Review by raluca_mihaila -- Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
Posted: 30 Nov 2020, 09:32
[Following is a volunteer review of "Strong Heart" by Charlie Sheldon.]
If you are looking for a book that will incite your imagination, this is it! Strong Heart is full of twists and cliffhangers, so be prepared to be amazed. It is the first novel of the Strong Heart series, and it will leave you anxious to read Adrift, the next installment.
Tom is preparing for a meaningful trip to the Olympic National Park, together with his friend, William, and his daughter, Myra. He finds out that he has a 12-year-old granddaughter that suddenly appears at his doorsteps. Sarah seems like a difficult child, but he decides to take her on the journey, nonetheless. During their hike, we discover some amazing things about the Olympic Peninsula and its importance during history. However, this land of magic, history, and legends is threatened by a corporation that wants to mine erbium, a rare rock that can clear coal. The local tribes are doing their best to protect the park, and Myra is a fervent supporter of the cause. The trip turns into an incredible adventure for Sarah, and her experience serves to prove a scientific theory. Can you imagine how it is to fight with enormous animals, armed with nothing but a dart?
Charlie Sheldon does an excellent job in describing the Olympic National Park, and I was reading the book while studying the trails on Google Maps. I am so glad that I found out about this breathtaking place! Also, I appreciated the research behind the story and the engaging writing style. The author did a great job explaining how people allegedly migrated from Asia to North America around 15,000 years ago. I read a lot about Beringia and retraced their journey on the map. I loved that the book also presented some charts at the beginning, helping the reader to visualize the areas described in the text. However, I would have loved to see the journey traced on the map with a line. Besides that, there is nothing I disliked about the book.
The characters are very authentic and well-built. Sarah blooms into a fearless girl, also known as Strong Heart. Myra was my favorite character because she represents a unique blend of spiritualism and science. Imagine an anthropologist with a minor in archeology that strongly believes in her native heritage and folklore.
Due to all the reasons listed above, I must give Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon a full four out of four rating. It is an excellent read filled with important messages; foremost, the book speaks about discovering your true potential in dire situations. That is a useful lesson for all teenagers. Also, legends can back up scientific theories, so don’t belittle the folktales; they could hide some fundamental truths. Respecting your elders and keeping an open mind are also useful teachings.
I recommend the book to people who love adventures, nature, and hiking outdoors. It is also a story about self-discovery and pushing beyond your limits. Educative about Native Americans, the book appeals to people interested in paleontology and archeology. The audience can be broadened to adolescents since there are just a few borderline profanities. The book also mentions child abuse, but it is unexplicit, so I see no need to exclude a sensible reader. Strong Heart was professionally edited, as I could identify only one grammatical error.
******
Strong Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
If you are looking for a book that will incite your imagination, this is it! Strong Heart is full of twists and cliffhangers, so be prepared to be amazed. It is the first novel of the Strong Heart series, and it will leave you anxious to read Adrift, the next installment.
Tom is preparing for a meaningful trip to the Olympic National Park, together with his friend, William, and his daughter, Myra. He finds out that he has a 12-year-old granddaughter that suddenly appears at his doorsteps. Sarah seems like a difficult child, but he decides to take her on the journey, nonetheless. During their hike, we discover some amazing things about the Olympic Peninsula and its importance during history. However, this land of magic, history, and legends is threatened by a corporation that wants to mine erbium, a rare rock that can clear coal. The local tribes are doing their best to protect the park, and Myra is a fervent supporter of the cause. The trip turns into an incredible adventure for Sarah, and her experience serves to prove a scientific theory. Can you imagine how it is to fight with enormous animals, armed with nothing but a dart?
Charlie Sheldon does an excellent job in describing the Olympic National Park, and I was reading the book while studying the trails on Google Maps. I am so glad that I found out about this breathtaking place! Also, I appreciated the research behind the story and the engaging writing style. The author did a great job explaining how people allegedly migrated from Asia to North America around 15,000 years ago. I read a lot about Beringia and retraced their journey on the map. I loved that the book also presented some charts at the beginning, helping the reader to visualize the areas described in the text. However, I would have loved to see the journey traced on the map with a line. Besides that, there is nothing I disliked about the book.
The characters are very authentic and well-built. Sarah blooms into a fearless girl, also known as Strong Heart. Myra was my favorite character because she represents a unique blend of spiritualism and science. Imagine an anthropologist with a minor in archeology that strongly believes in her native heritage and folklore.
Due to all the reasons listed above, I must give Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon a full four out of four rating. It is an excellent read filled with important messages; foremost, the book speaks about discovering your true potential in dire situations. That is a useful lesson for all teenagers. Also, legends can back up scientific theories, so don’t belittle the folktales; they could hide some fundamental truths. Respecting your elders and keeping an open mind are also useful teachings.
I recommend the book to people who love adventures, nature, and hiking outdoors. It is also a story about self-discovery and pushing beyond your limits. Educative about Native Americans, the book appeals to people interested in paleontology and archeology. The audience can be broadened to adolescents since there are just a few borderline profanities. The book also mentions child abuse, but it is unexplicit, so I see no need to exclude a sensible reader. Strong Heart was professionally edited, as I could identify only one grammatical error.
******
Strong Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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