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Book Review of The Sign of the Beaver

The Sign of the Beaver
reviewed on + 13 more book reviews


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.