Review by Mstrtim -- Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon

Timothy Rucinski · Post by **Timothy Rucinski** » 26 Jun 2020, 08:26

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

4 out of 4 stars

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When I read a novel, I enjoy learning something new while becoming lost in the story. In Strong Heart, Charlie Sheldon offers a terrific tale, but he also educates the reader about Native Northwestern American culture. Reading Strong Heart was time well spent.

Young Sarah shows up at her grandfather Tom’s doorstep in Washington State just as he and his friend William, and William’s daughter Myra, prepare to depart on a trek into Olympic National Park. Reluctantly, Sarah joins the expedition. During the adventure into the wilderness, Sarah, displeased with the events that plunged her into the situation, becomes despondent and disappears for eight days. Upon returning, she relates a tale of a mystical journey into the distant past where she lived as one of North America's original settlers.

I often have issues with a story within a story, especially when the narrative shifts from the core story to the subplot. However, Sarah doesn’t “tell” the story to the reader. Mr. Sheldon uses the opportunity to compose an entirely different narrative in the third person. The author does a masterful job of completely changing the narrator's voice, thereby lending credence to the secondary story, letting it stand on its own. It reminds me of those youthful days, sitting around a campfire with friends when one takes on a somber tone and relates a story using words not typically used in day-to-day conversation.

The characters are richly drawn, amiable, and realistic. The dialogue is perfect, and the cadence of speech patterns, plus the vocabulary, is unique to each individual. I lost track that this was fiction because the author vividly renders Tom, Sarah, and the others as real folks. Similarly, the people from Sarah’s travel into the past, speak as we would expect, naturally and without excessive verbal baggage. Mr. Sheldon has a keen ear and marvelous writing style that brings each of these beautiful beings and their surroundings to life.

The knowledge gained about the culture "of the people" is a real gift. The author expertly blends myth and legend of ancient tribes with history, archaeology, and geography. There is so much riveting information that I look forward to reading Mr. Shelton's next book to learn more and seek out related literature about the land and its societies. I was fascinated with the explanation of how North America may have become populated by visitors from the eastern coast of Asia and their travel across the sea by canoe. The author also expresses a strong appreciation for the wonders of nature and the advocacy for maintaining a pristine environment.

Strong Heart is exceptionally well-edited with no typos or grammatical errors. There is no cursing, but some gory violence as the ancient humans fall prey to natural predators. Nevertheless, I would heartily recommend that this book be included in school curricula to supplement courses covering native Americana. Reading a great story and learning about the past is a winning combination for any student, no matter what age.

Strong Heart deserves my rating of 4 out of 4 stars. It’s a rarity to be enjoyed by everyone with a taste for mythology, history, and cultural identity.

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Strong Heart
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Fernando222 · Post by **Fernando222** » 30 Jun 2020, 15:06

This book keeps getting impressive remarks. I hope I get the opportunity to read this captivating book soon. Your review is quite detailed.

Adrianna Melillo · Post by **Adrianna Melillo** » 10 Jul 2020, 17:13

“When I read a novel, I enjoy learning something new while becoming lost in the story.”

I could not agree more with this. This one seems incredibly well written, as well as entertaining. Thank you for a great review!