Book Review: The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Great characters draw you into a good story

Cons: Not as intricate as her other books

The Bottom Line: 

Hist'ry brought to life

In this engrossing story

Short but worth reading

Coming of Age in Colonial Era Maine

Whenever I bring up children's book author Elizabeth George Speare, people usually know her two classic Newbery Award winning books.  But very few know about Newbery Honor Book The Sign of the Beaver.  Which is a shame because it really is a good book.

The story is set in 1768 Maine and revolves around a boy named Matt.  Matt is twelve when the story starts, and celebrates his thirteenth birthday at some point over the course of the action.

Matt and his father have gone ahead of the rest of the family to build a cabin on their new land in Maine.  Now, his father is returning to Massachusetts to get Matt's mother and siblings, leaving Matt to guard the new home and garden.  Matt's dad expects to be gone only seven weeks.  What could happen in that time?

First, someone steals the gun that Matt's dad left behind for him.  Then Matt meets some of the Indians in the area.  The chief wants Matt to teach his grandson, Attean, to read English.  Attean is two years older than the twelve-year-old Matt, and Matt looks up to him.  As the weeks progress, Attean begins to show Matt how to live off the land.  Will that help Matt survive until his family returns?

Now I will admit that this book isn't as intricately plotted as Elizabeth George Speare's other books.  And the size of the book reflects that.  It's only 135 pages (at least the version I have).  But as a kid, I remember thinking this was an epic story.  Rereading it, I am amazed she was able to tell the story she does in such a few pages.

There are several plot lines going through the book.  There's the question of how Matt will survive.  Both Matt and Attean have parallel coming of age stories.  And the subject of Indian/settler relations is explored as well.  While I wouldn't say any of these stories has a surprising outcome, I still get so caught up in the story that I can't put it down no matter how many times I've read it.  And there are a couple of bittersweet moments in the final 30 pages that I can't help but tear up.

That's because of the characters.  While the story is told third person, the narrator focuses exclusively on Matt, sharing all his thoughts with us.  As a result, Matt becomes real almost right away.  Attean is a mystery when he first shows up, but as the novel progresses, we really get to know him as well.  This novel is really about the two of them, but the other characters seem real as well.  And there are no stereotypes at all here.  By the time the novel ends, you understand both sides of the complex relationships between the Indians and settlers of the time.

Because of the wilderness survival aspect, this book will especially appeal to boys.  My guess is even the most reluctant reader will get caught up in the story.

If you want some good historical fiction that will appeal to boys, look no further than The Sign of the Beaver.  This is a quality book that will engage anyone who reads it no matter their age.