Ben Mikaelsen's Touching Spirit Bear is a touching exploration of human resilience and transformation, set against the backdrop of the plot's robust summary. Cole Matthews, a thirty-year-old Minneapolis man with a history of violence, finds himself handcuffed and on a boat headed to a remote island in Garvey in Touching Spirit Bear. As Cole's parole officer, Garvey plays an important role in Cole's life in Touching Spirit Bear. He likes Cole, he really wants to help him and he can relate to who he is.