Book Spotlight: Heart of a Shepherd by Rosanne Parry

Brother has never been the rancher that his father and the older boys are. Sure, he can ride a horse, rescue a wayward calf, or mend a broken fence, but his heart just doesn’t seem to be in it. Even worse, every time one of the ranch animals dies he feels it too keenly. Still, with four older brothers to carry the load, it’s never been much of a problem.

Then Brother’s father is shipped off to Iraq with the rest of is reserve unit. With the older boys away at school, Brother must help his grandparents keep the ranch going. He’s determined to maintain the ranch just as his father left it, in the hope that doing so will ensure his father’s safe return. But life rarely goes according to plan. The hardships Brother faces will not only change the ranch but also reveal his true calling.

In her first novel Rosanne Parry takes a thoughtful, uplifting look at one particular corner of the heartland and the people who call it home.

• Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year 2009
• Horn Book Fanfare Best Books of 2009
• Washington Post Best Children’s Books of 2009
• ABC Best Books for Chidren 2009
• Publishers Weekly Flying Start Author 2009
• Indy Next Pick spring of 2009
• 2010 Rodda Award given by the Church and Synagogue Library Association
• 2010 Oregon Spirit Book Award from the Oregon Council of Teachers of English
• Oregon Battle of the Books List for the 2010/11 school year
• Nominated for a Cybil award in Middle Grade fiction– an award chosen by children’s book bloggers
• 2010 Capital Choices Notable Book for Middle Grade Readers
• 2009-10 nominee for the Nene Award–the children’s choice book award in Hawaii
• 2011-12 nominee for the Volunteer State Children’s Book Award–the children’s choice book award in Tenessee
• 2010 Honor Book for the Judy Lopez Memorial Award given by the Women’s National Book Association

Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (January 27, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0375848029
ISBN-13: 978-0375848025

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