Review by JMS77 -- Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
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JMS77
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- Latest Review: Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
Review by JMS77 -- Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
[Following is a volunteer review of "Strong Heart" by Charlie Sheldon.]
4 out of 4 stars
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Strong Heart
At first I worried that this might be a predictable plot about a sullen, troubled teen that eventually has a life changing experience. That does happen, but in unexpected ways that makes for an interesting read.
This is a story within a story, where young Sarah grumbles her way up the trail in the Olympic Peninsula in Washington with her dad and his two indigenous friends. Her claim to have seen a mythical short faced bear is dismissed and when she stomps off and goes missing for eight days the adults are in panic mode. Her return, injured, and missing part of a finger comes with a story of being captured and involved in a dangerous ice age world. Did this mysteriously happen or is it the result of a head injury? As one of the characters remarks regarding the northwest tip of Washington, this is “a land of magic, history and legend.”
The part of the story in the modern world has its own dangers. As it progresses, our intrepid group deals with an evil group of mining surveyors, treacherous mountain paths, forest fires and unsavory relatives.
The search for the ancient atlatl - spear thrower adds purpose and an edge to the story. Where did it come from? Should it stay where it was found or be taken out and analyzed? Can it change the balance of power in the struggle for land use?
Since no one really knows how life was during the Pleistocene Period the author uses his imagination and research to build a society struggling for survival. The ice age characters are in constant danger. Captured by a trading group looking for wives, Sarah learns to take her turn paddling in a large canoe, shooting darts to kill, and helping with daily tasks. The group, anxious to reach their home and safety before ice claims the route, stops several times to camp along the way. They are attacked by bears, and other ravenous creatures with tragic results. As they near their destination the jealousy and rivalry within the group turns deadly.
The ice age story is told by Sarah in two parts, which allows some of the skills Sarah learned in her captivity to come forward for use in the modern era.
There are small niggling bits that bothered me while reading but were waved aside by the power of the overall story. Would Thin Hair really refer to the directions as “west, north, and east?” Could Sarah and the other captive girls really learn a new language in a few days? Could a bear skin be turned into a pliable robe in just a couple of days by a couple of exhausted people? When Sarah told her story it did not seem to be in the voice and language of a teenager.
In spite of the small things that didn’t make sense to me I have given the book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. I liked the book and felt it was well written. I enjoyed the underlying ecology theme and the push to preserve the Olympic peninsula. The handling of indigenous characters in the modern story was done with respect and understanding. Putting forward both the land bridge theory and the Indigenous beliefs of the origin of “the people” was well done. The conflict of opinions between Myra, a strong indigenous woman and Sergei, a Russian scientist kept the ideas flowing.
The book appears suitable for young adult readers and those interested in ecological and indigenous issues.
With the present day concern about cultural appropriation I hope the author received permission from elders to use the indigenous stories included.
The Olympic Peninsula is depicted in its beauty and wonder and it is clear the author hopes it will remain that way. The book is worth reading.
Marilyn Scott
******
Strong Heart
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4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Strong Heart
At first I worried that this might be a predictable plot about a sullen, troubled teen that eventually has a life changing experience. That does happen, but in unexpected ways that makes for an interesting read.
This is a story within a story, where young Sarah grumbles her way up the trail in the Olympic Peninsula in Washington with her dad and his two indigenous friends. Her claim to have seen a mythical short faced bear is dismissed and when she stomps off and goes missing for eight days the adults are in panic mode. Her return, injured, and missing part of a finger comes with a story of being captured and involved in a dangerous ice age world. Did this mysteriously happen or is it the result of a head injury? As one of the characters remarks regarding the northwest tip of Washington, this is “a land of magic, history and legend.”
The part of the story in the modern world has its own dangers. As it progresses, our intrepid group deals with an evil group of mining surveyors, treacherous mountain paths, forest fires and unsavory relatives.
The search for the ancient atlatl - spear thrower adds purpose and an edge to the story. Where did it come from? Should it stay where it was found or be taken out and analyzed? Can it change the balance of power in the struggle for land use?
Since no one really knows how life was during the Pleistocene Period the author uses his imagination and research to build a society struggling for survival. The ice age characters are in constant danger. Captured by a trading group looking for wives, Sarah learns to take her turn paddling in a large canoe, shooting darts to kill, and helping with daily tasks. The group, anxious to reach their home and safety before ice claims the route, stops several times to camp along the way. They are attacked by bears, and other ravenous creatures with tragic results. As they near their destination the jealousy and rivalry within the group turns deadly.
The ice age story is told by Sarah in two parts, which allows some of the skills Sarah learned in her captivity to come forward for use in the modern era.
There are small niggling bits that bothered me while reading but were waved aside by the power of the overall story. Would Thin Hair really refer to the directions as “west, north, and east?” Could Sarah and the other captive girls really learn a new language in a few days? Could a bear skin be turned into a pliable robe in just a couple of days by a couple of exhausted people? When Sarah told her story it did not seem to be in the voice and language of a teenager.
In spite of the small things that didn’t make sense to me I have given the book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. I liked the book and felt it was well written. I enjoyed the underlying ecology theme and the push to preserve the Olympic peninsula. The handling of indigenous characters in the modern story was done with respect and understanding. Putting forward both the land bridge theory and the Indigenous beliefs of the origin of “the people” was well done. The conflict of opinions between Myra, a strong indigenous woman and Sergei, a Russian scientist kept the ideas flowing.
The book appears suitable for young adult readers and those interested in ecological and indigenous issues.
With the present day concern about cultural appropriation I hope the author received permission from elders to use the indigenous stories included.
The Olympic Peninsula is depicted in its beauty and wonder and it is clear the author hopes it will remain that way. The book is worth reading.
Marilyn Scott
******
Strong Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like JMS77's review? Post a comment saying so!
Latest Review: Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
