Review of Strong Heart

[Lauracw0lff]

[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 a captivating story about a 13-year-old girl named Sarah, who is displaced due to the death of her mother. She moves in with her grandfather (Tom) who takes her on her first camping trip that turns into a magical journey of discovery into the past. She goes into the woods as a sullen, depressed, angry little girl and comes out with a tale no one can quite believe.

Sarah quickly realizes there is much to learn about the mountains where she is staying as well as the people who live there. Through this unbelievable journey, she begins to understand the history of this land during her eight-day disappearance. I won't give away too much but it is a very fascinating tale told in a way that keeps you coming back for more.

Strong Heart is a story about family, history, finding out who you are, what you are made of and love. It is a powerful story for all ages but has a strong message for young girls that shows no matter how tough life is, you have it inside of you to see things differently and change who and how you want to be. I was on the edge of my seat and could not put the book down. I plan to read it with my daughters and use it as a part of our homeschool curriculum.

At 276 pages this book reads quickly. I love the relationships that form through the story; not just with Sarah and her grandfather but the whole clan that goes into the woods together as well. The author gives a clear glimpse of each character and who they are. And every part of this book was engaging from the first page to the last.

The only negative thing I can say is I did not want it to end. The author leaves you hanging, so my hope is that he is working on a sequel. I do not feel like the story was over for Sarah. Fingers crossed we will see a Strong Heart 2 soon as well as a study guide for classroom settings.
In conclusion, I rate Strong Heart a 4 out of 4 stars.

Charlie Sheldon is a wonderful author, and I plan to see what else he has written. I did not notice any grammatical errors in the book, but I was so drawn in by the story that I am not sure I was really looking for them. I will have to pay more attention the second time around. If you are looking for a great read and an endearing story pick up Strong Heart. You won’t be disappointed.

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Strong Heart
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