Heart of a Shepherd:
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.
.
Awards and Reviews:
- 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
- Starred review from Hornbook Magazine, May/June 2009. Read the full review here.
- Starred review from Kirkus, December 1st 2008. Read the full review here.
- Publishers Weekly Flying Start Author 2009
- Indy Next Pick spring of 2009
- 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
Book Resources:
- How I got my Idea for Heart of a Shepherd…
- Discussion Guide: Heart of a Shepherd
- Brother’s Killer Hot Chocolate Recipe
- Listen to my Podcast from Heart of a Shepherd - “The Chess Men”
