson, Oak Lawn Public Library, IL
Gr 5-8-Elizabeth George Speare's acclaimed, captivating historical novel (BDD) set in the 1700s receives a fresh treatment here, thanks to narrator Greg Schaffert's fine, crystal clear narration that brings the story to life. Speare's evocative tale tells of the mutually beneficial friendship that develops between Matt, a 13-year-old white boy living alone in the wilderness, and Attean, a proud Native American on the verge of manhood. Matt is guarding his family's newly built cabin while his father travels to retrieve Matt's mother and sister. Attean saves Matt's life after a terrifying bee attack (beautifully brought to life by both Speare and Schaffert). The two become reluctant pals: Matt teaches Attean how to read, and Attean shows Matt how to hunt, set traps and gather. Soon Matt must make a choice: join Attean's tribe or wait for his family to return. Speare's Newbery Honor winner is a good adventure story that will hook those interested in survival stories. It will also serve multicultural collections.-Brian E. Wilson, Oak Lawn Public Library, IL
Helpful Score: 1
Interesting story and accurate detail make this a worthwhile, engrossing historical novel.
Helpful Score: 1
This is one of my absolute favorite books of all time! I read this as a child and as an adult I purchased another copy and have read it several times in my 20s and 30s. Such a quick delightful read! I can't WAIT to share it with my little one..when she's just a bit older!!
Helpful Score: 1
**** Really liked this book!
12 year old Matt is left in charge of the future cabin and home for his family. As Pa returns for the rest of the family, Matt must survive on his own. When Pa doesn't return on time the young boy is befriended by an Indian boy, his Grandfather and adventure turns to winter. This story is a great boy and a quick read. Another of the books I should have read as a kid.
12 year old Matt is left in charge of the future cabin and home for his family. As Pa returns for the rest of the family, Matt must survive on his own. When Pa doesn't return on time the young boy is befriended by an Indian boy, his Grandfather and adventure turns to winter. This story is a great boy and a quick read. Another of the books I should have read as a kid.
Helpful Score: 1
very good i read it in 5th grade now im in 6th! So now im going to read it and im almost done ill let evryone now when im done!!!! :) :) :) :) ;)
Helpful Score: 1
excellent book. i remember reading this book in grade school and was captivated by its adventure.
Helpful Score: 1
Re: Kate H.
"Watch out parents who think a single book will change their child's world view that they have worked very hard to indoctrinate their children into". Can't you allow your child to read a book that deals with another culture? "Oh no the native american's had different beliefs than we do!". Good thing we wiped out their cultures huh?
"Watch out parents who think a single book will change their child's world view that they have worked very hard to indoctrinate their children into". Can't you allow your child to read a book that deals with another culture? "Oh no the native american's had different beliefs than we do!". Good thing we wiped out their cultures huh?
Helpful Score: 1
There was a movie made of this book called "Keeping The Promise". The movie was pretty good but could have held a truer picture to the book. The book was better (isn't that usually the case?)
timeless classic, quality read
Until the day his father returns to their cabin in the Maine wilderness, twelve-year-old Matt must try to survive on his own. Although Matt is brave, he's not prepared for an attack by swarming bes, and he's astonished when he's rescued by an Indian chief and his grandson, Attean.
This is a historical fiction. It is interesting to imagine life in the late 1700. I am reading it with my 9 year old. She is enjoying it as much as I am.
I have not personally read this. I have just found it in my attic. Would advise to those who like Native American stories.
An excellent book for kids.
This is a Dell yearling book. Two young boys: one indian, one English learn about each other and the different cultures.
Umpteenth story ever written of a 12 year old boy separated from his family who ends up being raised by Native Americans (who always seem willing to take these strange looking white kids under their wing). You have a better chance of being abducted by aliens these days than by our hard-pressed Native American brothers.
Fabulous book! One of the best books I have ever read to my children! I always recommend this book to my friends for their children, and we give it as a birthday present all the time!
This is one of my favorite books to read with 4th-6th graders! The courage of the main character, Matt, is something to read about. Good historical fiction.
I enjoyed this book. It wasn't my favorite book, but it was a good one.
Great book for 4th or 5th graders.
This winner of the Newberry Award is a short, satisfying read. Following the life of a young boy in Maine, the book describes the difficult life of the pioneers. Left alone while his father heads south to retrieve the family, Matt is beset by hardship and bad breaks. When an Indian cheif comes to his rescue, he is taught the way of survival a la the Beaver tribe. He learns to survive with the things God has provided on this earth, in the ancient tradition of the Native American. As his father's return is clearly delayed, Matt is faced with an agonizing choice as the harsh winter approaches. Has he learned enough to survive on his own, or should he seek the safety in numbers and head north with the Indians? The book shows Matt's transformation from prideful boy to competent, humble man. A great read.
A great book for kids that teaches them how to get along with other cultures.
Read this to my kids. We all enjoyed it and couldn't wait until the next day to read.
Excellent classic
Great book
Now that 12 year old MAtt and his father have finished building a comfortable cabin for their family in the Maine wilderness, Matt's father must leave to bring the rest of the family to the new settlement. Until the day his father returns, Matt must try to survive on his own. Matt is brave, but he's not prepared for an atack by swarming bees, and he's astonished when he's rescued by an indian cheif and his grandson, Attean.
As the boys come to know each other, Attean learns to speak English, while MAtt becomes a skilled hunter. Many months pass with no sign of Matt's family. Then Attean asks Matt to join the Beaver tribe and move North. Should Matt abandon his hopes of ever seeing his family again and go to a new life?
As the boys come to know each other, Attean learns to speak English, while MAtt becomes a skilled hunter. Many months pass with no sign of Matt's family. Then Attean asks Matt to join the Beaver tribe and move North. Should Matt abandon his hopes of ever seeing his family again and go to a new life?
BEWARE CHRISTIAN PARENTS! A real seriously pagan part in this book!
Until the day his father returns to their cabin in the Maine wilderness, twelve-year-old Matt must try to survive on his own. Although Matt is brave, he's not prepared for an attack by swarming bees, and he's astonished when he's rescued by an Indian chief and his grandson Attean.
As the boys come to know each other Attean learns to speak English while Matt becomes a skilled hunter. Though many months have passed, there's no sign of Matt's family. Then Attean asks Matt to join the Beaver tribe and move north. Should Matt abandon his hopes of ever seeing his family again and move on to a new life?
As the boys come to know each other Attean learns to speak English while Matt becomes a skilled hunter. Though many months have passed, there's no sign of Matt's family. Then Attean asks Matt to join the Beaver tribe and move north. Should Matt abandon his hopes of ever seeing his family again and move on to a new life?
Until the day his father turns to the cabin in the Maine wilderness, twelve-year-old Matt must try to survive on his own. Although Matt is brave, he's not prepared for an attack by swarming bees, and he's astonished when he's rescued by an Indian chief and his grandson, Attean. As the boys come to know eachother the teen learns to speak English while Matt becomes a skilled hunter. Though many months have passed, there's no sign of Matt's family. Then the teen asks Matt to join the Beaver Tribe and move North. Should Matt abandon his hopes of ever seeing his family again and move onto a new life?
