The Sign of the Beaver
Encyclopedia
The Sign of the Beaver is a historical fiction
children's novel by author Elizabeth George Speare
, which has merited numerous literary awards. It was published in February 1983, and has become one of her most popular works. The Sign of the Beaver has also been made into a television movie, called Keeping the Promise
.
The idea for this book came from a factual story that Elizabeth George Speare discovered about a young boy who was left alone for a summer in the Maine wilderness and was befriended by a Native American and his grandson.
, to get Matt's mother, sister, and newborn sibling who were all left behind so Matt and his father could build shelter for them. Matt's father promises to return in seven weeks and Matt is left alone with his father's old watch (a family heirloom) and a hunting rifle to guard the family's newly-built homestead and field crops. Unfortunately, Matt finds himself enduring many hardships that he is unprepared for. His hunting rifle is stolen by a stranger named Ben, his crop is picked over by the wildlife, and his food supplies are pillaged by a hungry bear.
Wanting to sweeten his bland diet, Matt raids a honeybee hive for honey and is attacked by the furious bees. Attempting to escape the swarm, he jumps into a creek, losing a shoe and hurting his ankle in the process. Luckily, Matt's foolhardy adventure has not gone unnoticed and he is pulled from the water. Ironically the Indians he has learned to fear through tales of kidnapping have saved his life.
His numerous stings are treated by the elderly [Penobscot] Indian chief named Saknis. After recovering, the thankful Matt offers his only book, Robinson Crusoe
, as a gift to Saknis, and his grandson Attean. However they cannot read English. Saknis instead commands that Matt teach Attean to read, in return they will provide him with food. Uncertain of how to teach anyone, especially the unwilling boy, Matt accepts the task out of gratitude and courtesy, as he owes his life to the man.
Matt does not immediately befriend Attean, although the two young boys eventually form a strong friendship as they help each other through difficult circumstances.
Attean goes off to find his manitou, which is a sign of becoming a man. Attean is afraid because he fears it will take him a very long time. Although Matt longs for Attean to stay he is happy for his friend. Matt asks the question: "What if Attean's manitou doesn't come?" Although this offends Attean because in his culture without it he cannot become a man, he answers "Even if I have to wait many winters I get manitou to become a man".
When Attean returns from searching for his manitou, he invites Matt, whose family has not yet returned after many months, to join his tribe, who are moving north to new hunting grounds. Although Matt is good friends with Attean and enjoys Indian culture, he has not forgotten his family. Matt has to decide whether to join the Indian tribe, or return to his cabin and continue to wait for his family to return.
He decides to wait, although parting from his new friend, Attean, is difficult. The two boys trade gifts; Matt gives Attean his treasured watch that his father gave him before he left, and Attean leaves his dog behind with Matt. Attean's grandmother gives Matt some maple sugar, and Saknis gives Matt a pair of snowshoes. After he cut the last notch on the last stick, Matt waits for his family, using the survival skills he had learned with Attean. In the winter, Matt's family finally returned, though Matt's little sister (who he hadn't met) died. Matt decides he would tell them about Attean and the whole Indian tribe.
Historical fiction
Historical fiction tells a story that is set in the past. That setting is usually real and drawn from history, and often contains actual historical persons, but the principal characters tend to be fictional...
children's novel by author Elizabeth George Speare
Elizabeth George Speare
Elizabeth George Speare was an American children's author who won many awards for her historical fiction novels, including two Newbery Medals. She has been called one of America’s 100 most popular children’s authors and much of her work has become mandatory reading in many schools throughout the...
, which has merited numerous literary awards. It was published in February 1983, and has become one of her most popular works. The Sign of the Beaver has also been made into a television movie, called Keeping the Promise
Keeping the Promise
Keeping the Promise is a 1997 historical drama television film based on the children's novel The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare...
.
The idea for this book came from a factual story that Elizabeth George Speare discovered about a young boy who was left alone for a summer in the Maine wilderness and was befriended by a Native American and his grandson.
Plot
The Sign of the Beaver tells the story of a 13-year-old boy, Matt, and his father, who, as early settlers, together build a wooden cabin in Maine in 1768. However, Matt's father must head back to Quincy, MassachusettsQuincy, Massachusetts
Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its nicknames are "City of Presidents", "City of Legends", and "Birthplace of the American Dream". As a major part of Metropolitan Boston, Quincy is a member of Boston's Inner Core Committee for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council...
