Review by Olgamiell -- Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon

[Olgamiell]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Strong Heart" by Charlie Sheldon.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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"Stories are what make us human", says Charlie Sheldon in the afterword for his book Strong heart, and I must say, what a great story it is. It is a tale about trust, about family and building bonds and, also, about faith and science. The author has great storytelling skills and a serious passion for what he is writing about. Strong heart takes readers into a journey through land and time, unveiling not only the history of the main characters but also the people who lived there long before them.

Tom is an older man who lives near Olympic National Park in Washington, USA. One stormy evening he prepares for a trip in the mountains with his friends, William and Myra. Their arrangements are being disturbed by the sudden appearance of William's ex-wife accompanied by a girl. The woman claims that this is their long-lost granddaughter, Sarah, who from now on will be spending summer with Tom. Neither of them is particularly thrilled about the news, but they decide that the only way is to take Sarah with them. For Tom, this trip is more of a mission, as he has something important to do in the woods and he would rather not postpone it. The girl is not too happy either, and she doesn't hesitate to express her feelings. Needless to say that the hike is not going to be easy. Tom and William are not in great shape and Sarah is not used to camping. It is also obvious that the girl and her grandfather are from two completely different worlds and it is difficult for them to find a common language. The tension only aggravates when Sarah thinks she saw a bear that Myra recognizes as a short-faced bear, a species extinct for more than 10,000 years. Tom doesn't believe the girl's story, and the frustration and general disappointment make her run away from the group right in the middle of a very serious storm. The story follows the events during the hike, which will turn out to have a significant meaning for the lives of characters.

"This is a land of magic, history, and legend. A place of myth, ancient stories, ancient people", says Myra, explaining Sarah the importance of the land they are visiting. It feels like those words describe Strong heart perfectly. The hike in the Olympic Mountains and the events that come afterward take readers into the enchanted world of legends and myths about human origins and people that lived in North America thousands of years ago. The author is passionate about the subject and knows very well what he is writing about. Thanks to the captivating narrative and realistic characters the story has the potential to be fascinating for everyone, not only those interested in archeology or anthropology.

Apart from the story itself, one of the main advantages of the novel is its writing style. The sentences are usually short, but the author uses them well so the plot is captivating, coherent, and easy to imagine. Thanks to the language used, the book is easy and quick to read. One of the strong points is vivid characters and very natural dialogues. The book has also some nice descriptions of the national park and the trail the characters are walking. It is without a doubt that Charlie Sheldon has some serious interest in the topics he addresses in his book, but he doesn't show off his knowledge, and thanks to that readers won't feel like they are reading a school essay. I found the thread about mythology and customs of Native Americans and tribes from Syberia to be especially interesting. I also liked that the author decided to put maps at the beginning of the book. That really helps to place the story in the real world as I'm not that familiar with the topography of Washington state. It is also worth mentioning that Strong heart is exceptionally well-edited, I didn't find any spelling or grammar mistakes.

I think this book is suitable for all readers, adults as well as teenagers. Apart from an interesting plot, it is also a story about growing up and following one's path, so it may be valuable for younger readers. There are no profanities nor curse words. Strong heart contains some serious subjects such as violence, hunting, and a slight suggestion of sexual abuse, but the above themes are presented in such a way that I still think is suitable for young adults.

I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I exceptionally enjoyed reading it. It has a very good narrative and the plot is captivating and set in a nice environment. The novel addresses important topics and I think it will be interesting for everyone. I really appreciate the fact that it seems to be professionally edited, which made the reading experience even more pleasant. I can honestly say I didn't find a single thing that I wouldn't like about this book.

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Strong Heart
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[AvidBibliophile]

Extinct bears, stormy nights, Native American mythology, ancestral legends, and familial bonds... these are certainly elements that can take an interesting tale of adventure and make it unforgettable! Thank you for your thorough review of this one.

[sirbobthewise]

I love it when an author loves what they are writing about and it shines through (but not in an in-your-face sort of way). You can kind of feed off of their passion, and it can really impact the reader's experience. Thanks for the wonderful and thorough review! I had been seeing this book but hadn’t picked it up yet. I may choose to read it now after reading your summary. Great job.

[Prisallen]

I love hiking and the background for the story sounds fascinating, as well as the plot itself. It sounds like a book I would enjoy. Thanks for your wonderful review!

[Harty Muli]

I like the discussion about building family bonds and trust. Thanks for the insightful review.

[HanElizabeth397]

You can definitely tell how passionate the author is about this book from reading it and I found that I was learning things as well as just enjoying a piece of fiction when I was reading this book - something that's super valuable when reading! Glad you enjoyed it as much as I did