83 pages • 2 hours read
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135
Novel • Fiction
Maine Wilderness • 1760s
1983
Middle grade
9-12 years
770L
Published in 1983, The Sign of the Beaver is a historical adventure novel for middle-grade readers by Elizabeth George Speare. Set in the 1760s Colonial America, the book follows young Matt Hallowell who, left alone to guard a cabin in the Maine wilderness, befriends a Penobscot boy named Attean. Through this friendship, Matt learns survival skills, and his perspective on himself, his family, fellow colonists, and Indigenous people changes profoundly. The novel addresses themes of survival, friendship, and cultural understanding against a backdrop of historical challenges.
Adventurous
Inspirational
Heartwarming
41,900 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare impresses readers with its engaging tale of survival and friendship in the wilderness. Praised for its well-developed characters and historical accuracy, it appeals to a young audience. Some critique its pacing as slow, but the vivid storytelling and strong moral themes resonate widely. A compelling read with minor flaws.
The ideal reader for Elizabeth George Speare's The Sign of the Beaver enjoys historical fiction and survival stories with themes akin to Gary Paulsen's Hatchet and Scott O'Dell's Island of the Blue Dolphins. They appreciate insights into frontier life and the interplay between different cultures, suitable for middle-grade readers and young adults.
41,900 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
135
Novel • Fiction
Maine Wilderness • 1760s
1983
Middle grade
9-12 years
770L
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