The Heavenly Village

by Cynthia Rylant

An incredible tale details The Heavenly Village, a place where people who are not ready to give up their earthly understanding of time, routines, and loved ones can keep half their heart in heaven and the other half on earth until they are ready to move on, and the seven people who pass through it on their way to afterlife. 18,000 first printing.

Genres: Childrens, Fantasy, Fiction, Chapter Books, Juvenile, Teen, Religion

95 pages, Hardcover

First published October 28, 1999

About the author

An author of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for children and young adults as well as an author and author/illustrator of picture books for children, Cynthia Rylant is recognized as a gifted writer who has contributed memorably to several genres of juvenile literature. A prolific author who often bases her works on her own background, especially on her childhood in the West Virginia mountains, she is the creator of contemporary novels and historical fiction for young adults, middle-grade fiction and fantasy, lyrical prose poems, beginning readers, collections of short stories, volumes of poetry and verse, books of prayers and blessings, two autobiographies, and a biography of three well-known children's writers; several volumes of the author's fiction and picture books are published in series, including the popular "Henry and Mudge" easy readers about a small boy and his very large dog.

Rylant is perhaps most well known as a novelist. Characteristically, she portrays introspective, compassionate young people who live in rural settings or in small towns and who tend to be set apart from their peers.

from bookrags.com

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodness! I cried and cried while reading this book. It reminds me of The Lovely Bones By Alice Sebold and Hotel of the Saints By Ursula Hegi. It’s a lovely book for children to gently wonder about God and Heaven. The book talks about such things but doesn't try to be perfect and doesn't try to make sense of it all...which actually makes the most sense because we can never truly know about such things anyhow.

The Heavenly Village is the place where the deceased go when they aren't ready to go to heaven yet. It's a lovely place between Heaven and Earth. Violet Rose, the baker, lives there. She can't go to heaven because she is worried about the cats she has left behind. Raphael Blake, the doctor, lives in the village too. He can't go to Heaven because he goes home, to earth, to have dinner with his family at 4 o'clock sharp every day. He never misses dinner now because when he was alive he was too busy working to have dinner with his family. The Heavenly Village is the story of all these people beautifully woven together in a place and time that we, on Earth, can only wonder about.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a work of fiction, but since each section began with a scripture verse, I hoped it would be theologically sound. Many of the thoughts could cause eternal consequences for some who believe them erroneously. I would like to shed some light using God's word: Most people don't go to heaven. Matthew 7:13-14; People do not become angels in heaven - angels are created beings, too; There are no second chances after death and we cannot overrule our bad deeds with good. Hebrews 9:27, Titus 3:5-6 and Ephesians 2:8-9. Please don't be fooled or misled; your eternity depends on it. It is only through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, our repentance and His forgiveness that we can be fit for heaven. We must see our need for a Savior! John 1:12

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love this book! An old lady dies and doesn't want to go to heaven without her beloved cat. She finds that there's a village where you can wait for your loved ones to join you so that you can all go to heaven together. It's so sweet!

[Sankolite · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy flowing book that was read quickly. Not bad.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

My all time favorite Rylant novel. So sparsely beautiful - each word is chosen with infinite care. The last story, "The Potter", reminds me so much of my son and what I wished for him when he entered heaven. I still can't read it without tears in my eyes. You see - God loves the young potter Thomas's pots so much that when he dies young in an accident, God asked Thomas to stay in the Heavenly Village for a time and visits him at night. "Thomas's favorite time to work has always been during the dark hours past midnight. Interstingly, this has always been God's favorite time too. It is well known that when He began creating the earth, the universe was completely black...While [the villagers sleep]... a young potter is placing God's hands on the wheel and the wheel is spinning round." Perhaps Mic is playing chess with God tonight, pondering the fate of the world - at least the thought of them discussing the philosophy of life certainly makes me smile.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea behind this book is that there are some people who, when they die, just aren't ready to head into Heaven proper -- they're still attached to life on earth. For these people, God has created the Heavenly Village, which is a pleasant stopping place on the way. The book tells the stories of several of these people, some of whose lives intersect in interesting ways.

Although I'm not really a Christian, I tend to really like Rylant's writings, which describe a God most people would be happy to hang out with. For example, God Went to Beauty School is probably one of my absolute favorite books of poems. This book, though, occasionally bordered on being too sweet and too pat for my tastes.

[Susan Reyna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although Biblically inaccurate, this is a lovely little book of stories about people who for various reason live just between heaven and earth. Each story has some nice thoughts, but the book does portray God as fallible and less than all knowing; and salvation as universal. It looks like a children's book, but I think it is more for adults due to a few of the concepts, for example: drunk driving.

[spookimom reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in the 3rd grade for the first time. And it was one of those books that has stuck with me. It's beautifully written, and I've been meaning to download it to my Kindle so I can read it once more.

[Anne Harlan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet and silly. I think God Went to Beauty School is much better.

[Lindsay Szul · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG
Just remembered this book from when I was a kid and I LOVED IT SO MUCH and it brought me SUCH PEACE and so I thought of it today and typed it in and now I find out it was written by THE Cynthia Rylant??? IM SHOOK!!! Idk, I know its not biblically accurate, but I think it’s good for kids who don’t quite understand death and I felt so loved and so much closer to God after reading it. IM SO HAPPY

[Allexis Herring · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am astounded at how eternal truths about heaven can find their way into a short novel written by someone without the restored Gospel. While not 100% in line with what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches about the after life, this certainly seems closer than what one encounters in your average Christian faith. For all those who worry about it not being biblically accurate, I think this book came closer in some regards than what most churches teach.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written, lovely images, people you can relate to in an instant, and a creative and comforting take on what happens to us when we die. Would be easy to read to children because nothing is scary or frightening. Just a lovely sweet read. Cynthia Rylant is a prolific writer and has written so many amazing chapter and picture books for children.

[Zoe Braccia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book for children and adults alike. Teaches the reader the tragedy of death, but the (non-religious) gentle, cozy, warm afterlife in which these people come to terms with their lives on earth, and the people and things they left behind.

[Sandra Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! My granddaughter read it at school and shared it with me. It is uplifting and beautifully written.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is purely amazing! I’ve read it so many times I’ve got all the stories practically memorized, I love them all! This is a book for everyone!!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish this book was longer, it was good. Delightfully written. Somewhat bittersweet yet hopeful. Bit funny I think. Magical. Little hard to understand the end. Loved the village!

[Corinna Motola · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique perspective on the after life, great for children. Poignant short stories that work together to create a new idea. My 9 year old loved it.

[Esmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"No one dies. They just relocate." -Doris

Although not biblically accurate, these stories were sweet and uplifting.

[MykeWeber · Rating 5 out of 5]

My new favorite author! Clearly, she sees through the glass a lot less darkly than I! I absolutely loved this book! I’ll be pondering it for a good while now, and will be rereading it soon!

[Beth Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

The plot is loose, but it fosters good vibes and thoughts about Heaven. I recommend it.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stopping point on the way to heaven for those not yet ready to move on.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It talked about a place between earth and heaven for those who are not yet ready to completely leave their earthly life yet. This place is called Heavenly Village. Each chapter is an individuals story of why they are living in the heavenly village. Like the rescue dog who just wasnt quite yet ready so give up his job, and his owner, a little boy who goes where his dog goes. Some are not ready yet as they realize after death that they never really lived. My favourite story is the last one I think where God himself says, I am not yet ready for you to stop creating and sends him to the Heavenly Village. The man says okay and invites him in for tea. I just really liked this whole idea and story and would love to own this book. It is worth a regular re-read thats for sure.

[jennyreadit · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written book of short stories of people and one dog, that died too soon; their life stories unfinished. Those go to the Heavenly Village, where they blissfully wait until they are ready.
Some reviewers say this is not for children, but I disagree. Christians can use this book to help explain death to younger children and to give them something tangible to understand about death. For adult believers, the Heavenly Village is a wonderful way to envision loved ones that have died and still feel their presence.
I loved Cynthia Rylant as an author before reading the Heavenly Village, but I admire and love her even more after reading this book.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mistakenly categorized as a children's book, this beautiful collection of stories about the villagers of God's waystation confirms profound truths about life and afterlife that we all innately know. Told gently and with the comforting meter of a mother's lullaby, The Heavenly Village invites laughter and tears all while making the reader feel as lovingly enveloped as a swaddled child. Using plain and simple language, Rylant weaves a tale and creates a setting that readers will want to visit time and again.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book a couple times in middle school and adored it. My best friend and I used to curl up in a corner of the library and read it together. Though I am vague on the details, I do recall loving this novel. It focuses on a number of people who reside in The Heavenly Village, and each chapter is devoted to such characters as "The Baker." The village itself is a place between where people who are not ready to completely slough off their human lifestyle and ascend to heaven can live. Beautifully written, it is certain to tug at heartstrings.

[Debora J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually find a day each year to read this book. Although, written as a children's book, it can touch a person regardless of age. It creates a wonderful imagery of a place between Earth and Heaven, where people can linger on their journey. It tells the story through short stories about individuals who live, temporarily, in the Heavenly Village. After reading this book, I feel renewed in a spiritual way. My favorite chapter in the book is the last chapter, although I can't say why, without giving something away.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is read-in-one-sitting type of book. It is inspiring, witty, and thought-provoking. What if there was a mid-way, for those people who die, but are not quite ready to go to Heaven? In the Heavenly Village, these people are able to keep what they aren't ready to give up on earth: the doctor who worked all the time and never saw his son, the young runner who died of leukemia is now able to run to her heart's content, and the Timekeeper who sees a young, overwhelmed mother on earth and shines a sunbeam on her baby's hair where she will "catch this beauty and be restored."

[Lisa Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story about the place between Heaven and earth, were those who are not quite ready to move on, can have a chance to live a little longer in a safe and beautiful place - the Heavenly Village.

The book takes you through the stories of different souls and why they are choosing to stay in the village, and it almost has the feeling of a series of short stories. I really enjoyed the book - it was a light, uplifting and quick read, but what often happens to me when I read short stories, it left me wanting more. Still a wonderful little gem of a book though.

[Marsha Valance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recommended. This is a small, lovely book that is well written, with wonderful characters. It is the story of some of the people who die, but for one reason or another, are not quite ready to go to heaven. It has the most wonderful little asides in it. An example: “The journey from earth to heaven can be long or short, depending on how much thinking God feels one ought to do. For Everett, He allowed a little extra time.”

[Tizzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cynthia Rylant envisions a God who loves all his children, even those who ignore him, the sinners, the social outcasts, the animals. God has a sense of humor, a sense of adventure, a sense of hope. This title posits a place after death but before heaven, a place for those who aren't quite ready to die. But it is not a purgatory. It is another chance to live. Very thought-provoking.