Review by houligan19 -- Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
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houligan19
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Review by houligan19 -- Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
[Following is a volunteer review of "Strong Heart" by Charlie Sheldon.]
Tom and his hiking companions are preparing for an expedition into Olympic National Park, when his pre-teen granddaughter, who he didn’t know he had, is dropped off on his doorstep. Though hesitantly, Tom is convinced by his companions to bring his granddaughter, Sarah, along for the adventure to her great-great-grandfather’s grave up in the mountains.
A couple days into the hike, Sarah draws a bear she sees while alone in a meadow. No one believes that she saw the strange bear, and the bear is a perfect likeness to a species long extinct. Sarah takes off in an angry fit and goes missing out in the woods. After eight days of the companions searching, after the search has been called off, Sarah returns in the middle of a storm. She mysteriously emerges from the darkness, with a tale to tell that is even harder to believe than her encounter with the bear.
Strong Heart is the first book in the “Strong Heart” series. The scenery is vividly described throughout the story showing the picturesque, but perilous, Northern Peninsula. The varied aspects of the landscape described were fascinating; views from the sea, sights from the mountains, and probable backgrounds from ancient history. Everything came perfectly into view as a number of different characters trekked or paddled over the rocky land or icy sea. “East, the ice bear came closer, the face rounded like a great snout into the ocean, pushing west, eating.”
The incredible vision that Sarah has while she is lost was a perfect way to blend the stories of the early people and Sarah’s hiking party. Along for their trek into the mountains, Sarah’s grandfather had brought an artifact that had been with his grandfather when he died, hoping to return it. This tool, the atlatl, was a tool that the ancient people, and Sarah, had used while on their treacherous journey across the Northern sea in her vision. It connected the stories in a way that they could be told simultaneously without it being difficult to follow.
If I had to find something that I did not like about the book, it would be the ending. The story seems to have just stopped. It could potentially lead to another story. However, I have read the second book, which I thoroughly enjoyed, but both stories seem to be more standalone books than a series. This did not detract from either book.
I give this book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. Charlie Sheldon did a fantastic job bringing the ancient past to the present day through Sarah and the atlatl she carried through Olympic National Park. The incredible scenery was beautifully laid out before you throughout the entire book. The willpower portrayed by the characters throughout the adventures was both inspiring and fascinating to read about. The characters may not have had much in the way of back stories, but their personalities came out through the ways they handled the adverse situations that arose. I did not find any errors, so this book appears to be professionally edited.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys legends, rescues, ancient culture, or adventure. I feel that this book would be appropriate for young readers.
******
Strong Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Tom and his hiking companions are preparing for an expedition into Olympic National Park, when his pre-teen granddaughter, who he didn’t know he had, is dropped off on his doorstep. Though hesitantly, Tom is convinced by his companions to bring his granddaughter, Sarah, along for the adventure to her great-great-grandfather’s grave up in the mountains.
A couple days into the hike, Sarah draws a bear she sees while alone in a meadow. No one believes that she saw the strange bear, and the bear is a perfect likeness to a species long extinct. Sarah takes off in an angry fit and goes missing out in the woods. After eight days of the companions searching, after the search has been called off, Sarah returns in the middle of a storm. She mysteriously emerges from the darkness, with a tale to tell that is even harder to believe than her encounter with the bear.
Strong Heart is the first book in the “Strong Heart” series. The scenery is vividly described throughout the story showing the picturesque, but perilous, Northern Peninsula. The varied aspects of the landscape described were fascinating; views from the sea, sights from the mountains, and probable backgrounds from ancient history. Everything came perfectly into view as a number of different characters trekked or paddled over the rocky land or icy sea. “East, the ice bear came closer, the face rounded like a great snout into the ocean, pushing west, eating.”
The incredible vision that Sarah has while she is lost was a perfect way to blend the stories of the early people and Sarah’s hiking party. Along for their trek into the mountains, Sarah’s grandfather had brought an artifact that had been with his grandfather when he died, hoping to return it. This tool, the atlatl, was a tool that the ancient people, and Sarah, had used while on their treacherous journey across the Northern sea in her vision. It connected the stories in a way that they could be told simultaneously without it being difficult to follow.
If I had to find something that I did not like about the book, it would be the ending. The story seems to have just stopped. It could potentially lead to another story. However, I have read the second book, which I thoroughly enjoyed, but both stories seem to be more standalone books than a series. This did not detract from either book.
I give this book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. Charlie Sheldon did a fantastic job bringing the ancient past to the present day through Sarah and the atlatl she carried through Olympic National Park. The incredible scenery was beautifully laid out before you throughout the entire book. The willpower portrayed by the characters throughout the adventures was both inspiring and fascinating to read about. The characters may not have had much in the way of back stories, but their personalities came out through the ways they handled the adverse situations that arose. I did not find any errors, so this book appears to be professionally edited.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys legends, rescues, ancient culture, or adventure. I feel that this book would be appropriate for young readers.
******
Strong Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
