El signo del castor by Elizabeth George Speare

I read "The Sign of the Beaver" in Spanish mainly as a way to learn some new words in Spanish. The story takes place in the 1700's. A 13 year old boy, named Matt, is left alone to watch the family cabin in Maine while his father goes back to bring his mother with her new baby and his sister to the cabin. It is anticipated that he will only be alone about seven weeks but it ends up that he is alone for about five to six months. He is befriended by an Indian and his grandson, Attean. He is asked to teach Attean English. Neither enjoys the lessons and so they spend most of the time hunting, fishing and exploring the woods. He learns many skills from Attean. The word sign has symbolic meaning in the book. Words and writing (such as in books) is considered the white man's signs. The indians also have signs that Matt learns. They leave signs to mark their way in the woods and also they leave their tribe signs on trees to claim their territory.

Both boys grow up in the book. Attean gets to become a great hunter with the other men in his tribe and Matt feels grown up because he was able to watch the cabin and maintain it until his family comes back.

I enjoyed the book. I think my kids would like it when they are a bit older.