4 out of 4 stars
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Strong Heart begins dramatically during a storm. With instantaneous foreshadowing, we are prepared in the opening paragraph to expect great, roaring animals and an awakening of ancient spirits. Tom is thinking of these things as he prepares for an important and difficult personal pilgrimage. He has invited his friend William, and William’s daughter Myra, to join him. They have gathered at Tom’s house on the eve of their departure. There is a bold series of knocks at the door. William opens the door. It is then and there that Tom learns that he is a grandfather. Standing on his porch is a defiant young girl named Sarah. She is the spitting image of his dead daughter. It is decided that Sarah will join them, for better or worse, on their journey.
Strong Heart is my favorite kind of book. Charlie Sheldon has crafted a great push/pull between science and legend while telling a gripping adventure story. His blend of facts, ancient stories, and magical realism gave me a lot to think about and moved this story along at a brisk pace. The magical realism is grounded in the evidence of know scientific facts.
A good set of maps at the beginning of the book sets the stage for a journey and we get more than one. Several of these characters are on their own "hero’s journey" and they all grow along the way. Consequently, there is more than one story in this book and I enjoyed how the “voice” and tone of the writing changed depending on the storyteller. I especially liked Sarah’s tale and found I was reading more quickly in those sections, propelled by her narrative and imagining how I would cope if I were there with her.
I recommend Strong Heart to readers who simply enjoy fantastical, well-told stories. This book will especially appeal to those interested in Native American history, anthropology, oral history, storytelling, magical realism, adventure, or historical fiction.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. There wasn’t anything that didn’t ring true and I found no distracting mistakes or typographical errors. The story was exciting and edifying. The characters, each with their own trajectory and motivations, felt honest and their relationships with each other evolved in logical ways. I certainly hope there is a book series in the works because while the ending was plenty satisfying, there is certainly more story to be told here and I can’t wait to read it.
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Strong Heart
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If you want to go on a camping trip with a sullen teenager, turn to page 15. Ha!
