Sign of the Beaver PP

Novel Summary

Although Matt is only twelve years old, he faces challenge and danger in the Maine wilderness where his family are the first settlers in a new township. Matt and his father have come to Maine territory to establish a home for their family. After the two of them build a log cabin, Matt's father returns to Massachusetts to bring back the rest of the family: Matt's mother, his sister, and a new baby. While his father is gone, Matt stays alone in the cabin to guard their home and care for the corn that will be a large part of the family's food for the winter.



Matt knows that he will miss his family, but he expects to enjoy his independence and freedom. What he does not expect, however, is the arrival of a stranger who is both friendly and treacherous. When the stranger disappears along with his father's gun, Matt knows that he now faces much greater danger and considerably more work simply to feed himself. Then, a few days later, a bear enters the cabin, and what little food Matt has left is destroyed.



Soon temptation gets the better of the twelve-year-old, and Matt decides to harvest honey from a beehive that he and his father had discovered. He knows that there is a risk of being stung by a few bees, but the honey will replace molasses lost to the bear. But instead of just a few bees, Matt is attacked by a large swarm. Matt tries to save himself by jumping into a pond, but is so severely stung that he begins to drown.



He is rescued by two Indians, an old man and his grandson. Saknis, the grandfather, recognizes that Matt needs food. He agrees to have food provided for Matt if Matt will teach his grandson, Attean, to read. At first, the two boys barely tolerate each other's presence, but slowly a friendship forms. Over the coming weeks, Matt discovers the problems of communicating with, depending upon, and understanding people from a different culture.




Study Guide

58 pages

5 Chapter Lessons + Overview

Subjects: Cultural differences, hospitality, helping others, friendship, the passage to adulthood