Review by LucyJess -- Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon

[LucyJess]

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

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3 out of 4 stars

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Strong Heart, by Charles Strong, was an enjoyable book to read and I would give it 3 out of 4 stars. It is a story about belonging, survival, loss and legend. A sullen teenager, her estranged grandfather and his friends embark on a hiking trip, unaware that the events that unfold will challenge their beliefs about themselves and their history.

My only criticism of the book is that the start felt very rushed. There was barely any introduction to the four main characters and the short, to the point sentences described their actions but hardly any thoughts and feelings. I wasn't invested in the characters by the time they started on their adventure and I feel I should have been - after just a few chapters it would have been very easy to shut the book and give up on it. However, I am very glad that I didn't.

I later realised that the simple, uncomplicated language used to describe the characters' actions was a great contrast to the beautiful descriptions of scenes and landscapes. Sarah's 'vision' was described so effectively and vividly that it really captured my imagination.

The story moves between time and place quite a lot but this is very skilfully done, and I felt no disorientation when jumping from past to present or to a different location. I found that I was easily able to keep up with the story, although anticipating what was going to happen next was a different matter!

I particularly enjoyed the clash between science and legend that was a theme throughout much of the story. It was clear that the author had a very detailed knowledge of the landscape he was describing and was able to give the reader a good insight into both legends and current scientific theories without bogging the reader down with too much information to enjoy the story.

After a rocky start the story unfolded beautifully and I was eager to keep reading. I felt that the book was professionally edited, with no clumsy grammar or spelling mistakes. The only reason I would give the book 3 stars instead of 4 is the beginning, which I feel could have been expanded a little to help the reader to get a grasp of the characters before the action started. I would recommend this book for anyone who has an interest in natural history or fondness for just a little bit of magic woven into a story.

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Strong Heart
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[Erin Painter Baker]

Some authors really struggle with how quickly to start the action. It sounds like this author erred on the side of too quick, without giving the reader enough background to care. But that aside, it does seem like this was a skilled author, as you had no troubles following shifts in time and location (something that can be very difficult to manage), and that you loved the descriptions.
Not certain there's enough here for me to know if I want to read the book or not, but your reaction to the book shines through.