Review by hbgolightly -- Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon

[hbgolightly]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Strong Heart" by Charlie Sheldon.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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4 out of 4 stars
Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon weaves a compelling tale about, family, adventure, Native American history and mythology, and land rights. He writes about these concepts in a brilliant, accessible way. Although the novel addresses deeply serious issues, it does so in a way that is not overtly political, but gentle and deliberate.

The novel begins with an unsuspecting grandfather, Tom Olsen, being visited by his ex-wife, Ruth. Ruth arrives with Sarah, the granddaughter Tom did not know he had. She hoists Sarah upon him and leaves pronouncing, “Here she is. You can deal with her...”(2). This same night is the eve of a hiking trip Tom has scheduled to visit his grandfather’s grave site. The timing of the camping trip is particularly important for two reasons: Tom wants to return an ancient artifact that he believes he should have buried with his grandfather, and he wants to see the land one last time before its possible destruction by industry.

As the plot unfolds, the very real camping trip also becomes a metaphor for the connection between Tom’s grandfather, himself, and Sarah. Sarah wanders from camp and, for all intents and purposes is lost to the camping party. Sarah does not get lost in the wilderness as much as she journeys into a vision quest that takes her back to her ancestral roots. Sarah shares part of the story of her journey with her grandfather and their friends when she is found. Later, during a return trip to the same area she completes the tale.

Charlie Sheldon brilliantly balances science, cultural belief, and mysticism in an unexpected and delightful way. Sarah has gained both scars and skills as a result of her trip to the ancient past: scars that can’t be accounted for and skills that cannot be found or learned anywhere on the internet. A young scientist, Sergei, joins the group for their second trip up the mountain. Sergei begins to look at parts of Sarah’s journey as potential scientific data. The information Sarah shares, if accurate, explains the existence and age of the artifact Tom’s grandfather had found. It also would explain the supposedly extinct bear that Sarah saw and perfectly sketched.

While some reviewers and critics might argue that Sarah’s tale is a “story within in a story,” I would disagree. Sarah’s adventure is the real plot of this narrative. The people and circumstances that surround her provide the setting, backdrop, and audience for Sarah. In the context of this story, Sarah, the youngest, becomes the “elder” who brings history to life through the rich Native American tradition of storytelling. Although not quite ready to be her students, that is exactly what the entourage becomes.

I enthusiastically recommend this novel. Str

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Strong Heart
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