Review by Kelgardner -- Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon

[Kelgardner]

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

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4 out of 4 stars

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Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon is an excellent book. I enjoyed the story so much that I read it in two days. I highly recommend it and I give the book 4 out of 4 stars. I gave the book the full 4 stars because I think the storytelling more than overcomes any (minor) problems I may have had.

Strong Heart opens with Wiliam, his daughter Myra, and their friend Tom preparing to go on a camping trip deep in the Olympic National Park to visit the grave of Tom’s grandfather. They are unexpectedly joined by Tom’s granddaughter, Sarah - a sullen and cranky teenager who isn’t interested in tagging along but has nowhere else to go. The trip is more or less uneventful until an angry Sarah disappears. The story that unfolds after this is, to borrow the words of Myra, “ … magic, history, and legend.”

Strong Heart is a very layered story that has many strands, or themes. Family history, tribal history, and the history of humans all weave together to tell a story that is enthralling; satisfying yet poignantly sad. The author clearly knows his subject matter and makes you feel like you are in the story. I don’t want to spoil anything, but the book contains two distinct stories. The second, more surprising story was absolutely my favorite part of the book.

My only real complaint is that, at times, the story relies on long blocks of text to describe the physical surroundings of the characters. While these passages are well written (and I can imagine the author knows exactly what he is describing) it is a bit dense to read if you’re unfamiliar with the Olympic National Park or forests like it. I also tend to be a bit wary when authors write using a voice that is not their own. In this case, the author is not a Native American but is writing about the lives and stories of Native Americans. However, Mr. Sheldon was very respectful and thoughtful with the subject matter.

I think this book would appeal to most people, but specifically, those who are interested in theories about the origins of modern humans and the land and experiences of the tribes of the Pacific Northwest. In fact, I recommended this book to a family member who lives in Washington state and often camps in the same forest this story takes place in.

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Strong Heart
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