, to get Matt's mother, sister, and newborn sibling who were all left behind so Matt and his father could build shelter for them. Matt's father promises to return in seven weeks and Matt is left alone with his father's old watch (a family heirloom) and a hunting rifle to guard the family's newly-built homestead and field crops. Unfortunately, Matt finds himself enduring many hardships that he is unprepared for. His hunting rifle is stolen by a stranger named Ben, his crop is picked over by the wildlife, and his food supplies are pillaged by a hungry bear.
Wanting to sweeten his bland diet, Matt raids a honeybee hive for honey and is attacked by the furious bees. Attempting to escape the swarm, he jumps into a creek, losing a shoe and hurting his ankle in the process. Luckily, Matt's foolhardy adventure has not gone unnoticed and he is pulled from the water. Ironically the Indians he has learned to fear through tales of kidnapping have saved his life.
His numerous stings are treated by the elderly [Penobscot] Indian chief named Saknis. After recovering, the thankful Matt offers his only book, Robinson Crusoe
Robinson Crusoe
Robinson Crusoe is a novel by Daniel Defoe that was first published in 1719. Epistolary, confessional, and didactic in form, the book is a fictional autobiography of the title character—a castaway who spends 28 years on a remote tropical island near Trinidad, encountering cannibals, captives, and...
, as a gift to Saknis, and his grandson Attean. However they cannot read English. Saknis instead commands that Matt teach Attean to read, in return they will provide him with food. Uncertain of how to teach anyone, especially the unwilling boy, Matt accepts the task out of gratitude and courtesy, as he owes his life to the man.
Matt does not immediately befriend Attean, although the two young boys eventually form a strong friendship as they help each other through difficult circumstances.
Attean goes off to find his manitou, which is a sign of becoming a man. Attean is afraid because he fears it will take him a very long time. Although Matt longs for Attean to stay he is happy for his friend. Matt asks the question: "What if Attean's manitou doesn't come?" Although this offends Attean because in his culture without it he cannot become a man, he answers "Even if I have to wait many winters I get manitou to become a man".
When Attean returns from searching for his manitou, he invites Matt, whose family has not yet returned after many months, to join his tribe, who are moving north to new hunting grounds. Although Matt is good friends with Attean and enjoys Indian culture, he has not forgotten his family. Matt has to decide whether to join the Indian tribe, or return to his cabin and continue to wait for his family to return.
He decides to wait, although parting from his new friend, Attean, is difficult. The two boys trade gifts; Matt gives Attean his treasured watch that his father gave him before he left, and Attean leaves his dog behind with Matt. Attean's grandmother gives Matt some maple sugar, and Saknis gives Matt a pair of snowshoes. After he cut the last notch on the last stick, Matt waits for his family, using the survival skills he had learned with Attean. In the winter, Matt's family finally returned, though Matt's little sister (who he hadn't met) died. Matt decides he would tell them about Attean and the whole Indian tribe.
- 1983 Josette Frank AwardJosette Frank AwardThe Josette Frank Award is an annual children's literary award for fiction that honors a book or books of "outstanding literary merit in which children or young people deal in a positive and realistic way with difficulties in their world and grow emotionally and morally".Known as the Children's...
(won) - 1984 Christopher AwardChristopher AwardThe Christopher Award is presented to the producers, directors, and writers of books, motion pictures and television specials that "affirm the highest values of the human spirit"...
(won) - 1984 A Booklist Editors' ChoiceBooklistBooklist is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. It is geared toward libraries and booksellers and is available in print or online...
(won) - 1984 Horn Book Fanfare (won)
- 1984 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical FictionScott O'Dell Award for Historical FictionThe Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction is an American award established in 1982 to encourage authors to focus on historical fiction. The award was created by Scott O’Dell, author of Island of the Blue Dolphins and 25 other children's books, in hopes of increasing young readers' interest in...
(won) - 1984 An American Library Association Notable Children's Book citation
- 1984 An American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults (won)
- 1983-1984 Young Hoosier Book Award (nominee)
- The New York Times Best Book of the Year