Book Review: Heaven is for Real

 Title: Heaven is for Real 

 Author: Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent (contributor)

 Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishers

 Release Date: November 1, 2010

 Genre: Non-Fiction

 Format read in: Paperback

 What Goodreads says: 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. 

Colton said he met his miscarried sister, whom no one had told him about, and his great grandfather who died 30 years before Colton was born, then shared impossible-to-know details about each. He describes the horse that only Jesus could ride, about how "reaaally big" God and his chair are, and how the Holy Spirit "shoots down power" from heaven to help us. 

Told by the father, but often in Colton's own words, the disarmingly simple message is heaven is a real place, Jesus really loves children, and be ready, there is a coming last battle.


What I say: This book is deep rooted in religion and biblical references (mostly New Testament). However, it is hard to get past the things that this little boys thinks he saw in relation to the truth. In the book, Colton, the young boy who said he went to Heaven, said he saw Jesus. He talked to Jesus and he sat on Jesus' lap. His parents showed him many pictures portrayed of Jesus over the years but none of them were right according to Colton. It wasn't until his father found another child who also claims of going to Heaven. This little girl is an artist and painted a portrait of Jesus. When Colton's father showed him this portrait, Colton said that was what Jesus looked like.

There are many other examples to follow. He met his sister in Heaven. The sister that his mother miscarried before Colton was born. Colton never knew about this sister but in Heaven he knew exactly who she was. Colton spoke of his grandfather who he never met on Earth, but could relay a distinct description of him as a young man.

If you are religious or spiritual, I think you would enjoy this book.