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Feb 13, 2012

Stephanie rated it:

Oh Boy.

I am reluctant to review this since I have friends who loved this book, and my mother recommended it. But this book bugged me so much I just have to have my say.

This is a book about a three year old boy who comes close to death (never pronounced clinically dead, as in most near death experiences ), Claims that he hung out with Jesus, God, John the Baptist, Gabriel, the Holy Ghost, his great grandpa, his dead sister, and Jesus's rainbow horse. The standard men in More...

18 comments like (35 people liked it)

Feb 02, 2012

Amanda rated it:

So I'll preface this by saying the following:
1.) I would have never read this of my own accord. I read it only for book club.
2.) I was skeptical going in.
3.) Though I'm a born-and-raised Catholic, I would classify myself as an agnostic, at best.
4.) I'll also admit I skimmed huge chunks of this book. It was the only way I was going to get through it at all. It was worse than I expected.

Things that Bothered Me (in no particular order):
1.) The fir More...

21 comments like (19 people liked it)

Nov 20, 2011

Jeni rated it:

This book made you think. I feel like it is a feel-good story, and most everything this boy saw went along with what i believe heaven will be. I thought the writing in the beginning was well crafted and the ending wavered a bit, but overall it is a fast, captivating read. It is worth your time. I think it is possible he saw heaven, but I also am not sure all the things his 4 year old said necessarily were accurate, as is the case with all 4 year olds. This book had a way of pulling you in and ma More...

0 comments like (7 people liked it)

Feb 14, 2012

Xox rated it:

What kind of bullshit is this book selling? Why is it on the top seller list for 56 weeks? What kind of stupid person would take a 4 year old boy story as real?

The boy almost die because his parents are stupid as fuck. They have the chance to take him to a proper hospital but they didn't. They took him to an unequip hospital after hours of driving, and when he got to the proper one, he almost died.

This is a form of child abuse to begin with.

The boy didn't see More...

4 comments like (7 people liked it)

Jun 01, 2011

Ron rated it:

One sub-genre of Christian literature reports dead-and-back experiences. Because I criticized some as self-serving and frankly false, I receive others for my enlightenment or critique.

Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back is distinctly different. Naturally, anyone could make up a story about a four-year-old boy's brush with death and his report on what heaven's like. And this may be one of those. I have no way to judge. But unlike so many More...

2 comments like (13 people liked it)

Jul 10, 2011

Tina rated it:

First of all, this is a book I would never in a million years pick up on my own. I read it b/c one of my students brought it to me and told me how much he loved it, and that he wanted to lend it to me so I could read it. So, yeah: I read this b/c I care about my students and the things that are important to them. But I am also an atheist, and so of course I couldn't read the book through any other lens than that.

I honestly tried to balance being skeptical with having an open mind, bu More...

73 comments like (62 people liked it)

Feb 09, 2012

Joy rated it:

A young boy emerges from life-saving surgery with remarkable stories of his visit to heaven.

"Heaven Is for Real "is the true story of the four-year old son of a small town Nebraska pastor who during emergency surgery slips from consciousness and enters heaven. He survives and begins talking about being able to look down and see the doctor operating and his dad praying in the waiting room. The family didn't know what to believe but soon the evidence was clear.

C More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Oct 12, 2011

Aaron rated it:

For a while now people have been asking me to read and comment on the book Heaven is for Real written by Todd (not making up his last name) Burpo. For some reason, because I am a pastor, people think I am going to love this book about a little boy who went to heaven and met Jesus. Then Jesus sent him back (like you put your unfinished cookies back in the oven when they aren't finished).

Well, here goes…and don't hate me for being honest. I did not like this book what-so-ever.

More...

8 comments like (34 people liked it)

Apr 18, 2011

NatashaF rated it:

I am already on the 11th chapter -

I am just get chills when I read this book. Last night, I spent time reading comments from Goodreads. I was shocked of all the one stars and negative comments. These are the topics that kept coming up. I just have to vent about it...

1.)WHY DID THE PARENTS WAIT SO LONG? - That the parents waited to long to take him to the doctor.Well, they did take him to the doctor. The doctor told them no thing was wrong expect a stomach virus. This can re More...

12 comments like (45 people liked it)

Nov 04, 2011

Angela rated it:

This isn't a book I would ordinarily read; however, it was abandoned in an office where I work, so I decided to read it. I wish I hadn't. It's not that I don't believe the story, but there are a couple of things about the account that trouble me. The first is the writing - it's horrific. There are several sentences I read two, three, four times and still couldn't figure out either the syntax or the idea that was being put forth. My second problem is the anecdote involving the eighth grade b More...

2 comments like (1 person liked it)

May 15, 2011

Carol rated it:

This book was a very quick read, due to the fact that I didn't want to stop reading it. Todd Burpo did an excellent job in describing the events that led to his son's discovery of Heaven. If you have children, you can appreciate his depiction of the events and mannerisms of his children. If you have lost a child, you can appreciate the pain that Todd, and especially his wife reflect upon, and the sheer joy that they experience when they are delivered a simple, yet powerful message from their More...

0 comments like (17 people liked it)

Feb 13, 2012

Thea rated it:

Thea Sweet
Reading
Ms. Ely
Book Review
11/20/11

Heaven if for Real

Heaven is for Real is a true story about a young boy(not yet four-years-old), Colton Burpo, who survived an emergency surgical operation to remove the appendix (appendectomy.) His family was extremely grateful for Colton’s miracle operation. After the complex procedure, Colten told his parents he left his body during the surgery and even authenticated his claim by describ More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Feb 13, 2012

Del rated it:

This is the story of four-year-old Carlton Burpo's ascent and adventures into Heaven while undergoing an operation for a ruptured appendix.

I wanted to like this book but now that I am finished I am terribly skeptical. The book is told by Carlton's dad, Todd, who is a minister at a small Nebraska church. The views portrayed are second-handed and fit way too neatly into a conservative Christian ethos. What's more, the book is co-written by Lynn Vincent who also worked on Sarah Palin's More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Aug 03, 2011

Benjamin rated it:

My Mom has been reading us this story at nightime. We usually read 2-4 chapters. The book is about a little boy named Colton. At the beginning, he dosen't want to hold Rosie, a big Spider at the Petting Zoo. Later, he can't stop throwing up. He has to go through surgery because he had the place inside him that holds all the Poison in him exploded. Then he said that he left his body and went to Heaven. Then he said to his dad, "Hey Mommy!" Colton's Mom says "Yes?" "Did More...

1 comment like (8 people liked it)

Feb 13, 2012

Sara rated it:

I loved this book and the portrayal of heaven it gives. I think we often are so busy trying to live our lives and be good christians that we forget to dream about our eternity. This book reminds me that we have a hope and a future and as christ followers, we are Not Of This World and our home is in heaven.

One frustration I did have was the parents were so trusting of their family doctor and did not follow their instincts (or the promptings of the Holy Spirit) to question his judg More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jul 10, 2011

Tammy rated it:

This is a book about a four year old boy who has a near death experience and later reveals to his parents little chunks of information that lead them to believe he traveled to Heaven and back.

As a parent, I found this book to be emotionally gut-wrenching as the boy's parents watched their son become very ill, and the desperation they felt they felt to heal him. I also found this book to be quite interesting. Even if none of it is actually true, it helped me to picture Heaven which i More...

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Dec 06, 2011

Melissa rated it:

“Heaven is Real for Kids” as told by Colton Burpo to his parents, Todd & Sonja Burpo; illustrated by Wilson Ong

Description
Heaven is for real, and you are going to like it!

Colton Burpo came back from his trip to heaven with a very important message: Jesus really, really loves children. In effort to reach even more families with this eternally significant story, this runaway bestseller is now told from Colton—kid to kids! Children will receive the same comfort and ass More...

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Feb 20, 2012

Nathalie rated it:

I had to wait quite a while for this book and it was worth it. I have read many books about life after death. This was different as it was from the perspective of a four year old boy, Colton Burpo. His father, Todd Burpo, an ordained minister, is the voice of the book. We read of his heartbreaking struggles as he almost loses his son because he and his wife followed the erroneous diagnosis of the doctor instead of their feelings, especially knowing several members of his family, himself included More...

2 comments like

Feb 20, 2012

Sueij rated it:

A straightforward telling of a little boy's account of his trip to heaven.

Here's the thing. I'm willing to believe that this is the boy's true account of his true experience. I'm willing to believe that it supports his family's beliefs thoroughly. See, the night my dad's first wife died 300 miles away, she showed up at his bedside and talked to him. I believe that. A friend who had a liver transplant was greeted by two angels. I believe that, too. So why not believe this boy's account? More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 19, 2012

Ronya rated it:

I didn't really want to read this book. I generally stay out of the self-help/religion/spirituality section unless someone I consider a book-twin recommends a particular title. So many people kept asking for this book, though, that I finally broke down and checked it out of the library. I wanted to know for myself what it said.

I came to several conclusions.

1. The Burpos are a very religious, very spiritual family.

2. I have no doubt that Colton Burpo experien More...

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Feb 19, 2012

Carol rated it:

This is the story of an almost 4 year old's "near death" experience.

Colton's parents are trying to save their son - it is not their fault the medical advise they receive is wrong. When they finally move him to a larger health center, he is dying from a ruptured appendix and massive infection. The parents are given no reason to hope when Colton is taken to surgery straight from the imaging area. After slow progress & a second surgery, he is to be transferred to a Childr More...

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Feb 18, 2012

Kristen rated it:

The book Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo is about his son’s amazing journey to heaven and back. Colton was three years old when he was extremely sick and had this near death experience. When he came back from surgery he claimed, “The angels were singing to me”- which shocked both his parents. As the weeks and months unravel Coloton reveals that “You know I almost died” and reveals that during this time he was in heaven and relates certain aspects of heaven that are not only detailed but More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 11, 2012

Jesslyn rated it:

I read this book in one day - it's short and an easy read. I needed some Hope because I have had a long, hard week. I felt empty and like God was abandoning me. Although deep down I know he loves me, I thought this sweet story might be the pick-me-up I needed. So, 1 minute and $4.98 later, I was reading it on my Kindle Fire.

I went into it a little bit skeptical, considering that this boy is conveniently a pastor's son. However, I also went in with an open mind and open heart. I trul More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 08, 2012

David rated it:

Everyone else seems to be reading this book, so I figured I should check it out.

I came in skeptical and finished the book a bit less skeptical. Overall it was a good story that was encouraging.

Part of me wants to think they made this up to get rich...but how on earth would they have known this book would be a mega-bestseller?

I do wonder about the Burpo's decisions. I hope if my kid was throwing up every hour for over one day I would go immediately to the hospita More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Feb 07, 2012

Jennifer rated it:

I loved it and give it 5 out of 5 stars! I had already read Heaven is for Real in just one day and thought it was an amazing book. My 11 year old daughter had read it also and loved it and I really wanted my 10 year old to read it but he's very sensitive and has some special needs so I didn't think that one would be ideal book for him but this Kids version is PERFECT! He was amazed and awed by what happened to Colton on his journey to heaven and back. Kylan had a lot of questions about heave More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Feb 07, 2012

Garionna is currently reading it

Warning: This book is very creepy only to those who believe in God, you would just think about life and make you understand and listen on what kids are talking about!

Setting: Hospital and their home

Protagonist: The death shadow it was seen on the young boy face and his father seen it on him whenever he was lying down in the hospital bed not even moving with a blank expression! That he always would just lay there and wouldn’t eat at all not even more. They were praying to More...

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Feb 01, 2012

Shawna rated it:

I thought this book was touching. To overcome what this family had been through was enough to make anyone want to jump off a cliff. But, this book did raise more questions that answers. 1.) Was this for real? Or a very vivid dream this child had during surgery? 2.) Why did Colton have to be questioned about his trip and why did it take years for it all to come out?- most children I know, if something happened to them like that, they don't shut up about it until all has been told- usually in long More...

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Jan 31, 2012

Theresa rated it:

I read this book because our church is using it as a tie-in to our current study on what happens after we die. It's very readable, doesn't take very long, and does not include language that is only accessible to Christians, even though the people involved are from a believing family. The boy in question was three when he had an out of body experience, when he was in heaven for what he called three minutes. This experience gradually comes out in everyday conversations with his parents, and eve More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Jan 30, 2012

Janette rated it:

Colton Burpo was almost four-years-old when he became ill and was taken to the hospital. During his stay in the hospital, he closed his eyes and found himself being carried to Heaven by an angel.

Colton describes all the things he saw and all the things he experienced while in Heaven. The text is very simple and is written in a way that children can understand. Each page is illustrated with a beautiful color illustration that complements the text. There is also a Bible verse on each p More...

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Jan 28, 2012

Anna rated it:

I'm not surprised at the mixed reviews this book has gotten; obviously if the subject matter isn't your thing then you will find it quite easy to discredit and mock this book. Personally, I found this book to be a really enjoyable and touching read, and I liked the simple and straight-forward writing style. I'm not particularly concerned over the details of whether this is a 'true story' or not.

Though I can't resist addressing a recurring sarcastic comment I've been seeing in severa More...

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