Review by kathleen72781 -- Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon

[kathleen72781]

[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 set in the Pacific Northwest. The story begins when young Sarah Cooley arrives unannounced at her grandfather, Tom’s, house the night before he is set to leave for an important camping trip. Not knowing what to do with Sarah, Tom decides that his only option is to take her along with his friends, William and Myra. Neither Tom, nor Sarah, are thrilled with the arrangement, and it definitely leads to some tension along the way. Eventually overcome with frustration with her plight, Sarah runs away from the group and ends up lost in the wilderness. While she is lost, Sarah experiences a journey that will thoroughly change her outlook on life. When she finally finds her way back to the group, Sarah is shocked that no one seems to believe her harrowing tale of adventure.

There are several elements in Strong Heart that I like most. The first element is family. Throughout the story, the main characters come to appreciate and help each other when needed. The second element that I found interesting is history versus legend. I like that there is some debate as to what is actual history and what is considered only legend. The third element that I like is the character development. I like that the characters appear to be real people in that they have realistic emotions and have passionate dispositions. Finally, I like that the setting of the story is the Pacific Northwest. Having visited this area of the country myself, I was excited to learn about some of the history of the area and I was able to imagine how beautiful the national park area is through Sheldon’s use of language.

The element that I dislike most about Strong Heart is the use of two different time periods. As I read, I felt confused at times because it jumped between the present and the past. Just when I was into the present story, the story switched to the past, and then I had to figure out what was happening all over again. A second element that I dislike most is the plot ending. I feel that the story's conclusion did not really sum up an important plot point, and it leaves the reader hanging on what is going to happen next. Personally, when I finished the book, I wanted to know more about what was going to happen to the characters in their quest.

I feel that Strong Heart will appeal to a variety of audiences. One group who may enjoy this story is those who enjoy a good adventure. The characters are on an eventful camping trip in the Pacific Northwest. Another group is those who enjoy anthropological studies and/or history and legends. The characters have lively debates as to what is historical fact versus what is only stories passed down from generation to generation. Finally, young adults, especially teenagers, may also enjoy this story. They may be able to relate to Sarah, as she struggles to be understood by adults.

I rate Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon 4 out of 4 stars. Overall, it is a well-written story. I did not notice any errors, so it appears to have been well-edited. It is a fascinating story and a suspenseful page-turner. The story's conclusion definitely left me wanting more!

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Strong Heart
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