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gmamartha's review against another edition
4.0
Don't know why "my" kids don't appreciate this one as much as I do.
afro8921's review against another edition
4.0
Great Juvenile book dealing with those left at home during war times. I loved the closeness of the family.
stardusstie's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ancientdebra's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the language and voice, and I appreciated the contemporary storyline showing the experience of a family with a parent serving in the military. This would be a great discussion book for older elementary school kids, especially faith-based groups.
curiouslibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
It's rare that I read a book and think, "This book could win the Newbery." But this was definitely one of those books.
When the publisher's box came, I set this one aside to read. It called to me in some way. But I kept putting off reading it. It is not my thing at all - ranchers, military families? Not my type of reading. But still I didn't take it off my pile. Once I finally picked it up, I couldn't believe how gripping the story and the character of Brother was.
Brother is the youngest of 5 boys in a ranching family. He has all the skills, but he's too sensitive to the deaths of the animals to really make it as a rancher long term. This is fine until his 11th and 12th year when his father gets shipped to Iraq with many of the other parents in the area and all of his older brothers are away at school. Brother must keep the ranch running with his grandparents, and wants to do it right so everything will be perfect when his father finally comes home. But life is rarely that simple...
I was gripped by this book from the beginning, and I just had to keep reading to find out what would happen to everyone - the parent-soldiers overseas, the lambs on the ranch, Brother himself. This is a hard life, made harder by circumstances, and you view it all through the lens of an 11/12-yr-old boy.
At first I was bothered by the the explicit Christianity and prayers in the story. But it soon didn't matter, as it is well integrated into the story, and important to the characters. However, I think this aspect may well keep this book from winning any of the big prizes, and I think that's a darn shame.
Highly recommended for grades 4-8. Easily the best children's book I've read in a while.
When the publisher's box came, I set this one aside to read. It called to me in some way. But I kept putting off reading it. It is not my thing at all - ranchers, military families? Not my type of reading. But still I didn't take it off my pile. Once I finally picked it up, I couldn't believe how gripping the story and the character of Brother was.
Brother is the youngest of 5 boys in a ranching family. He has all the skills, but he's too sensitive to the deaths of the animals to really make it as a rancher long term. This is fine until his 11th and 12th year when his father gets shipped to Iraq with many of the other parents in the area and all of his older brothers are away at school. Brother must keep the ranch running with his grandparents, and wants to do it right so everything will be perfect when his father finally comes home. But life is rarely that simple...
I was gripped by this book from the beginning, and I just had to keep reading to find out what would happen to everyone - the parent-soldiers overseas, the lambs on the ranch, Brother himself. This is a hard life, made harder by circumstances, and you view it all through the lens of an 11/12-yr-old boy.
At first I was bothered by the the explicit Christianity and prayers in the story. But it soon didn't matter, as it is well integrated into the story, and important to the characters. However, I think this aspect may well keep this book from winning any of the big prizes, and I think that's a darn shame.
Highly recommended for grades 4-8. Easily the best children's book I've read in a while.
mgreco5's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book a while back, but remember it being so heartwarming. The family is Christian, but the book itself isn't preachy, which I so appreciated. I recommend for people looking for a quick, simple read with a great message.
abigailbat's review against another edition
4.0
Ignatius (everyone calls him "Brother") is the youngest of five boys and the only one left at home when his dad is called to fight in Iraq. He must help his grandfather keep up the ranch - tough work for any kid, but especially for Brother who has never felt called to the ranching life. As Brother gets through the year without his dad, he'll start looking for his own path in life.
This is a quietly powerful novel with a striking sense of place. Parry paints a perfect picture of the harsh beauty of rural Oregon, just as she paints a perfect picture of family members scattered to the winds but still caring deeply about one another. I'd try it on fans of Bridge to Terabithia and When the Whistle Blows.
Read my full review on my blog: http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/2009/10/book-review-heart-of-shepherd.html
This is a quietly powerful novel with a striking sense of place. Parry paints a perfect picture of the harsh beauty of rural Oregon, just as she paints a perfect picture of family members scattered to the winds but still caring deeply about one another. I'd try it on fans of Bridge to Terabithia and When the Whistle Blows.
Read my full review on my blog: http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/2009/10/book-review-heart-of-shepherd.html
tcbueti's review against another edition
5.0
Loved the picture of this boy's life in rural Oregon, and the hardships he faces as his dad goes off to Iraq with the Reserves. His older brothers are gone, too; one's in the service and 2 are at boarding high school--the local school is only two rooms, K-8. Brother (his real name is Ignatius) has to take up the chores and responsibilities of running the family ranch with his grandparents. His mom left for Rome years ago--she's an artist.
