Title: Sheba’s Song
Author: Magaly Heriveaux
Publisher: Outskirts Press
ISBN: 1478760435
Pages: 114
Genre: Teen & Young Adult Fiction
Reviewed by: Liz Konkel
 

Hollywood Book Reviews

Sheba’s Song is a must-read tale about love and friendship which explores young Sheba’s time in foster care at Hickory Brook Creek with memories. She searches for family and the meaning of love using the kind words and song her foster mother, Ms. Benson, gave her which stayed forever in her heart. Ms. Benson taught her about love and goodness through a song that created the foundation that allowed her to form life-long friendships and appreciate the kindness of others who came into her life. These words are also the root to the strength she gained to deal with people who tried to bring her down such as Geraldine, Ms. Beastly, Ms. Cederman, and Ms. Dooms-day. Each moment and person which enters her life contributes to a part of her coming-of-age journey while helping her understand the value of true love, friendship, family, and sisterhood.

At the root of the story is a coming-of-age journey about one girl’s search for her family with a backdrop of experiences growing up in foster care. Magaly Heriveaux delivers a story that has a sweet and endearing voice through the perspective of the charming Sheba. The goal of this book is as important as the story itself which touches upon various themes from the beauty found through friendships to the strength of family, even when times are tough to the true meaning of true love to how relationships can survive even rough moments. The introduction opens with a lovely poem which sets the tone of the story as one focused on the bond of family, the blessing family can provide, how God has brought us together, the strength of family to pull through bad times, and how our hearts tie us together. Each of these moments in the poem are themes which touched upon, as you dive into Sheba’s Song and each provides an emotional exploration of the character.

The story opens with Sheba and her adopted sister Zoey celebrating New Year’s which sets up her reminiscing and the new beginnings that came into Sheba’s life. The story delves into her life as a foster child who seeks love, family, and understanding. The time spent at Hickory Brook Creek wasn’t always easy and gave plenty of trials and tribulations as she dealt with the antics of others who tried to tear her down. But this time gave her opportunities that taught her about friendship, sisterhood, and family, while creating a drive within her to find her own family. As others come into her life that show her love and friendship, she’s also shown the value these relationships have towards happiness and growth. Her search for happiness is at the root of her journey as her various experiences help her to understand exactly what happiness means for her.

Ms. Benson is a prominent influence on Sheba’s journey as the giver of the song which is the catalyst for her confidence, for making her feel loved, and reminding her to treat others with the same kindness and grace. Her relationship with Zoey is an important connection in her life as this relationship gives her the importance of sisterhood and friendship. This book has a variety of characters which Heriveaux uses to touch upon various perspectives of these children at Hickory Brook Creek and their experiences. The writing shows the love and care that went into these characters and into this story to deliver something that provided emotion, heart, and goodness.

Sheba’s Song is a story that speaks volumes about strength, heart, and growing up by discovering the meaning of happiness, love, friendship, and sisterhood.

Buy on Amazon