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Heart of a Shepherd Audiobook
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(3.03) - 734 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
From acclaimed author of A Wolf Called Wander, Rosanne Parry welcomes readers into the Heartland in this tender coming-of-age story. 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, in the hope that doing so will ensure his father’s safe return. The hardships Brother faces will not only change the ranch, but also reveal his true calling.
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"This book is a gem that took me completely by surprise. "Brother" is the youngest of five sons of an Oregon rancher, an Army reservist who is sent to fight in Iraq. His older brothers must all leave the ranch, too; one is a soldier stationed at Fort Hood in Texas, two are in college, and one boards at a private high school fifty miles away. Brother promises his father to help his grandparents maintain the family ranch while his father and older brothers are away. The book teaches important lessons about the relationship between familial and societal responsibility, which sometimes conflict, and the role that religion can play in grounding us during emotionally turbulent times. One of the most powerful scenes in the book occurs when two of Brother's friends receive news about the fate of their parents, who also are stationed in Iraq. I hope that this book finds the appreciative audience it deserves. Best for grades 6-8."
— Christina (4 out of 5 stars)
Heart of a Shepherd Listener Reviews
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" Brother lives with his dad and grandparents on a ranching farm in Eastern Oregon, the youngest of 5 boys who are all off at the high school boarding school or army training. He's not sure what he wants to be when he grows up, since ranching and army (which is what all the men in the family have done so far) are not really his thing. When his dad gets sent out of the reserve army to Iraq, Brother is left to take care of the ranch with his grandparents. This book is contemplative and slow-moving at times, but this first-time author does a great job at dealing with war and love and death in a particular area of the United States that is not often written about. "
— Erin, 2/19/2014 -
" I read this out loud to my sons and all three of us loved it. Story of a boy who lives on a ranch in Idaho with his grandparents. His mom is an artist in Europe and left when he was small. His father is being sent to Iraq to command troops in the war. His older brothers are away at school, so he, Grandpa and Grandma are left to keep up with the animals and jobs on the ranch. He is determined to prove that he can fill in for his father's absence and struggles with being the little brother when he talks to or sees his older brothers. When tragedy strikes, he must step up and prove what kind of person he truly is. A book anyone will love, but one that will especially appeal to boys! "
— Kim, 2/10/2014 -
" A wonderful, heart warming story perfect for middle grade boys who may be reluctant readers. Read this with tissues nearby. "
— Kendra, 2/1/2014 -
" Entirely not my kind of book. Certainly well written, and covers a lot of ground between parents in the military, growing up, being responsible and religion. "
— Jason, 1/30/2014 -
" This book, while sweet, is anticlimatic with very little character construction. It is difficult to get emotionally invested in the characters, including the protagonist. "
— Eryn, 1/18/2014 -
" Sweet family story. Supposed to be for kids but I feel like unless they have lived on a farm and know a little about the military, they won't be able to relate. "
— Shelly, 1/17/2014 -
" The story was ok, but not very exciting. Maybe the book was just too juvenile for me? It's on the 2011-2012 William Allen White list and is a short and easy read, but I didn't get much out of it. "
— Chelsey, 1/5/2014 -
" Young man on a sheep ranch struggles with the effect of war on his family. Interesting relationships among 3 generations of family members. Some sad moments but basically a good story. "
— Susan, 12/21/2013 -
" Beautifully written story. I think readers will identify with the main character, Brother. Many issues are dealt with beautifully in this book. "
— Theresa, 11/28/2013 -
" Touching, beautiful. It did make me cry. "
— Emily, 10/5/2013 -
" I cannot say enough good about this book. I loved it, and my 9 year old son loved it and my 6 year old son loved it. We listened to the audio version in the car and my 9 year old would ask to stay in the car to hear more. "
— Heather, 4/29/2013 -
" Simply gorgeous and precious. "
— Amy, 4/3/2013 -
" Cute story! I actually picked up this audio book, because it was read by Kirby Heyborne and I'm familiar with some of his other work. "
— Bre, 3/16/2013 -
" An excellent book about a YA struggling with faith and separation due to war. "
— Hope, 10/13/2012 -
" Such a tender book. I love that the author is writing for young readers but treats the subject with seriousness and sweetness. "
— Grace, 9/21/2012 -
" We read this book at as a class read aloud, and I remember how in to this book everyone got. I thought at first this was going to be a waste of time and be a boring book choice, but when we started I couldn't put it down! "
— Maya, 8/23/2011 -
" A sensitive story that beautifully describes a young man's struggle to help keep his family's farm afloat and find his place in the world while his father is in Irag. "
— Betsy, 5/2/2011 -
" This was a very poetic book and has stayed with me. "
— Debbie, 4/30/2011 -
" 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. "
— Ryann, 4/23/2011 -
" Fresh approach to coming of age story. "
— Joan, 4/6/2011 -
" I cannot say enough good about this book. I loved it, and my 9 year old son loved it and my 6 year old son loved it. We listened to the audio version in the car and my 9 year old would ask to stay in the car to hear more. "
— Heather, 3/21/2011 -
" I hoped more from this book. Something deeper was intended when writing this novel but it fell a little flat. "
— Lindsay, 2/2/2011
About Rosanne Parry
Rosanne Parry is the author of several highly acclaimed novels, including Heart of a Shepherd, named a best children’s book of the year by the Washington Post, Kirkus Reviews, and Horn Book. She has taught writing at schools, conferences, educational nonprofits, and online at the Loft Literary Center, and she works as an independent bookseller.
About Kirby Heyborne
Kirby Heyborne is a musician, actor, and professional narrator. Noted for his work in teen and juvenile audio, he has garnered over twenty Earphones Awards. His audiobook credits include Jesse Kellerman’s The Genius, Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother, and George R. R. Martin’s Selections from Dreamsongs.