Review by Nimisha_91 -- Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon

Nimisha_91 · Post by **Nimisha_91** » 20 Jun 2020, 08:29

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

4 out of 4 stars

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Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon is a fantasy fiction novel loosely based on the stories surrounding the origins of Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest. Tom is about to set out on a camping trip with his native friend William and William's daughter Myra, when his long-lost grand daughter Sarah came knocking at his door. Tom, not knowing what else to do, and upon the insistence of his friends, decide to take her along on the journey. Tom had only one motive for the journey, to give his late grandfather a proper burial in their native land.

Sarah, coming from a broken home, did not hide her unwillingness to be there. Stubborn as a mule, and totally dense about Tom’s passion for their native history, she proved to be more trouble than she was worth. After a fight with her grandfather, she walks off in a huff and disappears for days. She returns after a whole week, bruised everywhere and minus a finger. She tells them a fantastical story to explain her disappearance. What does the story mean? Is there any truth to her stories?

This is a very well-written book which showcases the author’s knowledge about native American history. Until I read this book, I had no idea about the ongoing debate about the origin of Native Americans and the question of who came first. The way the author has managed to merge facts from that long ago, with our present day is mesmerizing. The characters are very real, with very relatable faults of their own. The author has also given us characters with completely opposing views of history, people who believe the science, as well as ones who believe in legends. This makes it very agreeable for readers with either belief.

The only thing I disliked about the book was the sudden transition to Sarah’s experience. In the beginning it was a little hard to follow, with a horde of new characters and an entirely new setting. I found myself getting a little bored solely due to information overload at places.

The book has been perfectly, professionally edited, as is obvious from the complete lack of spelling and grammatical errors. It is well suited for readers of all ages and genders, although there are a few instances of violence in the book. The book also deals with some sensitive topics, like childhood abuse and racial discrimination. There is no explicit sexual content in the book. I give this book 4 out of 4 stars .

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Strong Heart
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HanElizabeth397 · Post by **HanElizabeth397** » 17 Jan 2021, 18:06

The author's knowledge of native American history shined so well through the book & it was clear that he had spent a long time researching. I understand what you mean by feeling that Sarah's experience felt a bit quick - we were thrown in the deep end a little as readers, but I quite enjoyed it (despite taking a minute to find me feet). Thanks for sharing this great review!