The Sign of the Beaver

hanli - The Sign of the Beaver was an excellent introduction to life among pioneers and Native Americans in the eighteenth-century American colonies. The book was about a 13 year old boy named Matt who was left behind with a cabin in the Maine wilderness as he awaits his father to bring the rest of Matt's family. As his father left, Matt struggled and developed a relationship with a Native American boy named Attean, and eventually became a trusted person of the Beaver tribe. The novel was full of precise details concerning the tasks and objects that filled everyday life, as well as contained a good deal of adventure and suspense. The author, Elizabeth George Speare, had an insightful and sensitive portrayal of the relations among white settlers and Native Americans. The external conflict between Matt and Attean often made me felt uneasy throughout the story when the tension between the two boys build up. However, I felt it was very heartwarming when Matt finally realized that he had became part of the Beaver tribe and he was accepted as one of their members. I found this book to be quite meaningful, and I learned that maturity comes when one accepts responsibility and learns to be resourceful and self reliant. Self-reliance and an understanding of how to live in harmony with nature can ensure survival in even the most pressing situations. Therefore, I believe people should consider the viewpoints of those who are different from them and be open to learning from them. Finally, I really enjoyed the ending of The Sign of the Beaver because Matt chose to wait for his long lost father even when he was given a chance to move along with the Beaver tribe, and I was full of happiness when Matt’s father did finally arrive to see Matt had kept their cabin safe and sound.