Review by Abacus -- Strong Heart by Charlie Sheldon
Posted: 01 Dec 2018, 14:45
[Following is a volunteer review of "Strong Heart" by Charlie Sheldon.]
4 out of 4 stars
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Charlie Sheldon has woven a tale of history, legend and family love into a mystical experience that lifts the heart. We meet Tom who is 70 and his friend William a Native Indian descended from the ancient Haida people. William’s daughter, Myra, is scientifically trained with a degree and believes against the prevailing opinion that the Haida people have lived on this land since the first people. They are packing for a significant camping trip. Tom wants to visit his grandfather’s resting place and return to the park an atlatl (a spear thrower), possibly a very ancient artifact, to its rightful resting place. Buckhorn Industries is bullying the townspeople into believing the mining will be in their best interest. Myra realizes the spear thrower could be a significant artifact. It could be used to stop the mining development, by showing that this land had been lived in by prehistoric people. But they must use some stealth or these ruthless corporate people could kill to get what they want.
At that moment, Sarah, Tom’s hitherto unknown, granddaughter; a 12-year-old, defiant, angry unhappy child is dumped on Tom’s doorstep by his ex-wife. Tom lets William persuade him a trip into the wilds might be good for Sarah. Myra has joined the camping trip because she is skilled in the woods and agrees that Sarah might help her look out for the two older men. The wild country is no place to get sick or have an accident without some help. The story begins when this unlikely foursome reaches the Whiskey Bend trailhead and set out to hike 30 miles into the Olympic Peninsula; the wildest, most beautiful landscape of ancient stories, myth, magic, history, and legend.
I like the way that Charlie Sheldon develops the story of Strong Heart. He steers us through the precise terrain inhabited by the mastodons, the American lions, the dire wolves, and the saber-toothed cats so many thousands of years ago. Also, he informs us in fabulous detail how ancient people paddled their canoes through frightening dangerous perils at sea and even more danger if they ventured onto the land. We feel like we are the ancient people and are facing the mammoths and the short face bears of ancient times.
I liked the way Charlie tells the story through the conversations of the hikers. They have a measured way of life, that’s why the rebel teenager is such a great foil. Sarah’s character is very realistic to me. William is the most empathetic to Sarah’s situation, perhaps because he missed much of Myra’s growing up. Tom and Sarah lock horns often but when his granddaughter gets lost, Tom will not leave the area until she is found. As part of the conversation between the hikers, we learn there have been many previous ice ages when the ice advances and retreats, warms and cools. The earth is in an ice age that started two million years ago and was still warming up.
A note of caution, there is a sub-plot to the book Strong Heart which I will let you discover for yourselves. Towards the end, it felt a little long and drawn out but it is the heart of this fascinating tale and well worth the effort to finish.
I am giving this book 4 out of 4 stars. The book is exceptionally well-edited, I saw no spelling errors or grammar mistakes. The story gave me goosebumps long after reading it as I realized I now felt connected to the first people. It is mystical, informative and compelling so it does not warrant 3 out of 4 stars. I would recommend this book to adults young and old; with particular interest for historians, anthropologists, and nature lovers. And in the words of the author “For those whose greatest pleasure is curling up with a book on a rainy afternoon, and for contrary girls everywhere.”
******
Strong Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Charlie Sheldon has woven a tale of history, legend and family love into a mystical experience that lifts the heart. We meet Tom who is 70 and his friend William a Native Indian descended from the ancient Haida people. William’s daughter, Myra, is scientifically trained with a degree and believes against the prevailing opinion that the Haida people have lived on this land since the first people. They are packing for a significant camping trip. Tom wants to visit his grandfather’s resting place and return to the park an atlatl (a spear thrower), possibly a very ancient artifact, to its rightful resting place. Buckhorn Industries is bullying the townspeople into believing the mining will be in their best interest. Myra realizes the spear thrower could be a significant artifact. It could be used to stop the mining development, by showing that this land had been lived in by prehistoric people. But they must use some stealth or these ruthless corporate people could kill to get what they want.
At that moment, Sarah, Tom’s hitherto unknown, granddaughter; a 12-year-old, defiant, angry unhappy child is dumped on Tom’s doorstep by his ex-wife. Tom lets William persuade him a trip into the wilds might be good for Sarah. Myra has joined the camping trip because she is skilled in the woods and agrees that Sarah might help her look out for the two older men. The wild country is no place to get sick or have an accident without some help. The story begins when this unlikely foursome reaches the Whiskey Bend trailhead and set out to hike 30 miles into the Olympic Peninsula; the wildest, most beautiful landscape of ancient stories, myth, magic, history, and legend.
I like the way that Charlie Sheldon develops the story of Strong Heart. He steers us through the precise terrain inhabited by the mastodons, the American lions, the dire wolves, and the saber-toothed cats so many thousands of years ago. Also, he informs us in fabulous detail how ancient people paddled their canoes through frightening dangerous perils at sea and even more danger if they ventured onto the land. We feel like we are the ancient people and are facing the mammoths and the short face bears of ancient times.
I liked the way Charlie tells the story through the conversations of the hikers. They have a measured way of life, that’s why the rebel teenager is such a great foil. Sarah’s character is very realistic to me. William is the most empathetic to Sarah’s situation, perhaps because he missed much of Myra’s growing up. Tom and Sarah lock horns often but when his granddaughter gets lost, Tom will not leave the area until she is found. As part of the conversation between the hikers, we learn there have been many previous ice ages when the ice advances and retreats, warms and cools. The earth is in an ice age that started two million years ago and was still warming up.
A note of caution, there is a sub-plot to the book Strong Heart which I will let you discover for yourselves. Towards the end, it felt a little long and drawn out but it is the heart of this fascinating tale and well worth the effort to finish.
I am giving this book 4 out of 4 stars. The book is exceptionally well-edited, I saw no spelling errors or grammar mistakes. The story gave me goosebumps long after reading it as I realized I now felt connected to the first people. It is mystical, informative and compelling so it does not warrant 3 out of 4 stars. I would recommend this book to adults young and old; with particular interest for historians, anthropologists, and nature lovers. And in the words of the author “For those whose greatest pleasure is curling up with a book on a rainy afternoon, and for contrary girls everywhere.”
******
Strong Heart
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like Abacus's review? Post a comment saying so!