Told in episodes, titled as months, nearly one per month (e.g. "July The Chess Men", "August Cow Camp")we see how this hard-working, close-knit family tries to make this situation work, keep their promises honorably. The brothers fight (Brother has to stitch Pete's head after clobbering him with a glass coffee pot when the olders make him feel he's not doing a good job.)but ultimately they pull together. Attending a 2 room school, the sense of community (both of his best friend's parents are in his dad's unit), birthing a calf--blend of old-fashioned lifestyle, compared to our metro NY area, and modern--emails, cell phones, etc. Patriotism without jingoism.
Probably the most unusual aspect of this book is the large part that faith plays in it--his Grandmother (who can repair anything) washes linens and sets up for each Mass at her church, while her husband is a member of the Society of Friends (ie a Quaker) and writes letters to other Friends and to government officials during Mass, sitting outside at the picnic table. Brother is an altar server; there's some heavy foreshadowing about the final plot resolution in this area. The description of Brother and his Grand's experience during a fire, as they try to save Ernesto (the shepherd who told him he has the heart of a shepherd)and the sheep out in the hills, is unforgettable. In this book, faith is important, but it almost doesn't matter which one--his dad is a Baptist, he mentions.
Told in episodes, titled as months, nearly one per month (e.g. "July The Chess Men", "August Cow Camp")we see how this hard-working, close-knit family tries to make this situation work, keep their promises honorably. The brothers fight (Brother has to stitch Pete's head after clobbering him with a glass coffee pot when the olders make him feel he's not doing a good job.)but ultimately they pull together. Attending a 2 room school, the sense of community (both of his best friend's parents are in his dad's unit), birthing a calf--blend of old-fashioned lifestyle, compared to our metro NY area, and modern--emails, cell phones, etc. Patriotism without jingoism.
Probably the most unusual aspect of this book is the large part that faith plays in it--his Grandmother (who can repair anything) washes linens and sets up for each Mass at her church, while her husband is a member of the Society of Friends (ie a Quaker) and writes letters to other Friends and to government officials during Mass, sitting outside at the picnic table. Brother is an altar server; there's some heavy foreshadowing about the final plot resolution in this area. The description of Brother and his Grand's experience during a fire, as they try to save Ernesto (the shepherd who told him he has the heart of a shepherd)and the sheep out in the hills, is unforgettable. In this book, faith is important, but it almost doesn't matter which one--his dad is a Baptist, he mentions.
jessalynn_librarian's review against another edition
4.0
A slim but moving story about a rural family of ranchers and soldiers who are spiritually inclined - doesn't exactly sound exciting, does it? But for readers who like stories with great characters and vivid settings, this is a treat. It's also not a dull, actionless story. Sure, a big focus of the book is on Brother's thoughts and feelings, as he stays home on the Eastern Oregon ranch with his grandparents, while his dad is in Iraq and his brothers are off at school. But the details about rural life and military families will make this appealing to kids interested in either of those topics, and it's refreshing to see a story where the characters are actively religious in a non-didactic way.
You respect the way spirituality pervades their lives without the story becoming preachy. While I think that people who are Christian might find this aspect of the story more appealing than other groups, I would still recommend it to a young reader who isn’t Christian, or isn't necessarily religious. A variety of faiths are represented, and if anything the message of the story is to support your community and your family through thick and thin. The ending is hopeful but not too neatly resolved.
One small quibble with the book - for a character-driven story, I just didn't buy the mom's story. Every time she was mentioned, and every time I thought of her role in Brother's life, I was drawn out of the story because it just didn't ring true, and felt like an awfully convenient way to get her out of the picture without killing her off.
You respect the way spirituality pervades their lives without the story becoming preachy. While I think that people who are Christian might find this aspect of the story more appealing than other groups, I would still recommend it to a young reader who isn’t Christian, or isn't necessarily religious. A variety of faiths are represented, and if anything the message of the story is to support your community and your family through thick and thin. The ending is hopeful but not too neatly resolved.
One small quibble with the book - for a character-driven story, I just didn't buy the mom's story. Every time she was mentioned, and every time I thought of her role in Brother's life, I was drawn out of the story because it just didn't ring true, and felt like an awfully convenient way to get her out of the picture without killing her off.