Heart of a Shepherd

by Rosanne Parry

Book Overview

When Brother's dad is shipped off to Iraq, along with the rest of his reserve unit, Brother must help his grandparents keep the ranch going. He's determined to maintain it just as his father left it,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375848029
• ISBN13: 9780375848025
• Release Date: January 2009
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
• Length: 161 Pages
• Weight: 0.71 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.7" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Wonderful book

Heartwarming story of a boy growing up. The youngest of several brothers, "Brother" finds himself left alone on the ranch with his grandparents when his father is called to duty in the military and his older brothers are all away at school. During this year and a half he matures greatly and realizes his grandparents need him as much as he needs them. Boys and girls alike will love this story and so will adults who enjoy heartwarming family tales.

Excellently written, beautiful story

Ignatius (known as "Brother") Alderman is twelve years old and the youngest of five brothers who work on a cattle ranch with their father and grandparents. Brother has never been quite the same as his brothers--three of whom are in the military (like their dad) and all of whom are tougher ranchers than Brother thinks he will ever be. But when his dad's army reserve unit is deployed to Iraq, Brother is left to be the man of the house with all his brothers away with army training or college or military high school. He handles the conflicts and dramas of ranch life with courage and hope, and eventually finds his calling in an unlikely way. Heart of a Shepherd was a believable, moving story told by a talented new author who brings grace and tangibility to her words. Rosanne Parry brings the experience of a young rancher to life so realistically that as a reader you can practically smell the horse sweat and see the stars in a clear mountain sky. This story is full of drama and emotion, handling difficult issues with a sensitive and credible touch.

A Novel for Every Young Man who Faces his own Future

In children's literature, one of the last taboos is religion. The Heart of a Shepherd, though, tackles both the Iraq War and religion through the viewpoint of Brother (Ignatius) the youngest of five boys, who is left to hold down the ranch with Grandfather and Grandmother while Dad goes to war. Like any good Quaker, Grandfather quietly perseveres and preserves their way of life, until a grass fire forces them to search for a missing shepherd and his flock. Grandfather's quiet, but practical faith is echoed in Brother's heart as he decides to become an army chaplain. Parry takes a tough subject, puts it into a kid's perspective and heart and turns out a fine novel which will bring tears to all but the most jaded. Highly recommended and I hope it wins many accolades and awards.

Full of Heart

Heart of a Shepherd by Rosanne Parry made me cry twice. That's not really a trait I look for in books, but, hey, that's later on, lest it be a turn-off for you. Before all that, Heart of a Shepherd made me laugh and cheer out loud. Full of endearing characters, it was just what I was hoping to read over a holiday weekend. Also, it was short. And sometimes, you just want a short book. One that lacks commitment. Brother (that's what everyone calls him) is counting down the months until his officer father returns from combat in Iraq. In the meantime, he's the man of the ranch with his aging grandparents while his four older brothers are off at school or stationed elsewhere, and a barely known artist mother in Italy. Brother, being the youngest, is the only one not somehow involved with either the Army or ROTC. Everyone else knows just who they are and what they will do with their lives, but Brother can't really see himself as a soldier or a rancher. And those are about the only things he knows. Brother is a charming and thoughtful boy who purposefully crumples up his perfectly done homework (to keep up appearances) and has read all the dragon books on his shelf - so he steals ship books from his brothers. He's shouldering a great deal of responsibility and handles it seriously, but appropriately, for a kid his age - there is the necessary worry and fear that would be inherent in that situation. He also personifies his chess pieces as his loved ones - and purposely loses because he can't bear to kill his grandpa's queen (being grandma). Adorable. There was a lot of honesty in this story. It felt like real people in real situations. While religion was portrayed in the best of light, this isn't an "inspirational fiction" book. There was a really awesome priest (all the characters, save grandpa, are Catholic) and Brother's grandfather's a devout Quaker. It's the same kind of versatile combination we found in Hattie Big Sky: safe for the wholesome-seekers and entertaining for the heathens. There was no blatant didactics that overshadowed all other features of the story, there were no conversations with, or beseechments to, God, just a quiet religion that served as the foundation of identity for several characters. I especially loved the grandparents; the chess-playing grandfather, the mechanical wiz grandmother. Both veterans. I truly have nothing bad to say about this book, and I really like to balance overly positive reviews with something negative. I mean, it can't be THAT good, right? *shrug* Oh, wait, I DO have one complaint. I couldn't tell the four older brothers apart. They all blended together into lovable mush (clearly, not a huge deal for me). Anyway, give it a go, it's both enjoyable and a good one to have in your arsenal. It's solidly middle grade, I'd say 3rd-6th, and would make an excellent family read. Here's some quotes, in case you were on the fence: p 2-3: "Rosita's my queen, of course. She's a fifth grader up at the school

