Very sweet story of a 12 year-old boy figuring out what it means to be a man when his dad's unit is called up to deploy to Iraq. Met the author at NCTE in November--very nice woman who understands the complexities of being closely tied to the military. Loved it. Kleenex alert: I cried the last 15 pages. ( )

One of the best books I've read. ( )

"Heart of a Shepherd" gets to the heart of a twelve-year old boy's struggle of needing to be a man in a boy's body. When his dad and their community of dads are called to war, and his own brothers are called away to do 'what they must do,' "Brother" must keep the ranch going. He could handle the chores, if they didn't include suffering or blood, but what ranch doesn't have animals that bleed?

An excellent read, made better by our own boys' experience of a dad gone to war. Thank you. ( )

Brother is the youngest boy in a family with a military history. While his father is deployed to Iraq and his older brothers are away in school or the military, Brother strives to be the man he wants to be, helping his grandparents run the ranch so when his father returns everything will still be in order. Brother is a good, good boy, devoted to his family and values of hard work. On the surface this is a quiet story, but kids will identify with Brother's struggles and be intrigued by the details of ranch living. The author excellently brings to life the ambience of rugged, rural Oregon and the values of a ranching family. ( )

Ignatius Alderman is the youngest son in a long line of ranchers and army men. When his dad leaves for the war in Iraq, Ignatius promises to help his grandparents keep the ranch running. It is not an easy task for a 12 year old boy. ( )