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Readers > Talk it Up! > Discussion guides > 2012 Oregon Reader's Choice Award Nominees > Heart of a Shepherd

Heart of a Shepherd by Rosanne Parry

Discussion guide by Joan Smith

Summary

When his father is deployed in Iraq, Ignatius, the youngest of five brothers in a military family, promises to take care of the ranch with only the help of his elderly grandparents and one hired hand.

Booktalk

Brother lives in rural Oregon. In his community, everyone is either a rancher or a soldier or both. Brother loves the ranch, just like his brothers and father, but although he can rope and ride and brand and do all the things he needs to do as a rancher, he is deeply affected when one of the animals dies. Dying is part of working with animals, but Brother doesn't seem to get used to it. He is bothered every time something dies. Maybe he's just not cut out to be a rancher. But if not that, what else?

When his father is called up for active duty in Iraq, twelve-year-old Brother remains at home with his grandparents. His brothers are away at school or in the military. Brother is determined to work the ranch with the Grands and make sure that when his father returns, the ranch will be just the same as when he left it. But things don't always happen as we plan, and we're not always able to make our promises come true. No one knew his father's tour of duty would be extended. No one knew there would be a fire. And no one knew more than an animal would die.

161 pages, 4th grade and up

Discussion questions

Warning! Some of the questions contain key elements of the plot. Do not read if you don't want to know what happens!

  1. The story opens with a chess game. Why do you think the author did that? What is the significance of the chess game to the story? Did you like or dislike this storytelling device?
  2. What do you think about the main character's name? Would you like to be called Brother?
  3. Brother tells his dad "I'm going to take care of this place...It's going to be just the way you remember it when you get back" (p.10). Do you think that was a reasonable promise to make? If not, why do you think his father doesn't set him straight about it?
  4. What does the title mean?
  5. Do you remember how Pete's head wound is treated? Why do you think they treat it that way?
  6. Are there foreshadows or clues to the path Brother will choose as an adult? Do you think it will be a fitting path for him? Why or why not?
  7. According to this author, what is a hero? Do you agree or disagree? Are there different kinds of heroes?
  8. The sense of smell is mentioned several times. Dad says, "Do you smell that, Brother? That's the smell of your home. That's something you are going to want to take with you when you leave us." (p.18) What does he mean by that? Are there certain smells that remind you of events or places?
  9. Do you like or dislike the characters? Are they real? Would you like to be part of this family?
  10. Brother is a 6th grade Oregon boy. How does his life compare with yours?
  11. Did you expect the ending? Were you satisfied by it?
  12. Would you recommend this book?

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