A Book For All Ages

My employment is as a director of education. I read books for youth and teenagers so that I am aware of what books, good and bad, are available to my students. Rosanne Parry's first novel, _Heart Of A Shepherd_ is one of the most stunning stories that I have read in the past ten years. It truly is a story for all ages. Her writing is lyrical, her characters are fully developed and realistic, and her portrayal of what it is to be 12 years old is so accurate that I felt my own 12-year old self (an age I left behind decades ago) rise within my soul. (See other reviews for a sketch of the story. I don't want to repeat what others have written.) This book is what our youth NEED to be reading. Parry's sentences are complex and her use of metaphor is breathtaking. Her conversation is realistic; each character speaks in a voice that is sincere, accurate, and believable for him/herself. I strongly recommend this book for youth and adults. It will remind each adult of what it truly was (and is still) to be a twelve year old searching for ones true self. Youth will find in Ignatius, affectionately called Brother by his family and friends and Natch by a Jesuit priest) a character who realistically and maturely portrays what they are enduring at this point in their lives. Parry writes with true respect and reverence for youth. She does not, as many wildly popular authors do, write in overly simplistic language nor does she create one dimensional relationships between her characters. She accurately portrays the complexity of being a human and human relationships with one another. In addition to being beautifully written, _Heart Of A Shepherd_ is finely edited. So many books today are chock full of errors that should be caught by an editor. Sadly, most editing today is as poor as most writing. I am going to recommend this book to all the parents and children whom I serve. Hopefully, Rosanne Parry will soon bless us with another story. I envision her in her tree house (a room of her own) creating another magical story.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

HEART OF A SHEPHERD is a beautiful book by first-time author Rosanne Parry. It draws the reader right into life on an Oregon ranch and into the life of a spiritual family dedicated to the land, their country, and one another. Brother is the youngest of five boys raised on the family ranch. Soon, Brother will be gone to a high school boarding school, but for now it's up to him to help his father, grandpa, and grandma with the running of the place. As each day passes, it seems he is given more responsibility. Brother decides that's proof that they think he's growing up and will soon be man enough to handle his share of the work. When news breaks that his father's reserve unit is about to be shipped off to Iraq, Brother realizes he doesn't have a choice. Ready or not, he will be the only one left to help his grandfather run the ranch. With his father gone, he pitches in and learns how to handle everything from raising the bum lambs, literally lending a hand/arm with the calving, and making decisions like whether to use traditional branding or acid branding. Constant chores keep him busy, but he still has time to worry about the safety of his father commanding troops in Iraq. He knows he is not alone, since many in the community have fathers, mothers, and sons serving their country, leaving just a few family members to do what needs to be done here at home. The story is an interesting mix of young and old. The experience of the old is passed to the young when it comes to handling ranch chores, as well as the rules of life in general. There is a strong sense of spirituality among the characters with the incorporation of a variety of faiths - Catholic, Quaker, and Baptist. It is evident that a higher power plays a major role in the lives described in HEART OF A SHEPHERD. The appeal of this book should reach far beyond its YA audience. I look forward to reading more by Rosanne Parry in the future. Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"