i'm currently being forced to read this book and i can't express the words on how much i hate this book the plot is so dry and i hated cole so much not gonna lie i did feel bad for Cole when he had to deal with his parents and no child deserves to go through that however he had no right to steal etc and take all of his anger out on someone who was just trying to do the right thing as for causing such horrible injury/trauma and the fact that they both "made up" was idiotic Cole shouldn't have gotten forgiveness for what he had done he deserved to go to jail for his actions as for the "lesson" getting mauled by a bear doesn't automatically give a character development like "omg i just got mauled by a bear i'm gonna be the good guy" it doesn't work like that as for the book being disturbing and having the most disgusting depictions of gore that i'm not gonna get into just know that the book sucks and it isn't a life lesson or a good thing to buy its a waste of money.