Review of Strong Heart

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Bertram Cameron
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Latest Review: Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon

Review of Strong Heart

Post by Bertram Cameron »

[Following is a volunteer review of "Strong Heart" by Charlie Sheldon.]
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3 out of 4 stars
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In Charlie Sheldon’s Strong Heart, it followed the story of a grandfather (Tom) and his thirteen-year-old granddaughter (Sarah). Tom prepares to leave for a hiking trip in Washington’s Olympic National Park, to visit his grandfather’s grave, when his ex-wife showed up and announced, “This is your granddaughter. I just found out five days ago. She’s Becky’s child.” “She’s been with Fletcher and me four days. That’s enough. It’s your turn. This is your granddaughter, Tom.” Tom ends up taking Sarah, along with his friends William and Myra, William’s daughter on his camping trip.

The novel follows Sarah’s narrative which occupies a major part of the story, as she details the bizarre events surrounding her mysterious disappearance.

Sarah was fortunate to be alive when she staggered back to camp after eight days, during a harrowing storm. Tom was just relieved that she survived. Although Tom and his friends found it hard to believe Sarah actually saw the mysterious animal she claims to have seen, whose species has been extinct for thousands of years, they can’t deny the unusual circumstances around the girl’s vanishing.

The author masterfully captures the voice of a teenage girl, at odds with the adult world that doesn’t take her seriously. Sarah’s quest to believe in herself, belies her inner battles with self-doubt. Her perspective is captivating but complicated, and it can be somewhat difficult to follow.

Sarah was a stubborn, bull-headed rebel who despised following the rules, used foul language, and was insolent.

We encounter many characters in Sarah’s journey, one that plays out on two fronts – the path towards inner self-discovery and the physical journey home. Both are punctuated with adventure and challenges, for example, in one incident she was forced into slavery after waking up in a cage. Through these struggles and hardships, Sarah becomes resilient and matures, earning the title “Strong Heart.”

The author provides very few background details when introducing each of the main characters, and it is usually a weakness of any well-written fiction novel. In this case, however, the characters develop as the plot unfolds, based on their dialogue and encounters with each other. This serves to strengthen the mystery, enchantment and intrigue of the story. It keeps the reader captivated to want to learn about the story and the characters.

My rating of Strong Heart is 3 out of 4 stars, since character development is a bit sketchy. Overall it is a good and entertaining read, and I would highly recommend reading the book.

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Strong Heart
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