Review by amh005 -- Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
Posted: 12 Nov 2020, 19:36
[Following is a volunteer review of "Strong Heart" by Charlie Sheldon.]
Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon is a fictional novel that weaves two stories together, one of current time and a companion historical story. A troubled pre-teen shows up just before a challenging hike into the Olympic National Park in Washington. She becomes a reluctant tag-along to the party. As the story progresses, she finds her place among the group, with the raw edge of youth. After a scary incident in the woods, Sarah, our young protagonist, brings a mesmerizing historical story to this older group. How can she know this? When did this happen? What should be believed? Displaying the constant battles of economic growth versus traditional ways, this story gives us pause to stop and reflect. As arguments between the characters displays ethnocentrism at its finest, the story gently begs us to consider our education and what we believe to be true.
I liked how the author alternates back and forth between the present day story and the historical. I’m glad Sheldon didn’t shy away from telling about how William was removed from his native family and raised at a boarding school with the goal of assimilating him to white culture. This shows an example of yet another atrocity in America’s history that we don’t talk about enough. Acceptance of people and cultures different than our own is a theme that will resonate throughout time.
I disliked that the book tossed a lot of character names at the reader in the first paragraph. You’ll meet the characters very quickly, but then throughout the remainder of the book you’ll get to know each of them. Each has a purpose and all are unique. The author uses the uniqueness of the characters to help craft a beautiful story of pride, perspectives, and perseverance.
I would rate this book four out of four stars. There’s urgency behind both of the stories, which makes you want to keep reading. I loved learning about the native legends of the Washington/Vancouver area. Learning about native people in this coastal culture was different than a lot of stories that focus on the native people from the Great Plains area. I felt like the author understood the locale and the struggles between advancement and tradition.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction. If you are somebody that can’t accept different theories of human evolution, then this book isn’t for you. While it will appeal widely to adults, it’s also appropriate for readers as young as 11 years old. The main character is a pre-teen girl and the story is accessible. Young readers may not understand all the nuances of the evolutionary theories, but they will still enjoy the adventurous journey.
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Strong Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon is a fictional novel that weaves two stories together, one of current time and a companion historical story. A troubled pre-teen shows up just before a challenging hike into the Olympic National Park in Washington. She becomes a reluctant tag-along to the party. As the story progresses, she finds her place among the group, with the raw edge of youth. After a scary incident in the woods, Sarah, our young protagonist, brings a mesmerizing historical story to this older group. How can she know this? When did this happen? What should be believed? Displaying the constant battles of economic growth versus traditional ways, this story gives us pause to stop and reflect. As arguments between the characters displays ethnocentrism at its finest, the story gently begs us to consider our education and what we believe to be true.
I liked how the author alternates back and forth between the present day story and the historical. I’m glad Sheldon didn’t shy away from telling about how William was removed from his native family and raised at a boarding school with the goal of assimilating him to white culture. This shows an example of yet another atrocity in America’s history that we don’t talk about enough. Acceptance of people and cultures different than our own is a theme that will resonate throughout time.
I disliked that the book tossed a lot of character names at the reader in the first paragraph. You’ll meet the characters very quickly, but then throughout the remainder of the book you’ll get to know each of them. Each has a purpose and all are unique. The author uses the uniqueness of the characters to help craft a beautiful story of pride, perspectives, and perseverance.
I would rate this book four out of four stars. There’s urgency behind both of the stories, which makes you want to keep reading. I loved learning about the native legends of the Washington/Vancouver area. Learning about native people in this coastal culture was different than a lot of stories that focus on the native people from the Great Plains area. I felt like the author understood the locale and the struggles between advancement and tradition.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction. If you are somebody that can’t accept different theories of human evolution, then this book isn’t for you. While it will appeal widely to adults, it’s also appropriate for readers as young as 11 years old. The main character is a pre-teen girl and the story is accessible. Young readers may not understand all the nuances of the evolutionary theories, but they will still enjoy the adventurous journey.
******
Strong Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon