Review by KariNicole -- Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon

[KariNicole]

[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 sets readers into the Pacific Northwest for an adventure that unfolds at a leisurely pace. First we meet Tom, who learns in the book’s opening that he has a granddaughter named Sarah. She’s 13 and struggling with severe family dysfunction. Her rebellious streak isn’t improved by being unceremoniously dropped on her grandfather’s front porch in the middle of a storm. William is one of Tom’s oldest friends and had planned to bring Tom along on a hike into the back country when Sarah arrived. William’s daughter Myra rounds out the main cast of characters. Myra, William, Sarah, and Tom set off on the planned hike together, with the intention of returning an ancient Native American artifact to an ancestor’s resting place deep in the mountains. The story changes from a grounded setting to hints of the supernatural as the hike progresses. I was never quite sure what the next plot point was going to be; this uncertainty kept the story fun.

Charlie Sheldon does a lovely job setting evocative scenes. I could practically see and smell the woods and mountains along the coast. It made me want to grab some hiking boots and head out to the nearest trail. The book has been professionally edited and had no errors at all. The story structure switches pace at a regular tempo. Active passages describe the group hiking and avoiding dangers from nature and mankind. These sections never feel rushed or frantic, which I enjoyed. Slower passages provide opportunities for characters to tell stories about their past or debate complicated issues regarding the origins of native populations in the Pacific Northwest.

I’d like to mention a few outstanding positives. First, the plot kept me interested throughout. I was invested in the sympathetic characters, who are interesting and flawed. They felt like normal people who are attempting to deal with an increasingly odd situation. Another positive point is the respect Charlie Sheldon has shown to the source material for this book. He has obviously spent an enormous amount of time researching and soaking up the atmosphere. Strong Heart would have felt hollow and flat without the details he weaves throughout. Instead, the story breathes with life.

The only negative was a subplot involving an economic development project and the employees of the company involved. I can appreciate Charlie Sheldon’s inclusion of arguments both for and against this group’s involvement with the tribes in the area. However, the additional cultural conflict plotline felt a bit forced into the story. The secondary characters play a role towards the climax of the book, but I don’t think I would have missed them for a second if they had been left out entirely.

I recommend this book to people who love the outdoors and would like to learn more about the very early history of the Pacific Northwest. This is also a great book for older teens and adults who enjoy books about families working through difficulties and emerging emotionally healthier. I would give this book four out of four stars.

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Strong Heart
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[Mariana Figueira]

Fantastic review!