I have a quiet, lovely book. If I could say that Leviathan was my action-packed winner, I would say that Heart of a Shepherd is my quiet-filled winner. It was like a lovely break on the beach watching the surf spread over the sand and then recede back into the ocean. Breathing. Resetting my well-being. Calming.
The book is about Ignatius Alderman, called Brother by his family. He is a sixth-grader, the youngest of five siblings – all boys. They live on a ranch in Idaho. They have cattle, sheep, horses and chickens. It's the family business. Grandma and Grandpa Alderman live with them. Brother's mother is an artist currently living in Italy.
Their father is a rancher most of the time, and serves in the National Guard one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer. When the book begins, we find that Brother's dad has been called to duty to serve for fourteen months in Iraq. He will be the Battalion Commander so he will be in charge of the lives of hundreds of soldiers, many of whom are friends and neighbors of the Aldermans.
Pete, the oldest brother, serves stateside in the Army. Jim and John are far from home in Boise attending college. And Frank attends high school and boards in town. This leaves Brother, who still attends the two room elementary school house, and the "Grands" to tend to the ranch. An enormous task. And Brother intends for his dad to find it how he left it.
Without quite realizing it, I loved this book from the beginning. Brother and I share an imagination. We think alike. For example, Brother and Grandpa play chess nearly daily. Brother acts out the moves as a story in his head. He knows that his queen is Rosita, his best friend's sister. And his grandpa's queen would have to Grandma. Brother's queen's knight rides a paint mustang with a temper. His king's knight rides a Clydesdale, little speed, but all power. Brother would willingly sacrifice himself, and the game, to protect his queen. It's more about the story in his mind than the game on the table.
Here is the unusual. Religion and spirituality play a huge role in this novel. Grandma and the family are Catholics. Grandpa is a Quaker without a local church. Every Sunday like clockwork, they are at the church bright and early to open up the building and prepare for service. Brother and his best friend alternate as altar boys. Brother takes pride in his responsibilities.
The book is about Brother finding a place for himself. Grandpa advises him, "The question you want to ask yourself is not, Am I as good as my dad? That's just practice. Ask yourself, Do I love it as much as my dad? Talent is not your problem, Brother. Deciding what to do with your talents, that's the tricky part."
I recommend this book. I'm not quite sure to whom. To boys, 4th through 8th grade with an interest in ranching and animals? I just have a feeling that adults will enjoy it more eventhough it is about a boy.
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