From: Beth Martin <BMartin>
Date: Fri, 24 Apr 2009 08:15:23 -0500

I enjoyed reading Heart of a Shepherd by Roseanne Parry. I believe this is her first novel. Below is an excerpt from a review that I wrote that will give you a bit more information about the book. I have chosen this title for my Mock Newbery 2010 and students will read it beginning next fall.

Told from the point of view of 11 year old Ignatius Alderman, called
?Brother? by his family, this book tells the story of his experience as part of a ranching family in Eastern Washington State. In addition to ranching, the Alderman men have a tradition of military service. Brother lives with his grandparents, father, and four old brothers in a culturally diverse rural community, complete with a two-room school. When his father, a reservist, is called to active duty in Iraq, and his older brothers are away at basic training or military school, it is up the Brother and the ?Grands? to keep the ranch going for more than a year. There is plenty of action here to keep you turning the pages, but it is the development of the characters that will distinguish this title as one of the best this year. Without wordiness or preaching, Parry gets to the essence of what it means to be a good man and do the right thing, even when the choices are difficult. Readers will learn from Brother?s keen insights as he ponders the important people in his life and the lessons that they teach him by their example.

Beth Martin Teacher Librarian DC Everest Middle School IMC bmartin at dce.k12.wi.us 715-241-9700 ex.2320
Received on Fri 24 Apr 2009 08:15:23 AM CDT