Book Reviews of Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back

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. 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

My Thoughts: This book is absolutely wonderful. I cried...and laughed and sat absolutely amazed at what I was reading about Colton and his family. This book is a must read--especially for anyone who is questioning if there is a God--a heaven--and where we go when we die. We often hear that truth comes from children....they haven't enough imagination at that young an age to make up a lot of lies and such....and they are brutally honest! We accept this with normal every day things....so, even though Colton may be talking about topics that are usually hard--he is putting them in the perspective of a 3 year old. The comments he makes are straight-forward and without guile. I give this book a 5/5. It needs to be one you look up and add to your bookshelf!

Colton Burpo's story was a refreshing and surprisingly accurate portrait of what awaits each of us whose destiny is Heaven. I read the book with a critical eye. I couldn't find any fault with them. His tale seemed honest. His descriptions fit the way a child would describe things, not one whose words had been fed him by an adult. Some of his revelations were simply amazing!

You can find something here that will warm your heart and quite possibly help ease your pain. This book is a sweet, touching, and amazing story. I think you'll be blessed by it.

What this book is meant to do, strengthen your faith, encourage you in your walk with Christ, and maybe just maybe long for Heaven just a little bit more.

This is a good spiritual read. Give you the tingles and makes you realize that some things really are true and gives a glimpse into heaven.

This book was not at all what I thought it was going to be. When i heard there was a book written about a little boy who had an out of body experience, I thought it would be such a great read. Instead it was written by his pastor father (who took the time on each and every page to remind everyone that he is a pastor). if the story happened to parents who were not pastors or affiliated with the church then it would be more believable- unfortunately it is written by someone whose entire life is affected by the Church so it makes me not want to read it and makes it seem very fabricated. i gave it until page 75- and put it down.

I did not like this book. I believe in God and heaven, but there were so many things that just didn't sound right to me.I couldn't even bring myself to finish it.

I was disappointed. I'm glad I didn't pay for this book.

An amazing story!! Everyone should take the time to read this. It's truly blessed me.

This book was amazing! The author, a pastor and Colton's father, shares with us his son's amazing journey to Heaven and back. This book doesn't feel preachy or judgmental. Instead, I got a very good sense of the fear and anxiety any parent would feel over their child's serious illness and their frustration at not being able to fix it.

I appreciated Todd Burpo's open and frank retelling of his frustration leading to getting angry at God and yelling at God. We can all relate to him feeling this way as we all tend to want to lash out our anger during situations we cannot control. I felt a lot of empathy for the Burpo family after the numerous medical challenges Todd had already faced, they now had to face the very scary fear that their only son could die.

The feelings of empathy turned to feelings of amazement when Colton makes a miraculous recovery, though his family still does not know the extent of what Colton went through, beyond the medical procedures. It isn't until on a family trip several months later that Colton begins to share with his family the extraordinary experience he had when he went to Heaven, met Jesus, met God, met his great-grandfather who passed away before he was born, met his sister who had been miscarried before Colton was born and even sees Satan. Colton relays these occurrences to his shocked family in a very innocent and guileless matter-of-fact manner only a child could convey.

My favorite passage in the book is when Colton is telling his parents that Jesus asked the angels to sing to him because he was scared and his father asks him what the angels sang to him.

Colton turned his eyes up and to the right, the attitude of remembering. "Well, they sang 'Jesus Loves Me' and 'Joshua Fought The Battle Of Jericho,'" he said earnestly. "I asked them to sing 'We Will, We Will Rock You,' but they wouldn't sing that."

Colton is a brave little boy who touched my heart and will touch yours. His faith and belief is awe inspiring in it's sweet innocence that reminds us to shed our adult cynical thinking and embrace our beliefs with a child-like joy and abandon.

This book is one which will touch your heart. It also gives much food for thought for Christians as well as non Christians. Would make an excellent gift. My thanks to the one who sent it to me !!

This isn't really the type of book I usually read. While I am interested in stories that detail the out of body experiences by people who have "passed to the other side", I am not particularly religious. I found this book to be a quick project, easy to read in one or two sittings. It is a very "Christian" book, being written by a pastor, but the tale itself is interesting for the familial connections that are brought to light that the child would have had absolutely no knowledge of and some of the intriguing facts thrown in here and there regarding bits from the Bible that are commonly known. The brevity of the book helps - much more of the same and it would have become repetitive and dull, but the author has a good sense of when to call it quits. He makes his point and departs, leaving you to form your own opinion. This would be an interesting selection for a book club, just to get the opinions from a diverse group of readers to swirl around the room.

An amazing and inspiring story! A fairly quick read told in an honest and forthright account by his stunned father as he learned of his son's experience in bits and pieces over time. Though a pastor, in his pain, he questioned God. The innocence and conviction of his little son's faith taught him to see what he may be missing. It is inspiring, but also, a bit chilling. Leaves you pondering your own doubts and beliefs. "Out of the mouths of Babes!".

A disappointment. "Astounding" is way too strong a word.

WOW, this is an amazing story. It is believable, it is unbelievable and these are "regular" people, but when they link the story of another girl who saw Jesus the story is amazing. It is uplifting, it is passionate, it is a tear jerker and it is one everyone should read, believers and non believers alike. Amazing!

Wonderful and disturbing, you find yourself questioning along with the Father in the book. Trying to determine , How real? this is. And like the Father, blown away by the simplicity of this childs words. A quick read that stays with you if you have any time at all to just think your own thoughts.

I loved this book. Excellent. Read it in a day. Very inspirational.

Great book! A must read!

This heart warming books gives what a little boy sees on the other sides and he lets everyone know that it is a good place and really touches your heart and have the tissues ready

A quick and easy must-read about one family's dealing with their son's near-death experience. Over a period of years, little Colton reveals to his family what happened to him while he lay in the hospital. A very convincing story of the reality of Heaven.

What's to say? You'll probably love it if you're a believer, and sneer at it if you're an atheist.

Me? I like to question and wonder, and I wouldn't say this was the right book for me. It was written by a pastor with a strong agenda that became a little overwhelming and credibility-straining by the end: at a funeral, Colton worried the dead man hadn't accepted Jesus into his heart. So of course the poor fella wasn't gonna get his big slice of pie in the sky, and that seemed a little less three-year-old than overbearing Evangelical pastor Dad to me.

I don't doubt that Colton may have had an out-of-body, near death, spiritual experience for the ages, but I do think that his family shaped it to suit their own beliefs.

That said, I liked the writing style, and some of the family anecdotes brought a smile to my face.

For other seekers and questioners, try "The Shack" by William P. Young (for a Christian perspective), or any book by Rabbi Rami Shapiro (for a holistic approach to God).

This is not the type of book I normally read, but because it is on the best sellers list, I decided to give it a go. I started it this morning, and now 4 hours later I am done.I am a Christian, and have been raised to believe in heaven, but as with alot of people, there is always doubt. After reading this book, I really, really want to believe. A child's way of looking at things makes so much more sense than what we start doing as adults. We tend to analyse everything.It comes down to..do we belive Jeasus loves children? If so, why would He stop loving us? This was one of the most interesting books I have read, not becasue of deep spiritual questions, but becasue it makes Heaven so simple!!!

A book everyone must read. It will strengthen anyone's faith and give all hope of the future for all who are in Heaven.

Love, love, love this book. After I read it, I handed it to my husband and he read it in a single sitting one afternoon. Then, I loaned it to a neighbor who also loved it and she is passing it around to several of HER friends! As soon as I get it back, I plan to share with as many friends as possible. It's too amazing NOT to share!

Easy to read; stunning descriptions; definitely a book to share!

I have a girlfriend whose daughter also had a visitation to heaven. I had always encouraged her to write about it. I am so glad this family did! Only those who have never tasted of eternity would doubt the validity of this story.
It has renewed my faith in Father God. If only we would all become as little children without guile and defenses that keep us from receiving the love He wants to pour into us. Bravo Pastor Burpo, I hope the proceeds from the book cover all the expenses you encountered with your Job trials.

Such enjoyable reading in a day when so many doubt whether or not there's an eternal existance beyond here. I think this is a real testimony of what lies ahead for those who have had a personal relationship with Jesus. I couldn't put it down until I read the very last page. I thank God for the encouragement I received from reading this beautiful account from a little boy who experienced a trip to heaven since we have a son who has gone before us.

I recently lost my fiancée unexpectedly to an asthma attack. His mother read this book and it really hit home with her. Although I am not religious like my 'mother-in-law' and don't really buy into Christianity, I did appreciate and enjoy this book, I finished it in a couple hours and even cried a couple times. Whether it is true or not it was a good read. I don't regret reading it, even if I don't necessarily believe in the content.

Todd Burpo is a small town minister that had one rough year. He suffered injuries, illnesses, and even male breast cancer. But, nothing compared to seeing his four year old son, Colton sick in the hospital. The doctors gave no hope and had given up on him. But the “Great Physician” had other plans for the little boy. As the little boy was in surgery, he took a trip that the rest of us cannot understand – he had a round trip ticket to Heaven.

The story revolves around a little boys account of what and whom he saw in heaven. He sat is Jesus’ lap and talked with a baby sister and grandfather he never met. He told of what Heaven looks like and who was there – including Satan.

The account is vivid for a little boy. The book is only 158 pages and is a quick read that will suck you in quickly. I read the book in a matter of hours and really liked it. I am a person of faith and hope that the account is both accurate and sincere. I would recommend the book for a quick summer read if nothing more than to get your mind wondering what Heaven is really like.

Wonderful inspiring book. Quick read - you can't put it down...

This is one of those hyped up over the top books that just didn't live up to expectations. Very simple writing style that tended to be very annoying after the first three chapters. Let me say, I believe the story, it is crediable and I take nothing away from his experience and am in awe of the power and love of God. Just wish the book was better written thats all.

This book was wonderful. Todd Burpo, a small-town minister from Nebraska, encounters the supernatural through the near-death experience of his son Colton, age 4 at the time. Todd tells the story of a series of family hardships, including his son's sudden and life-threatening illness, and Todd's battles with God during that time. He later discovers that God was with Colton during that time, and that Colton experienced a number of extraordinary encounters with the supernatural. Including a firsthand glimpse of heaven. This book will make you laugh and cry, and boost your faith. I would love a follow-up book by the little boy Colton Burpo when he is older, to see if he can recall any of this experience first hand and how it has affected his life. I give this one 5 stars.

This little book is a fast read. A preschooler has an out of body experience during surgery. Later he tells his parents things he's seen and people he's met that he could not have possibly known. Could this be for real? That will be for the reader to decide. The story is delightful and I really enjoyed it.

Seems like nowadays everybody can write a book, with very little to say. Any child whose parents are into extreme religion can tell the same and feel like the only way of becoming a good person is to believe in Jesus and going to heaven. After listening to everyday Bible readings and church sermons, since the first day of your life, what else can a boy say to get Daddy and Mommy's attention and being the good boy? that I was in heaven is one of them, didn't like it, I don't buy the story!

This is an awesome read, could hardly put it down to sleep. True story about a little boy who dies, goes to heaven, but God sends him back, because his work on earth is not done. Still have my copy, getting passed around the family to be read.

I really liked this book.It was so comforting to hear about heaven from a little boy who had died and gone to heaven.I would recommend this book to any one who has questions about dying and going to heaven.How can you not believe after reading this story.Children are Innocent so they have no reason to make up stories.i would say this one you should read you wont be disappointed.

good book. easy read.

Fab book to read soooo true! Amazi spiritual story about this lil boy neardeath have met Jesus. Eye opener book.

What I loved most about this book is the scripture verses that are proof that he really was in Heaven. The message is wonderful and for everyone not just for kids. I think that God used Colton to tell his story of Faith and Belief in Christ so that others may know the truth. As scripture says, the Truth will set you free. I believe the bible is the words of Christ and are the Truth of what Christ wants us to all learn, grow and show the entire world through our actions and deeds.

This book is a must read!! Once I picked it up, I could not put it down...I read the whole book in one reading. It made me cry, laugh and be simply amazed. This is one of the best books I've read in awhile. I highly recommend this book; if your reading this review...READ THE BOOK.

A quick read. Good for family discussion

I had already read this book. It is excellent. But I bought this one thru paperback swap to give to my daughter to read. It was a gift so I do not think she will give it back.

Astounding and awe inspiring .... I had to wait for it to be available, but was mighty worth the wait.

Many friends and family asked to read before I post it for swap, too! Fabulous read.

I truly enjoyed the book. It is amazing what was portrayed in the book from a child's memory. Just goes to prove that God indeed works in mysterious ways!

Amazing book - completely changes your perspective of Heaven. I highly recommend everyone reading this book.

I don't know how anyone could construe this little boy's visit to Heaven as anything but authentic. Everything he told his pastor father squared with Scripture, and was related in a typical, childlike, matter-of-fact way. I was glad for this glimpse of eternity.

i really enjoyed this book was amazed at the things the little guy saw. i had just read the book and than i lost my sister and the book had me doing alot of thinking. i also recommend to all of my relatives

I loved this book. This little boys story is incredible, and gives so much hope.

Awesome book! Very obviously written for the Christian crowd. Enjoyed the detailed descriptions. I think this family is amazing. They turned a really tough experience into an amazing, uplifting story to share with others.

My only complaint about the book is that is does get a little preachy in spots. It's kind of expected though when you find out the guy who wrote it is a Wesleyan pastor!

I always keep a healthy skepticism with these kinds of books, but I have to say, this story was very compelling. Whether you believe the little boy actually was in Heaven or not, it really makes a person consider some deeper questions like 'is there a life after this one that I should be concerned about?' The story is told by the father and is simply his (and his wife's) struggle to understand if the son's story could actually be real. I loved it and thought it was very well done. I highly recommend it.

This book provides hope and encouragement for the living and the dying. I enjoyed reading it, and then I passed it on to a friend.

Extremely inspirational!!

Excellant read and highly recommended. It will affirm your faith that God is with us all.

Well written account of a 4 year old's near death experience and his belief that he was in heaven. 4 stars

Awesome book and an easy read. The honesty that Todd Burpo had with his own doubts were quickly put to rest with what his son said about his trip to heaven. Highly recommend it.

Awesome book!

This is a well-written account of a little boy's serious illness and surgery and his revelation of what and whom he saw in Heaven.

Fantastic !

One of the best!!

Interesting book. Delightful little boy's true experience answers many questions we all have about Heaven.

Colton gives us hope and a sense of peace as he relates his trip to heaven.

This book is required reading for any one that suffering a recent loss. I was dubious about reading it thinkink it might bring back memories of my loss. I'm so glad that I did. It helped me.

Greata book!

It didn't read the way I thought it would and that was a pleasant surprise. It's truly inspiration for people who might be dealing with certain questions about God and what might happen after death.

I loved the book! To think that what this little boy witnessed in Heaven is what is waiting for me is just awesome!

A quick read. Right on for Christians. Written from the father's viewpoint. Will bring you to tears in places. Sometimes the father indicates the boy cannot have known something from scriptures when several times the father also notes that he reads scriptures to the boy daily at bedtime. Still: a good read to be enjoyed and, hopefully, you will be lead where the Spirit leads you after reading.

This book is so amazing! I couldn't put it down! It is a must read for everyone!

Inspirational, touching story of a young boy whose appendix bursts, and his miraculous recovery. While his survival and recovery is miraculous, what's even more amazing, interesting, touching, inspiring (and more) is the story of what happened to him while he was on the operating table. I really liked this book.

This was a quick read and kept my interest all the way through. Amazing story of a little boy who saw Jesus when
he was in surgery. He knew so many things that he had not
been told about and the parents were so amazed they wrote
the book. I sometimes question these kind of stories but this one, I don't. You really love the family as you read and they seem so sincere. You will enjoy this little book and will fall in love with the boy.

cjc

This book was so wonderful! It's a fast read, I read it in two afternoons at work(oops slow days). I couldn't put it down. I don't know how many times I got goosebumps while I read this book. It's a must read! I'm not sure I want to swap it LOL