Review by abigailbridi -- Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
Posted: 31 Jan 2020, 09:32
[Following is a volunteer review of "Strong Heart" by Charlie Sheldon.]
As a lover of magic realism, this book immediately captivated me. Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon is an adventure story that kept me engaged throughout the whole book. Its strong opening immediately pulls you into the action, and the short chapters with cliffhanger endings keeps you turning pages. As the book progressed, I became familiar with the main characters in a way that had me actually caring what happened to them. And trust me, a lot happens!
Sarah is a young teenager who is left on her father’s doorstep as a last resort. Initially, both she and her relatives are hesitant to form bonds. An effort to honor their late grandfather, Bob-Bob, has them headed off into the Olympic Peninsula for a days-long camping trip. As the trip progresses, we learn more about the family’s ancestors who are believed to have lived in that area since “forever”.
After a family argument, ornery Sarah heads off into the woods alone and goes missing. What she encounters while she is away will change the family’s lives forever. Sheldon does an amazing job of weaving together two stories within this book. The overall frame story is the one of the native family who is struggling to learn how to take care of Sarah whilst fighting to protect their cherished park against a large mining company. Sarah’s story of myth and magic is woven into this book as a clear and undeniable source of strength. The two stories are on different planes of existence and different time periods, yet they remain fastened to each other.
Sarah’s story of myth and magic also raises questions about history and legend. Her family is initially skeptical of her experiences, but her strong heart teaches them differently. I loved the reoccurring clues that were sprinkled throughout that connected Sarah’s story to “real life”. Details that initially don’t make a whole lot of sense (like her state of health after going missing) are suddenly brought to life as Sarah continues telling her story. I was hoping that Sarah would have made it to the Marking Place in her vision, but that is left open-ended for the family to resolve with their promise to revisit the park.
I would recommend this book for young readers and adults alike. It is a fascinating tale of strength and courage. Charlie Sheldon uses history, legends, and love to weave this satisfying adventure. The use of myth and history is a clever and exciting way to write a story of coming of age and adventure. I give this book a 4 out of 4 stars.
******
Strong Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
As a lover of magic realism, this book immediately captivated me. Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon is an adventure story that kept me engaged throughout the whole book. Its strong opening immediately pulls you into the action, and the short chapters with cliffhanger endings keeps you turning pages. As the book progressed, I became familiar with the main characters in a way that had me actually caring what happened to them. And trust me, a lot happens!
Sarah is a young teenager who is left on her father’s doorstep as a last resort. Initially, both she and her relatives are hesitant to form bonds. An effort to honor their late grandfather, Bob-Bob, has them headed off into the Olympic Peninsula for a days-long camping trip. As the trip progresses, we learn more about the family’s ancestors who are believed to have lived in that area since “forever”.
After a family argument, ornery Sarah heads off into the woods alone and goes missing. What she encounters while she is away will change the family’s lives forever. Sheldon does an amazing job of weaving together two stories within this book. The overall frame story is the one of the native family who is struggling to learn how to take care of Sarah whilst fighting to protect their cherished park against a large mining company. Sarah’s story of myth and magic is woven into this book as a clear and undeniable source of strength. The two stories are on different planes of existence and different time periods, yet they remain fastened to each other.
Sarah’s story of myth and magic also raises questions about history and legend. Her family is initially skeptical of her experiences, but her strong heart teaches them differently. I loved the reoccurring clues that were sprinkled throughout that connected Sarah’s story to “real life”. Details that initially don’t make a whole lot of sense (like her state of health after going missing) are suddenly brought to life as Sarah continues telling her story. I was hoping that Sarah would have made it to the Marking Place in her vision, but that is left open-ended for the family to resolve with their promise to revisit the park.
I would recommend this book for young readers and adults alike. It is a fascinating tale of strength and courage. Charlie Sheldon uses history, legends, and love to weave this satisfying adventure. The use of myth and history is a clever and exciting way to write a story of coming of age and adventure. I give this book a 4 out of 4 stars.
******
Strong Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon