The power of community, family, and faith are at the heart of this rare and beautiful novel about a young man answering God’s call. Although published fairly recently, in 2009, Heart of a Shepherd by Rosanne Parry has an old soul and fills a one-of-a-kind place in children’s literature.
The book is about 12-year-old Ignatius, nicknamed “Brother,” the youngest of five boys on a rural ranch. His heart isn’t in ranching, but when his dad is deployed to Iraq, Brother must take on the responsibility of keeping the ranch running with his grandparents. Along the way, he faces tough challenges and comes to understand that God is calling him in a special way.
Finding God in a rural setting
The faith element is what sets this book apart; I’ve never before seen a book revealing an inside look at what it feels like to be called to a religious vocation. Brother makes mistakes, but he hears and responds to God’s call.
Another unusual aspect is the focus on modern rural and ranching life, a topic seldom explored in children’s literature. Ranching and rural families will especially enjoy this one.
My 10-year-old and I read it together recently, and we loved it. But he wants to warn parents that Heart of a Shepherd is best for ages 10 and up because “It’s pretty sad.” Tough topics include death, deployment, serious injury, an absent parent, and brotherly strife, so you may want to flip through it before giving it to your kid, or be ready to talk about the hard parts.
But the book left a lasting impression, as my son described: “If you just go around your daily life and do what your parents say, you might just learn what God wants you to do. A very hard thing happened to [Brother] and he kept through it and God helped him. It was incredible.”
Discussion Questions
Brother has a hard time being the youngest in the family. There are hard things and good things about being the oldest, youngest, or any place in the birth order. Did his experiences help you to better understand your siblings or friends?
The people in Brother’s community don’t live very near each other. How does the community stay close and help one another even though they are spread far apart?
What are some moments in the story when Brother starts to realize what God’s call for him is? Why does he want to become a priest?
Brother’s dad and older brothers chose to become soldiers, but Brother chooses a different vocation. Why did your parents choose the vocations they have? How will you know what vocation to choose for yourself?
