Heaven is For Real, by Todd Burpo, with Lynn Vincent

A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back.

Colton is the rough and tumble, average every day three-year-old son a pastor in a small Nebraska town. While on a min-vacation with the family, Colton goes from happy and healthy to what seems to be death's door in a matter of hours. Little did his parents know just how well-founded their fear that Colton was slipping away from them was. During an emergency surgery, Colton slipped from consciousness and visited Heaven. Over the course of several years, little by little, Colton tells his story, including meeting family members he had no knowledge of, and shares insights that a child may comprehend at some level but can rarely verbalize.

Though a long-time Christian, I was skeptical about this book. I'd heard several things, seen an interview or two and just wasn't sure. So-called "near death experiences" just aren't my cup of tea and in my experience all sound alike. Many of these stories are from adults who come across as now having an agenda, that they must share what they now know.

Colton's experience is so obviously personal and real that I find no reason to not believe what I've read. A child can take away no agenda from an experience such as this. His knowledge of Bible passages and theological concepts most adults aren't immediately familiar with is astounding, and lends credibility. There is a clarity to Colton's story that can only be found in a child.

The writing is honest and straight-forward, yet not "churchy." This is a conversational telling, from the heart, both Colton's and his father's.  The story is compelling and touching, but not pushy. It is encouraging and uplifiting. It's truly an amazing work.

Burpo, Todd, with Lynn Vincent. Heaven is For Real. Thomas Nelson Publishers, November 2010.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

This Girl is Different, by JJ Johnson

Evie is her mother's child, which is to say that Evie is far from the typical high school senior. Having been home-schooled all her life by her social activist/hippie mother, Evie has decided to try a traditional high school setting for her senior year. It's as much out of curiosity as it is an experiment. And, she does learn what high school is like, the good, the bad, and the indifferent.

The whole experience is so much more than she expected. Fortunately, she starts the first day with a new friend and a budding romance. She also starts it with detention before the day is over. Evie realizes that the fairness she thought would be inherent isn't at all. She and her friends start a campaign for social justice, anonymously, but soon lightning strikes with the important lesson of what happens when your campaign comes back to bite you in the butt.

Well-written, thought-provoking, and honestly one of the few good books I've read about someone really trying to enact change in high school and succeeding in ways that aren't anticipated and with help from the unlikeliest of sources. This is is Social Justice 101, but it's also "Learning to Survive High School 101" and "What Assuming Gets You 101." It's a story that can speak to every high school student, whether they conform or not. For a debut book, Johnson has hit the mark.

Johnson, J.J. This Girl is Different. Peachtree Publishers, April 2011.

I received a free digital copy of this title through NetGalley, in exchange for my agreement to review to review it.

Imaginary Jesus, by Matt Mikalatos

Belief in the truth commences with the doubting of all those 'truths' we once believed.

- Friedrich Nietzsche

Cover art stolen from Matt's blog,
The Burning Hearts Revolution

I have to admit, when I first saw this title, I was wary. "Imaginary" Jesus? Seriously. As a Christian, I enjoy reading Christian books--not the "all is sunshine and roses" type that wraps up neatly at the end (like Christian romance always seems to), but the ones that make you think. I figured Imaginary Jesus would make me think, but I also kind of figured it would be borderline sacrilegious at the very least. And while I don't mind reading sacrilegious material now and again (if I'm going to prove a point to you, I need to know what your knowledge base is, you know?), I certainly don't like to go too far into that extreme.

Wow...was I wrong. The VERY first 3 pages had me hooked, and had already made me think. I have to tell you, this doesn't happen very often. I mean, Blue Like Jazz (Donald Miller) is the last one that REALLY got me to thinking from the very start, and that was several years ago. I read it straight through Saturday, then ruminated a bit before re-reading it yesterday/this morning. It's kept with me all morning, to the point that I've now tweeted it at least twice (and am now friends with Matt on Twitter), am blogging it (and following Matt's blog now), and have sent several Facebook messages to friends that I have NO doubt will enjoy it--and because I need the conversation that it will cause.

watch on tyndale.com

Oh...and I wish I lived in Portland so I could be friends with Matt and his family. And maybe run into Daisy the Donkey. *grin*

Synopsis from the publisher's site
Imaginary Jesus is an hilarious, fast-paced, not-quite-fictional story that’s unlike anything you’ve ever read before. When Matt Mikalatos realizes that his longtime buddy in the robe and sandals isn’t the real Jesus at all, but an imaginary one, he embarks on a mission to find the real thing. On his wild ride through time, space, and Portland, Oregon, he encounters hundreds of other Imaginary Jesuses determined to stand in his way (like Legalistic Jesus, Perpetually Angry Jesus, and Magic 8 Ball Jesus). But Matt won’t stop until he finds the real Jesus—and finally gets an answer to the question that’s haunted him for years. Be warned: Imaginary Jesus may bring you face-to-face with an imposter in your own life.

Breaking news from Matt's blog....

The Burning Hearts Revolution: Get Imaginary Jesus FREE FOR YOUR E-READER: "For a limited time you can get the e-book version of Imaginary Jesus ABSOLUTELY FREE in Kindle format, for the Nook, or for your Sony e..."

Mikalatos, Matt. Imaginary Jesus. Tyndale House Publishers, April 2010.

I downloaded this book to my ereader of my own free will. I am receiving no compensation or  for this review.

A Book and a Hug

On LM_Net back in the fall, there was a request for book reviewers. Well, since I read anything (and everything) that doesn't read me first, AND I like to do reviews, I responded.

Barb at ABookandaHug.com was looking for more people to be involved in reviewing books for her site. Barb says that she created the site to "help you find a book for your child." (from the About A Book and A Hug page) As a librarian who struggles sometimes to get students even IN the library, matching them with a book they'll enjoy isn't always easy to do when all they can see is the summary from a MARC record.

Book reviews are sorted by categories, age of the reader, and a boys section pulled out (girls are on the way!). There's even author interviews (videos, not just question and answer text only interviews!).

I've just submitted my first review. For Trash.

Book Review: Trash, by Andy Mulligan

Raphael and Gardo are “dumpsite boys,” literally digging through what is buried in their Third World city dump every day, looking for anything that could be turned into a profit. Usually this is just things that could be sold for recycling. One day, Raphael’s digging unearths an expected treasure—a wallet, money, a map, and a key. When the police arrive, asking questions about an important bag that was mistakenly discarded, the boys know that there’s a great deal more to the story. Murder, a missing $6 million, corruption, treasure hunting, and adventure that takes them all over the city and beyond keeps this story moving. Raphael, Gardo, and their friend Rat take turns telling the story, with cameos from adults that help them along the way.


Trash is a compelling read, with excitement and situations similar to the movie Slumdog Millionaire (2008), but appropriate for students. 

Mulligan, Andy. Trash. David Fickling Books, New York. 2010.