Do you think Cole deserved the beating he received from Peter? Why or why not?

Yes, I think Peter owen him that one. There's a healing process going on here..... and I believe it needed to happen in order for the boys to move forward. I don't condone violence or fighting, but the boys are on the island for a reason.

After reading this book the reader gets the senses that Cole has moved past simple acts of retribution. "An eye for an Eye", so to speak, only contributes to the cycle of violence. I don't think deserve really has much to do with it. Cole is paying a price and if Peter's lashing out offers Peter some solace, Cole is willing to oblige. What is important here is that Cole has transcended the anger and violence; he is trying to give Peter a shot at a similar redemption.

Cole does not fight back because he sees that Peter is hurting just like he was and if beating him is what is going to take for Peter to forgive him and Peter to get better then he is willing to go through with it. I think Cole might of deserved the beating that Peter gave him because although he is a changed person that doesn’t make up for what his past self did and doesn’t make up for all the damage and anger he gave the people he hurt.