Review by twinkle09 -- Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
Posted: 31 May 2020, 19:31
[Following is a volunteer review of "Strong Heart" by Charlie Sheldon.]
Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon is the first book in the Strong Heart series. Sarah Cooley, an orphaned child of 13 years comes to live with her grandmother Ruth and her husband Fletcher for the summer when her step-father takes up a job in Europe. Four days later Ruth deposits Sarah at her biological grandfather Tom's doorsteps in Sol Duc valley, Washington, being tired of her'' drinking, her bad attitude, and the skateboard trash she somehow met.'' Tom, along with his friend William and his daughter Myra, was preparing to go on a hike in the Olympic National Park to visit his grandfather Bob- Bob's grave and see the valley one last time before mining by the Buckhorn company changed the serene beauty of the quiet valley. Now in charge of Sarah, Tom is undecided about whether to go camping as planned or stay back at home to take care of his granddaughter. He hesitantly accepts William's proposal to take along Sarah to visit her great-great grandfather's grave.
They start their journey the next morning. Though Sarah comes off as a petulant child whining and reluctant to go camping at the beginning of the journey, as they move forward Sarah starts to enjoy the trip. The campfire stories told by Tom lets Sarah know her grandfather better and the life he lived. While Sarah talking about her mother and her life lets Tom know more about his granddaughter and his deceased daughter. When Sarah sees and draws a short-faced bear, which has been extinct for 12 thousand years, Tom dismisses it as a figment of her imagination. The next morning they visit Bob-Bob's grave and pay respect to his spirit. Sarah being angry with Tom for not believing her tries to step away from the group and goes missing.
The manner in which the author develops the story is what I liked most about the book. Sarah's vision of the short-faced bear is a natural symbolism of the rite of passage found in some indigenous cultures. It leads Sarah to find her purpose in life and her role in protecting the history of ancient people from destroyed by mining and extraction work. As Tom and his group journey through the Olympic Peninsula, Sarah's vision of her journey thousands of years ago on ancient trails to reach home seems to run parallel to the modern-day journey. The book tells a story within a story of a journey as old as ancient humans who took perilous journeys to reach their home braving the coldest seas and the fiercest animals on land- a journey that brought out the best and the worst in human nature. It provides a glimpse into how our forefathers survived and navigated the seas thousands of years ago. In the end, Sarah emerges as a strong heart in the journey.
There is nothing I didn't like about the book. I had some difficulty in understanding few expressions like'' kisser'' but nothing a quick search on the internet wouldn't clarify. The book is very well edited as I could find only a few errors in punctuation and spelling. The author's love for nature and the Olympic Park shows through the detailed descriptions of the landscape, its flora, and fauna. So does his research regarding the first human presence in North America and the legends and folklore of native people of this land.
This book is a good read for adults and teenagers alike. Like a grandmother's tale, it shares truth, wisdom, and myth all woven together into it. While reading, the Olympic Peninsula and the North Pacific Coast come alive and resonate with what Myra said,'' This is a land of magic, history, and legend. A place of myth, ancient stories, ancient people.''I wouldn't say the book ends in a cliff hanger but you would eagerly be looking forward to the next story in the series. So I would give nothing less than 4 out of 4 stars to the book.
******
Strong Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon is the first book in the Strong Heart series. Sarah Cooley, an orphaned child of 13 years comes to live with her grandmother Ruth and her husband Fletcher for the summer when her step-father takes up a job in Europe. Four days later Ruth deposits Sarah at her biological grandfather Tom's doorsteps in Sol Duc valley, Washington, being tired of her'' drinking, her bad attitude, and the skateboard trash she somehow met.'' Tom, along with his friend William and his daughter Myra, was preparing to go on a hike in the Olympic National Park to visit his grandfather Bob- Bob's grave and see the valley one last time before mining by the Buckhorn company changed the serene beauty of the quiet valley. Now in charge of Sarah, Tom is undecided about whether to go camping as planned or stay back at home to take care of his granddaughter. He hesitantly accepts William's proposal to take along Sarah to visit her great-great grandfather's grave.
They start their journey the next morning. Though Sarah comes off as a petulant child whining and reluctant to go camping at the beginning of the journey, as they move forward Sarah starts to enjoy the trip. The campfire stories told by Tom lets Sarah know her grandfather better and the life he lived. While Sarah talking about her mother and her life lets Tom know more about his granddaughter and his deceased daughter. When Sarah sees and draws a short-faced bear, which has been extinct for 12 thousand years, Tom dismisses it as a figment of her imagination. The next morning they visit Bob-Bob's grave and pay respect to his spirit. Sarah being angry with Tom for not believing her tries to step away from the group and goes missing.
The manner in which the author develops the story is what I liked most about the book. Sarah's vision of the short-faced bear is a natural symbolism of the rite of passage found in some indigenous cultures. It leads Sarah to find her purpose in life and her role in protecting the history of ancient people from destroyed by mining and extraction work. As Tom and his group journey through the Olympic Peninsula, Sarah's vision of her journey thousands of years ago on ancient trails to reach home seems to run parallel to the modern-day journey. The book tells a story within a story of a journey as old as ancient humans who took perilous journeys to reach their home braving the coldest seas and the fiercest animals on land- a journey that brought out the best and the worst in human nature. It provides a glimpse into how our forefathers survived and navigated the seas thousands of years ago. In the end, Sarah emerges as a strong heart in the journey.
There is nothing I didn't like about the book. I had some difficulty in understanding few expressions like'' kisser'' but nothing a quick search on the internet wouldn't clarify. The book is very well edited as I could find only a few errors in punctuation and spelling. The author's love for nature and the Olympic Park shows through the detailed descriptions of the landscape, its flora, and fauna. So does his research regarding the first human presence in North America and the legends and folklore of native people of this land.
This book is a good read for adults and teenagers alike. Like a grandmother's tale, it shares truth, wisdom, and myth all woven together into it. While reading, the Olympic Peninsula and the North Pacific Coast come alive and resonate with what Myra said,'' This is a land of magic, history, and legend. A place of myth, ancient stories, ancient people.''I wouldn't say the book ends in a cliff hanger but you would eagerly be looking forward to the next story in the series. So I would give nothing less than 4 out of 4 stars to the book.
******
Strong Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon