Review by Amber Nichole -- Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
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Amber Nichole
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Review by Amber Nichole -- Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
[Following is a volunteer review of "Strong Heart" by Charlie Sheldon.]
3 out of 4 stars
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Strong Heart is a coming-of-age adventure story. Written by Charlie Sheldon, it describes the blossoming relationship between Tom and his newly discovered granddaughter, Sarah. When they first meet, Sarah has just been dumped onto her grandmother by her father, and then later onto Tom. At twelve years old, Sarah is already considered a problem child, and Tom -- preparing to leave for the wilderness with his friend William "Walleye" and Myra, William's daughter -- feels strongly that he is ill-equipped to raise Sarah.
Tom originally decides to cancel the trip to the wilderness (where he intends to visit the burial site of his grandfather), but William chooses to invite Sarah along for the journey instead. The four of them venture out into the wildnerness, where Sarah spends much of the time complaining and Tom regrets agreeing to the excursion. During their stay in the wilderness, Tom reveals that he is in possession of an ancient Native American artifact, Sarah runs away and returns after experiencing a life-altering vision, and the quartet end up at odds with Buckhorn, a company bent on mining the land Tom and his comrades are traveling.
Strong Heart confronts several topics to varying degrees of length: the argument of how long ago the Indigenous People of the Olympic Peninsula arrived and their genetic origins, the value of belief versus data, and of sacred traditions versus commercial importance. However, there are two topics on which Strong Heart focuses most intently.
The first topic Strong Heart confronts is the concept of understanding. Many characters fail to understand each other at first. Myra and Sergei (the son of a Russian scientist that her father has befriended) initially experience a hostile relationship due to a lack of understanding each other. Myra feels frustrated with Sergei, who exerts that without data proving otherwise, he supports the theory that the Native Americans only arrived about twelve thousand years ago; he also stands by the evidence that indicates the Native Americans derived from another group of people. This is in direct conflict with the Haida tribe's (to which Myra belongs) legends, which state that they have always been there. Sergei, likewise, does not understand the insult Myra feels by his beliefs, which she expresses is caused by her people being categorized as descendants of Asians. This theory indicates, to her, that there exists a perceived inferiority of Native Americans to Caucasians and Asians. While Sergei is Koryak (a Russian Indigenous People), perhaps his cultural experiences differ from Myra's. Likewise, perhaps Sergei's education and training as a genetic scientist has shaped his perception differently from Myra's, who is trained in anthropology and archaeology. While they both work with data, Myra's primary field also largely incorporates experience.
Also along the line of understanding, the story of Strong Heart explores characters who do not understand themselves. Tom does not originally believe that he is capable of providing for Sarah. His own daughter, Becky, had been taken by her mother before the age of three and died sometime after running away at age 15. Becky is Sarah's mother, and so Sarah's arrival is likely a difficult reminder to Tom of his shortcomings as a father. On the other hand, Sarah fails to understand her own capabilities. William and Myra, in particular, are quick to attempt to include and praise her. In one instance, William compliments her on her ability to throw darts (though not the kind you might see in a bar). Sarah does not pay much attention to his compliment. He also tells her earlier that she complains less than Myra did on her first hike. Though this seems to boost her morale a bit, and although she is often shown as a defiant young woman, she does not seem truly confident in her understanding of herself.
These issues are largely resolved by the time spent together -- Myra and Sergei become amicable, while Tom and Sarah seem to better understand and accept themselves -- but it is also because of a newfound understanding of the past. These understandings occur through a couple of different ways. First, they are able to understsnd the history of the local Native Americans better because of the vision Sarah has. After running away in the woods, Sarah gets lost and experiences the life of an ancient Indigenous girl named Strong Heart. Strong Heart is taken forcefully as a wife by a tribe who travels in search of young women because they have no nearby neighbors and are constantly experiencing a decline in their population. This vision, along with the ancient artifact possessed by Tom called an atlatl lends support to Myra's belief that her people have occupied the territory for longer than what scientists believe, and the details of the vision map out how such a reality could be possible. Second, while we are made aware early on that Myra and William are both Native American, we are left to assume that Tom and Sarah are not. Even William and Myra are surprised to learn from Tom that his family has a Native American background, though small. It's a part of the past one of his ancestors tried to cover up, but it is important to know our roots.
