83 pages • 2 hours read
Elizabeth George SpeareThe Sign of the Beaver
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1983A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
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.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
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.
Who Should Read The Sign of the Beaver?
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.
RecommendedReading Age
9-12yearsLexile Level
770LBook Details
Historical Fiction
Action / Adventure
Coming of Age / Bildungsroman
Relationships: Family
Relationships: Friendship
Emotions/Behavior: Courage
History: U.S.
Race / Racism
Education