The Sign of the Beaver (Paperback)

~ (Author) "MATT STOOD AT THE EDGE OF THE CLEARING FOR some time after his father had gone out of sight among the trees..." (more)
Key Phrases: squaw work, Robinson Crusoe

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

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. (Ages 12 and older) --Richard Farr --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-By Elizabeth George Speare. Twelve-year old Matt is trying his best to survive on his own until his father returns to their cabin in the Maine wilderness with the rest of the family. Matt develops a deep friendship with a Native American boy. Matt must decide if he should continue waiting for his family or begin a new life with his friend.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Yearling (July 1, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440479002
• ISBN-13: 978-0440479000
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (198 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6,052 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful classic!, December 23, 1999

By	MagnoliaSouth - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Sign of the Beaver (Hardcover)

This book was a great suprise for me. A young native boy teaches another "white" boy (living on his own) how to hunt without bullets or rifles, fish without a man made hook, make a bow and arrow, and so much more. A wonderful friendship grows between the boys in a time when friendship of this nature was frowned upon. A wonderful story. This book will be even more exciting for the child who loves the outdoors. We adults will learn quite a thing or two as well.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Sign of the Beaver a great book for everyone, October 25, 2003

By	Anna Freeman (Oxford, Mississippi United States) - See all my reviews

The Sign of the Beaver depicts the experiences of 13 year old Matt. Matt is a native of Massechusetts now commissioned to protect and preserve their families new land in Maine while his father returns to bring the rest of his family to the new land. Through a series of events, Matt receives unexpected friendship from a neighboring Penobscot tribe and a young boy named Attean. He learns how to adjust to his new home and survive even the toughest of situations.
This is a well-written book that is exploding with adventure and emotion. It is book that many children today can relate to as many of them are faced with the responsiblities of an adult at very young ages. The Sign of the Beaver also reveals how first impressions can be reevaluated and friendships can be formed amidst the greatest adversity. I believe this book would be great for any reader, but especially the middle school reader.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book i've ever read!!!!!!!!, November 23, 2000

By	"da_game" (Cherry Tree, PA 15724) - See all my reviews

The book "The Sign of the Beaver" is the best book i've ever read. It is about a boy named Matt who is left alone in the woods waiting for his dad to come with his mother and sister. Over a course of a couple months the boy has a few hardships he had to over come. One of them was when a guy names Ben came and stole his rifle so he had to live off of other sources since he couldn't hunt. After getting tired of fish he decided to try and get honey from a bee hive. he was stung many times. Two indians, Saknis and Attean, found him and took him to his cabin and gave him medicine for a couple days. After Matt was better he made a deal with Saknis to teach Attean to read white mans language. After so many times that Matt and Attean were together they finally became friends and part brothers in time.