Review by Pureader -- Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
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Review by Pureader -- Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
[Following is a volunteer review of "Strong Heart" by Charlie Sheldon.]
Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon is the story of an angry, defiant teen, named Sarah who ends up at her grandfather's house after her mother dies, step-father abandons her, and her grandmother decides she cannot handle the girl. Her grandfather, Tom, doesn't even know his granddaughter existed until she is standing at his door. Tom is bewildered by what to do with a teenage girl, but he is her last chance before she is sent into the state foster care system.
The problem, however, is that her grandfather, his best friend, and the best friend's daughter are leaving for a difficult hike to a special place in the national forest. They decide to take Sarah along. Being forced to go on a hike makes the girl even angrier and she fights against them the whole way. As they walk, Sarah learns about her family history and hears all about a business that plans to exploit the natural resources of the state park which would ruin the ecosystem.
Sarah and Tom get into a fight and she runs away. Despite park rangers and trained rescue crews, Sarah remains missing for several days. Tom decides to stay camped there until she is found. and his best friend stays with him. One night, in the middle of a storm she appears injured and confused. They rest there until she is ready to hike back out of the park. On the way out, she tells an incredible tale of where she actually was while she was missing.
Once they are back, they have to fight against her grandmother, his work, and the destructive business. It's decided Tom is too irresponsible to care for Sarah, so they also fight to be able to see each other. Through all the troubles Sarah finds her strong heart, and hope for a good future.
Finishing Strong Heart has left me with the worst book hangover I've had in a while. It's a 4 out of 4 for me. The characters are so beautifully written it feels like I know them as friends, not as characters in a book. Sarah, in particular, has many layers. On top there is anger and sometimes meanness, but it is easy to see the fear and frustration lying right underneath the surface. I want to adopt Tom and his best friend as extra grandfathers. They are funny, wise, and often sarcastic. Now that the book is done and I'm out of their world, I still sometimes miss them.
The location is so well described that readers are transported there. I could feel the coolness of the air, the smell of the trees, the crunching of gravel underfoot. While away from the book I stayed ready to go back and visit the beautiful forest. The land's connection to Native American history is a large part of the journey. The land becomes a character in itself. From its earliest natives to current status as a national forest, to the possible future of destruction, the land's story is as important as Sarah or Tom's.
The only warning I would give about the book is a brief mention of sexual abuse. There are no graphic scenes, no descriptions. It says that it happened and leaves it at that.
Most people who like character-driven books will enjoy Strong Heart. It does have action and thrills, so it stays fast paced, but it is not a thriller. Anyone interested in Native American topics might also enjoy this book. There are descriptions of historic native lifestyles and theories on the original settlers. To repeat- this is a 4 out of 4 book and is definitely worth a read or two.
******
Strong Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon is the story of an angry, defiant teen, named Sarah who ends up at her grandfather's house after her mother dies, step-father abandons her, and her grandmother decides she cannot handle the girl. Her grandfather, Tom, doesn't even know his granddaughter existed until she is standing at his door. Tom is bewildered by what to do with a teenage girl, but he is her last chance before she is sent into the state foster care system.
The problem, however, is that her grandfather, his best friend, and the best friend's daughter are leaving for a difficult hike to a special place in the national forest. They decide to take Sarah along. Being forced to go on a hike makes the girl even angrier and she fights against them the whole way. As they walk, Sarah learns about her family history and hears all about a business that plans to exploit the natural resources of the state park which would ruin the ecosystem.
Sarah and Tom get into a fight and she runs away. Despite park rangers and trained rescue crews, Sarah remains missing for several days. Tom decides to stay camped there until she is found. and his best friend stays with him. One night, in the middle of a storm she appears injured and confused. They rest there until she is ready to hike back out of the park. On the way out, she tells an incredible tale of where she actually was while she was missing.
Once they are back, they have to fight against her grandmother, his work, and the destructive business. It's decided Tom is too irresponsible to care for Sarah, so they also fight to be able to see each other. Through all the troubles Sarah finds her strong heart, and hope for a good future.
Finishing Strong Heart has left me with the worst book hangover I've had in a while. It's a 4 out of 4 for me. The characters are so beautifully written it feels like I know them as friends, not as characters in a book. Sarah, in particular, has many layers. On top there is anger and sometimes meanness, but it is easy to see the fear and frustration lying right underneath the surface. I want to adopt Tom and his best friend as extra grandfathers. They are funny, wise, and often sarcastic. Now that the book is done and I'm out of their world, I still sometimes miss them.
The location is so well described that readers are transported there. I could feel the coolness of the air, the smell of the trees, the crunching of gravel underfoot. While away from the book I stayed ready to go back and visit the beautiful forest. The land's connection to Native American history is a large part of the journey. The land becomes a character in itself. From its earliest natives to current status as a national forest, to the possible future of destruction, the land's story is as important as Sarah or Tom's.
The only warning I would give about the book is a brief mention of sexual abuse. There are no graphic scenes, no descriptions. It says that it happened and leaves it at that.
Most people who like character-driven books will enjoy Strong Heart. It does have action and thrills, so it stays fast paced, but it is not a thriller. Anyone interested in Native American topics might also enjoy this book. There are descriptions of historic native lifestyles and theories on the original settlers. To repeat- this is a 4 out of 4 book and is definitely worth a read or two.
******
Strong Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Cat Boss by Tayma Tameem
