Review of Strong Heart
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Kelly Dreger
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- Latest Review: Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
Review of Strong Heart
[Following is a volunteer review of "Strong Heart" by Charlie Sheldon.]
What would you do to preserve your life, culture, and legacy? The book Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon is an answer to this question. The main protagonist of the story is Sarah, a creative but troubled child who experiences personal growth throughout the book. Through the trials of nature and nurture, she discovers her ability to be strong, even in the face of the difficult situations she encounters. Her story is not just about her but also about the culture of indigenous people and how that is passed on from generation to generation. Overall, this book focuses on discovery: discovery of self, discovery of others, discovery of environment, and discovery of human spirit.
The positive aspects of Sheldon’s Strong Heart are the a. exploration of conflict and b. explanation of culture. Sarah has to rely on her grandfather Tom to know what to do for her, but at the same time he is learning from her on their journey together with William and Myra. As William says, ‘…we think we brought Sarah on this trip, but maybe it is she, who is taking us’ (p. 36). Sarah, Tom, Myra, and William discuss Native American heritage and issues concerning the expression of that heritage. Sarah’s family life is anything but stable, and Sheldon does an excellent job in elucidating the need for emotional support that is practically non-existent for her. The choices concerning reality and illusion, science and shamanism, as well as selfishness and selflessness are well-presented, giving the reader a unique experience that cannot be found in other books. One example of an important moment for Sarah is when Tom tells her about an ancestor who married a Native American, which ‘meant he was shunned in settler communities…’ (p. 19). This form of alienation had long-lasting effects on how much Tom’s family actually shared about their native heritage.
The negative aspects of Strong Heart are the a. transitions between experiences and b. extreme trauma that Sarah has to experience. Not everything discussed is easily relatable. For instance, debates on scientific, archaeological research concerning where humans originated may not seem like a practical discussion for readers. To discover there are legends that state Native Americans ‘…have always been here’ (p. 152) could be quite the eye opener for audiences. The scientific data contrasts this belief by concluding ‘that Native Americans are descended from Siberians’ in Russia, thereby indicating they were not the first here (pp. 165-166). Also, the unique and unusual trauma experienced by Sarah, while fascinating, almost makes her seem as though she is not as human as she should be. She has such an incredible journey, both natural and supernatural, to the point where William tells a skeptical Myra, ‘I don’t know what to think. I envy her’ (p. 242). Readers may experience detachment, indifference, or frustration about the events, even though Sarah’s story is meant to be an inspirational one. The change in person (i.e., switching between third person and first person) between chapters in order to personalize Sarah’s perspective shows inconsistency in the plot to the point where it looks like two different books rather than one complete, coherent book.
Strong Heart gets from me 3 out of 4 stars on a 4-point system (OBC) and 4 out of 5 stars on a 5-point system (Amazon). The elements of family and heritage found through the conversations with Sarah, William, Tom, and Myra make the book emotionally riveting. The authenticity of Sarah’s personality resonates well because she is far from the perfect child. Her family is not perfect either, and the reader has to navigate harsh truths that need to be expressed more often in books. I had trouble with the formatting and display of the book, which made it harder to read. The spacing was off for me, which could be a compatibility issue with my phone. The book itself is not difficult to comprehend, but the idea of camping in the state of Washington may not hold the interest of some of the people who read it.
Strong Heart is appropriate for teens and adults who like stories about personal development, wilderness exploration, cultural conflicts, environmental dilemmas, and family ties. If adolescents read the book, I would suggest parental approval and/or discussion with family members about the main ideas, violence, and language contained in the book. I would especially recommend it for people employed in the fields of education, psychology, sociology, archaeology, and science. The stories in this book need to be heard, and I am glad Sheldon took the time to create such a fascinating work of literature. I hope to see similar stories developed from the author and other writers in the future.
******
Strong Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
What would you do to preserve your life, culture, and legacy? The book Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon is an answer to this question. The main protagonist of the story is Sarah, a creative but troubled child who experiences personal growth throughout the book. Through the trials of nature and nurture, she discovers her ability to be strong, even in the face of the difficult situations she encounters. Her story is not just about her but also about the culture of indigenous people and how that is passed on from generation to generation. Overall, this book focuses on discovery: discovery of self, discovery of others, discovery of environment, and discovery of human spirit.
The positive aspects of Sheldon’s Strong Heart are the a. exploration of conflict and b. explanation of culture. Sarah has to rely on her grandfather Tom to know what to do for her, but at the same time he is learning from her on their journey together with William and Myra. As William says, ‘…we think we brought Sarah on this trip, but maybe it is she, who is taking us’ (p. 36). Sarah, Tom, Myra, and William discuss Native American heritage and issues concerning the expression of that heritage. Sarah’s family life is anything but stable, and Sheldon does an excellent job in elucidating the need for emotional support that is practically non-existent for her. The choices concerning reality and illusion, science and shamanism, as well as selfishness and selflessness are well-presented, giving the reader a unique experience that cannot be found in other books. One example of an important moment for Sarah is when Tom tells her about an ancestor who married a Native American, which ‘meant he was shunned in settler communities…’ (p. 19). This form of alienation had long-lasting effects on how much Tom’s family actually shared about their native heritage.
The negative aspects of Strong Heart are the a. transitions between experiences and b. extreme trauma that Sarah has to experience. Not everything discussed is easily relatable. For instance, debates on scientific, archaeological research concerning where humans originated may not seem like a practical discussion for readers. To discover there are legends that state Native Americans ‘…have always been here’ (p. 152) could be quite the eye opener for audiences. The scientific data contrasts this belief by concluding ‘that Native Americans are descended from Siberians’ in Russia, thereby indicating they were not the first here (pp. 165-166). Also, the unique and unusual trauma experienced by Sarah, while fascinating, almost makes her seem as though she is not as human as she should be. She has such an incredible journey, both natural and supernatural, to the point where William tells a skeptical Myra, ‘I don’t know what to think. I envy her’ (p. 242). Readers may experience detachment, indifference, or frustration about the events, even though Sarah’s story is meant to be an inspirational one. The change in person (i.e., switching between third person and first person) between chapters in order to personalize Sarah’s perspective shows inconsistency in the plot to the point where it looks like two different books rather than one complete, coherent book.
Strong Heart gets from me 3 out of 4 stars on a 4-point system (OBC) and 4 out of 5 stars on a 5-point system (Amazon). The elements of family and heritage found through the conversations with Sarah, William, Tom, and Myra make the book emotionally riveting. The authenticity of Sarah’s personality resonates well because she is far from the perfect child. Her family is not perfect either, and the reader has to navigate harsh truths that need to be expressed more often in books. I had trouble with the formatting and display of the book, which made it harder to read. The spacing was off for me, which could be a compatibility issue with my phone. The book itself is not difficult to comprehend, but the idea of camping in the state of Washington may not hold the interest of some of the people who read it.
Strong Heart is appropriate for teens and adults who like stories about personal development, wilderness exploration, cultural conflicts, environmental dilemmas, and family ties. If adolescents read the book, I would suggest parental approval and/or discussion with family members about the main ideas, violence, and language contained in the book. I would especially recommend it for people employed in the fields of education, psychology, sociology, archaeology, and science. The stories in this book need to be heard, and I am glad Sheldon took the time to create such a fascinating work of literature. I hope to see similar stories developed from the author and other writers in the future.
******
Strong Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