The second theme deals with family. Tom's wife, Ruth, leaves with Becky, and he has to bury his grandfather when he's young and alone in the woods. Sarah's mom dies, her father abandons her, her grandmother abandons her, and her stepgrandfather is abusive. Myra is sometimes at odds with her father. William's mom dies and his father runs off, leaving William forced into a boarding school. Sergei's father dies. Even during Strong Hearts journey, we witness death and loss of family. More importantly, however, we are also shown how family can form. Sometimes those bonds are between people who are biologically related, and sometimes they are between people with shared experiences.
The messages of Strong Heart are largely why I enjoy the book. Though it is very short, the relationships between characters feel very organic, and it is heartwarming to see them grow as people. Tom, Sarah, and Strong Heart all feel very much like underdogs, and instinct drives us to root for their success.
I also enjoy Strong Heart for its other messages. It is interesting to read about the struggles and beliefs of the Native Americans in this story, who likely share these struggles and beliefs with their nonfiction counterparts. There is a scene where Myra and Sergei are debating heatedly about belief versus data that offers particular insight into the beliefs of the Haida tribe. I have never before considered how a person might feel, for instance, being told that their heritage derives entirely from someone else. Native Americans are already vastly underrepresented in all facets of American life, and many tribes are not even federally recognized. This is what I am reminded of when Myra explains that Native Americans are being treated as "juniors" to Caucasians and Asians. Then there is the constant symbolism in the appearances of bears and in the impact of the weather. Furthermore, I also enjoy aspects of Charlie Sheldon's writing. I have several problems with it, which I will cover briefly, but if he paints a picture of anything, he does so in describing the voyage Strong Heart makes with her new people. Much of the story is told in very clipped, awkward sentences, but Charlie pays careful attention to the water. In one passage, as Strong Heart and her companions are nearing the end of their voyage, Charlie describes an ice barrier as an ice bear who is "eating the sea", possibly one of the most eloquent descriptions in all of the book.
Strong Heart is a fun and heartwarming story, but I did find it difficult to read. Charlie Sheldon does not often find a middle ground between short, clipped sentences (e.g. "We ate all the meat. The meat was bitter.") and comma splices (e.g. "They unpacked their gear, spread everything out in the sun, did laundry."). At times, Strong Heart reads more like a list than a book.
Another issue I have is with some characterization. For example, Roger, head of Buckhorn, becomes an early atagonist against our heroes. However, he reads like a villain from a B-rated 90's family movie. Roger has his goons do most of the dirty work and then proves to be racist by mockingly calling Myra and her father "Pocahontas" and "Tonto". These are both things that we expect of antagonists; the problem I have is that we are not really given a chance to get to know Roger further. His appearance and disappearance are rather abrupt. We read about more dynamic and convincing antagonists during Sarah's time spent as Strong Heart. Then there is the matter of one of the rangers, who confronts our protagonists after an almost deadly confrontation with Roger. Though the ranger seems suspicious of the crew, he holds them on good faith that they will simply show up to the station to provide their testimonies and jokes with them at one point. The story of Strong Heart is, admittedly, not about how convincing villains and consequences are, but I am a reader who likes boundaries and levels of realism.
Overall, I rate Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon 3 out of 4 stars. I rated it this way because there are an abundance of comma splices (and less frequently, other errors), which contribute to the difficulty of reading the book. I also feel that there are scenes, plots, and characters that can be fleshed out to provide a more well-rounded experience. That being said, I did really enjoy Strong Heart. I was happy to see characters triumph and relationships form. I enjoyed learning more about Native American culture. I am also really impressed by the diversity of information Charlie Sheldon has put into his book. Living in Seattle, he's able to describe the location perfectly. He has worked with local tribes to negotiate commercial shipping, which has given him insight into how industries impact Native American cultures and resources. He has also studied wildlife biology, which has allowed him to include such in-depth information about the wildlife of Strong Heart. All of these aspects and more have helped him create a tale that feels wholly organic and alive.
******
Strong Heart
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3 out of 4 stars
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Strong Heart is a coming-of-age adventure story. Written by Charlie Sheldon, it describes the blossoming relationship between Tom and his newly discovered granddaughter, Sarah. When they first meet, Sarah has just been dumped onto her grandmother by her father, and then later onto Tom. At twelve years old, Sarah is already considered a problem child, and Tom -- preparing to leave for the wilderness with his friend William "Walleye" and Myra, William's daughter -- feels strongly that he is ill-equipped to raise Sarah.
Tom originally decides to cancel the trip to the wilderness (where he intends to visit the burial site of his grandfather), but William chooses to invite Sarah along for the journey instead. The four of them venture out into the wildnerness, where Sarah spends much of the time complaining and Tom regrets agreeing to the excursion. During their stay in the wilderness, Tom reveals that he is in possession of an ancient Native American artifact, Sarah runs away and returns after experiencing a life-altering vision, and the quartet end up at odds with Buckhorn, a company bent on mining the land Tom and his comrades are traveling.
Strong Heart confronts several topics to varying degrees of length: the argument of how long ago the Indigenous People of the Olympic Peninsula arrived and their genetic origins, the value of belief versus data, and of sacred traditions versus commercial importance. However, there are two topics on which Strong Heart focuses most intently.
The first topic Strong Heart confronts is the concept of understanding. Many characters fail to understand each other at first. Myra and Sergei (the son of a Russian scientist that her father has befriended) initially experience a hostile relationship due to a lack of understanding each other. Myra feels frustrated with Sergei, who exerts that without data proving otherwise, he supports the theory that the Native Americans only arrived about twelve thousand years ago; he also stands by the evidence that indicates the Native Americans derived from another group of people. This is in direct conflict with the Haida tribe's (to which Myra belongs) legends, which state that they have always been there. Sergei, likewise, does not understand the insult Myra feels by his beliefs, which she expresses is caused by her people being categorized as descendants of Asians. This theory indicates, to her, that there exists a perceived inferiority of Native Americans to Caucasians and Asians. While Sergei is Koryak (a Russian Indigenous People), perhaps his cultural experiences differ from Myra's. Likewise, perhaps Sergei's education and training as a genetic scientist has shaped his perception differently from Myra's, who is trained in anthropology and archaeology. While they both work with data, Myra's primary field also largely incorporates experience.
Also along the line of understanding, the story of Strong Heart explores characters who do not understand themselves. Tom does not originally believe that he is capable of providing for Sarah. His own daughter, Becky, had been taken by her mother before the age of three and died sometime after running away at age 15. Becky is Sarah's mother, and so Sarah's arrival is likely a difficult reminder to Tom of his shortcomings as a father. On the other hand, Sarah fails to understand her own capabilities. William and Myra, in particular, are quick to attempt to include and praise her. In one instance, William compliments her on her ability to throw darts (though not the kind you might see in a bar). Sarah does not pay much attention to his compliment. He also tells her earlier that she complains less than Myra did on her first hike. Though this seems to boost her morale a bit, and although she is often shown as a defiant young woman, she does not seem truly confident in her understanding of herself.
These issues are largely resolved by the time spent together -- Myra and Sergei become amicable, while Tom and Sarah seem to better understand and accept themselves -- but it is also because of a newfound understanding of the past. These understandings occur through a couple of different ways. First, they are able to understsnd the history of the local Native Americans better because of the vision Sarah has. After running away in the woods, Sarah gets lost and experiences the life of an ancient Indigenous girl named Strong Heart. Strong Heart is taken forcefully as a wife by a tribe who travels in search of young women because they have no nearby neighbors and are constantly experiencing a decline in their population. This vision, along with the ancient artifact possessed by Tom called an atlatl lends support to Myra's belief that her people have occupied the territory for longer than what scientists believe, and the details of the vision map out how such a reality could be possible. Second, while we are made aware early on that Myra and William are both Native American, we are left to assume that Tom and Sarah are not. Even William and Myra are surprised to learn from Tom that his family has a Native American background, though small. It's a part of the past one of his ancestors tried to cover up, but it is important to know our roots.
The second theme deals with family. Tom's wife, Ruth, leaves with Becky, and he has to bury his grandfather when he's young and alone in the woods. Sarah's mom dies, her father abandons her, her grandmother abandons her, and her stepgrandfather is abusive. Myra is sometimes at odds with her father. William's mom dies and his father runs off, leaving William forced into a boarding school. Sergei's father dies. Even during Strong Hearts journey, we witness death and loss of family. More importantly, however, we are also shown how family can form. Sometimes those bonds are between people who are biologically related, and sometimes they are between people with shared experiences.
The messages of Strong Heart are largely why I enjoy the book. Though it is very short, the relationships between characters feel very organic, and it is heartwarming to see them grow as people. Tom, Sarah, and Strong Heart all feel very much like underdogs, and instinct drives us to root for their success.
I also enjoy Strong Heart for its other messages. It is interesting to read about the struggles and beliefs of the Native Americans in this story, who likely share these struggles and beliefs with their nonfiction counterparts. There is a scene where Myra and Sergei are debating heatedly about belief versus data that offers particular insight into the beliefs of the Haida tribe. I have never before considered how a person might feel, for instance, being told that their heritage derives entirely from someone else. Native Americans are already vastly underrepresented in all facets of American life, and many tribes are not even federally recognized. This is what I am reminded of when Myra explains that Native Americans are being treated as "juniors" to Caucasians and Asians. Then there is the constant symbolism in the appearances of bears and in the impact of the weather. Furthermore, I also enjoy aspects of Charlie Sheldon's writing. I have several problems with it, which I will cover briefly, but if he paints a picture of anything, he does so in describing the voyage Strong Heart makes with her new people. Much of the story is told in very clipped, awkward sentences, but Charlie pays careful attention to the water. In one passage, as Strong Heart and her companions are nearing the end of their voyage, Charlie describes an ice barrier as an ice bear who is "eating the sea", possibly one of the most eloquent descriptions in all of the book.
Strong Heart is a fun and heartwarming story, but I did find it difficult to read. Charlie Sheldon does not often find a middle ground between short, clipped sentences (e.g. "We ate all the meat. The meat was bitter.") and comma splices (e.g. "They unpacked their gear, spread everything out in the sun, did laundry."). At times, Strong Heart reads more like a list than a book.
Another issue I have is with some characterization. For example, Roger, head of Buckhorn, becomes an early atagonist against our heroes. However, he reads like a villain from a B-rated 90's family movie. Roger has his goons do most of the dirty work and then proves to be racist by mockingly calling Myra and her father "Pocahontas" and "Tonto". These are both things that we expect of antagonists; the problem I have is that we are not really given a chance to get to know Roger further. His appearance and disappearance are rather abrupt. We read about more dynamic and convincing antagonists during Sarah's time spent as Strong Heart. Then there is the matter of one of the rangers, who confronts our protagonists after an almost deadly confrontation with Roger. Though the ranger seems suspicious of the crew, he holds them on good faith that they will simply show up to the station to provide their testimonies and jokes with them at one point. The story of Strong Heart is, admittedly, not about how convincing villains and consequences are, but I am a reader who likes boundaries and levels of realism.
Overall, I rate Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon 3 out of 4 stars. I rated it this way because there are an abundance of comma splices (and less frequently, other errors), which contribute to the difficulty of reading the book. I also feel that there are scenes, plots, and characters that can be fleshed out to provide a more well-rounded experience. That being said, I did really enjoy Strong Heart. I was happy to see characters triumph and relationships form. I enjoyed learning more about Native American culture. I am also really impressed by the diversity of information Charlie Sheldon has put into his book. Living in Seattle, he's able to describe the location perfectly. He has worked with local tribes to negotiate commercial shipping, which has given him insight into how industries impact Native American cultures and resources. He has also studied wildlife biology, which has allowed him to include such in-depth information about the wildlife of Strong Heart. All of these aspects and more have helped him create a tale that feels wholly organic and alive.
******
Strong Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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Kibet Hillary
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This is a very nice review. It is good to see that you have pointed out the flaws in the book, especially the awkward sentences and also the failure to fully develop the characters. The book, however, as stated is really enjoyable and it is good to see that the author is well versed with what he is narrating.
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Amber Nichole
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Thank you very much for your reply! I'm glad you enjoyed the review. Overall, I really did appreciate the experience that Strong Heart offered. I think material is infinitely more interesting when it's obvious that the creator has a passion for it, and I learned so much from reading this about topics I may not have otherwise stumbled upon.Kibetious wrote: ↑13 Feb 2019, 23:53 This is a very nice review. It is good to see that you have pointed out the flaws in the book, especially the awkward sentences and also the failure to fully develop the characters. The book, however, as stated is really enjoyable and it is good to see that the author is well versed with what he is narrating.
Latest Review: Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas
