Heaven Is For Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back

By Todd Burpo, with Lynn Vincent

In the opening prologue, we meet the Burpo family as they face a revelation that their three-year-old son, Colton, who nearly died from surgery after his appendix ruptured, had died and gone to Heaven and returned to share details of what it was like.

As the book progresses, Colton shares more and more details of his time in Heaven with Jesus, the angels, his stillborn sister, and his grandfather (a youthful version of himself).

This was our Tuesday Night Book Club book for December and I was looking forward to reading it; however, as I read it I began to doubt many of Colton’s “revelations” as written by his minister father. The boy's story became more specific over the years, and in some ways stranger.

We had a terrific discussion about this book and our concepts of Heaven, the validity of Colton’s account, his father’s influence and motivation for the book, and the negative reviews about the book.

It is worth reading as a starting point for a discussion about the afterlife.

~ Paula

Dying to Know You

By Aiden Chambers

Young Adult Book

Budding writer Fiorella asks shy Karl, who is in love with her, to answer a series of questions in a letter. He convinces her favorite author to help him. The results are, of course, not what anyone expects; and misunderstandings lead to new revelations, near tragedy, and transformation.

~ Sue

Beautiful Winter: Holiday Wreaths, Garlands & Decorations for Your Home & Table

By Edle Catharina Norman

This little book is full of sweet ideas for holiday wreaths and adornments. The author gives complete supply lists and detailed instuctions. Even if, like me, you are not a craft-y person, you will enjoy the photos of these nature-inspired creations and may be tempted to try one or two.

~ Linda

Juliet in August

By Dianne Warren

Juliet in August takes place on one summer day in a small town in Saskatchewan. The author takes us to Juliet for a short visit and introduces us to the people who reside there. Everyone knows everyone, perhaps more than they should. Though nothing earthshaking happens, the overlapping stories of the town people are full of joy, sorrow, and life's complications. The author has mastered the art of interweaving the life stories of the residents of Juliet. The result is an engaging account of one day in the life of remarkable, ordinary people who could well be your neighbors.

I am glad I got to spend a day in Juliet.

~ Kathy

Dear Me: A letter to my sixteen-year-old self

By Joseph Galliano

This book is a bit older than those we typically blog about (first published in January 2011), but I just discovered it hiding on our adult non-fiction shelves: 808.883 DEA. Dear Me is a collection of letters written by seventy-five celebrities to their sixteen-year-old selves. These letters contain advice, words of warning, and encouragement. Some will make you laugh, and some will make you cry. With the span of entertainers from singers and musicians to writers and actors, both young and old, you will recognize several people featured in the book regardless of your stage in life. J.K. Rowling has written the forward.

Every letter is visually different with some neatly typed and others handwritten on notebook paper with accompanying doodles. This book is humorous and touching for adults and would be very appealing to teens as well.

~ Paula

The Inn Boonsboro Trilogy

By Nora Roberts

If you are ready for a little escape from reality, these quick, feel-good reads are just the ticket. The Inn Boonsboro is an old, dilapidated inn in the town of Boonsboro, Maryland. In the first book of the trilogy, The Next Always, the inn is being beautifully renovated by the 3 gorgeous Montgomery brothers. There is romance in each book as each brother falls for one of three women best friends. Clare owns the book store, Avery owns the pizza shop, and Hope is the innkeeper hired to run Inn Boonsboro. The characters are kind, good, hard-working people and the plots move along quickly. There is even some Civil War history and a sweet ghost thrown in. The second book is The Last Boyfriend and the third title is The Perfect Hope.

~ Linda

Scarlet

By A. C. Gaughen

A YA Novel

Robin Hood’s right-hand man is, unbeknown to most, a female; a female handy with throwing knives. Known as Scar for the long scar down her face, she hides herself well- as well as she hides secrets. Unfortunately, the arrival of Guy of Gisbourne not only brings many more hardships for the local citizens and consequent challenges for Robin and his small band, but may be Scar’s undoing; her personal secrets may have to be sacrificed to save Robin.

~ Sue

The Raven Boys

By Maggie Stiefvater

Written for young adults, The Raven Boys is the story of Blue Sargent, a 16-year-old girl from Henrietta, Virginia who lives with her single mom plus her mom's friends, all of whom are psychics. Though Blue is not a psychic, she was born with the ability to enhance psychic energy. Blue lives near the exclusive boys' high school Aglionby and has always prided herself on staying away from those rich boys. Through amazing circumstances, Blue becomes friends with four of those Aglionby boys and is especially drawn to Gansey, who is obsessed with a supernatural quest. But, Blue has been told her whole life that she can't ever kiss her true love because she will cause him to die. I really liked Blue and her gang of boys and enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot. I'm looking forward to the sequel.

~ Linda

Notorious Nineteen

By Janet Evanovich

I don't think there's a single Stephanie Plum book I don't like, reading one is like eating a candy bar--it's quick and really great while it lasted. With over 20 books in this series, there does emerge a recurring pattern but the characters are so enjoyable I don't really mind. Nineteen was no different, with bounty hunter Stephanie (and Lula) chasing after FTAs (failure to appear) and getting all her cars blown up. If you've never read any of this series you could jump right in the middle and not be too lost, but it is so much more satisfying to begin with "One for the Money" (once you get past the whole Jersey attitude thing). In Nineteen, Stephanie does a little more self-psychology on her place in life, and I get the feeling that we may not see too many more of the Plum series. The book doesn't "end" but there is a weird cozy finality to it that made me feel that way--it could end here and I'd be happy. But who knows, there may be many more due to the release of the movie "One for the Money."

Ranger-Babe

~ Becky

The Casual Vacancy

By J. K. Rowling

The fictional village of Pagford is the setting for J. K. Rowling's much-anticipated first novel for adults. "The Casual Vacancy" begins with the sudden death of parish council member Barry Fairbrother, which unearths the bitterness of political turmoil that has been present for forty years. The story is very dark as it reveals the secrets of each family in the village. Not intended for the young fans of Harry Potter, it contains murder, rape, drug addiction, and child neglect in addition to the explicit language and graphic descriptions of sexual acts. While I typically enjoy Rowling's writing and the worlds that she creates, this book was too dark and severe for me.

~ Paula

Shadow and Bone

By Leigh Bardugo

YA Book

Orphaned in the border ward, Alina and Mal grew up best of friends. Even as cartographer and tracker for the army, they still have each other’s back. When Aline saves Mal using a dormant power, the Darkling notices and whisks her off to train with the magical elite because he believes her to be the Sun Summoner who will work with him to save the country, or so he says. However, Aline discovers his true intent which will enslave her to help bring not only their own country, but all the neighboring countries as well, under his power. Can she escape, and will the army’s best tracker, Mal, be her undoing? Will they be able to save each other- again?

~ Sue

Band of Sisters

By Cathy Gohlke

It’s 1910 in New York City. Maureen O’Reilly is running from a difficult and shameful life in Ireland. All she wants is to have a respectable job and to care for herself and her younger sister. Joshua Keeton is a young man from her hometown who sails to America on the same ship and wants to help and watch out for them. Maureen doesn’t want to depend on anyone else to succeed. She finds that not only is it a struggle to get through Ellis Island, soon she discovers that their benefactor is deceased and his family wants nothing to do with her. Maureen falls into a trap of lies to secure a position at a department store, only to learn that it is a front for a human trafficking ring. She finds herself in a very dangerous position and she has to step out in faith to trust Joshua and her new friends to help her and her two missing co-workers.

~ Dixie

Keeping the Castle

By Patrice Kindl

A YA book

Althea accepts the fact that she must rely on her wits and beauty to catch and marry a wealthy man in order to support her family and retain the family’s tumbling down castle for her younger brother. There is a decided lack of such suitors in her small 19th century Yorkshire town, and she managed to bungle the closest prospect. The new neighbor, Lord Boring, is a likely candidate, but his bungling cousin keeps getting in the way, and her stingy step-sisters must be tricked into paying for a new roof (with the help of some healthy rats).

~ Sue

San Miguel

By T.C. Boyle

Off the coast of California lies San Miguel Island. It is a harsh, rainy, hilly piece of land suitable only for raising sheep. The author creates a tale of the lives of 3 women who lived on this desolate little island.

The novel has 3 parts. The book starts in the 1880's and tells of island life into the 1940's. It centers on the satisfactions and frustrations of the women who live at different times on San Miguel. Some enjoy the rugged life, others do not. Their stories are gripping, the characters real, and the writing is beautiful.

~ Kathy

Darth Vader and Son

By Jeffrey Brown

A Children's & YA Book

While this book is listed in the children's graphic novel section, it can be appreciated just as much by a Star Wars adult fan. Let's be honest, I was laughing out loud and running off to find my husband to read some of the pages to him. In the book, Darth Vader is going through the usual trials of raising and taking care of his young son Luke--not quite keeping with the Lucas timeline but it doesn't matter. What makes it funny is every page has a reference to one of the Star Wars movies mixed in with well-known banter you have with a child. Any Star Wars fan will love this tiny book. It is such a unique perspective that I haven't seen before in all the Star Wars material out there.

~ Becky