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Heaven Is for Real (2010) (edit title/settings)

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

by Todd Burpo (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

A young boy emerges from life-saving surgery with remarkable stories of his visit to heaven.

Heaven Is for Real is the absolutely 100% 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... read more

Summary edit see section history

A year after nearly dying of a burst appendix at age four, Colton Burpo starts talking about his experience. He starts by matter-of-factly telling his parents that the angels sang to him at the hospital. This startling revelation is only the beginning of what turns out to be a story of... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

A year after nearly dying of a burst appendix at age four, Colton Burpo starts talking about his experience. He starts by matter-of-factly telling his parents that the angels sang to him at the hospital. This startling revelation is only the beginning of what turns out to be a story of Colton's visit to Heaven where he met people he couldn't have known, saw God and sat on Jesus' lap. And overall is an amazing trip of his journey!!!! :D

People edit see section history

  • Colton Burpo: Colton almost died of a burst appendix at age four. He tells his story of him meeting Jesus, and sitting on Gods lap. Colton says "I wasn't worried, God said he would keep me safe." In the story it said Colton also found out that his younger sister passed away.
  • Todd Burpo: Colton's Father. The author of the book and a reverand. He writes this story from what Colton told him.
  • Cassie Burpo: Colton's older sister, who is six years old when the story begins.
  • Pop: Todd Burpo's grandfather
  • Sonja Burpo: Colton Burpo's mom. Todd Burpo's wife.
  • Akiane: Another kid who has gone to heaven
  • Rosie: A tarantula spider who lives at Butterfly Pavilion in Colorado. Colton was scared of it, but if you picked it up you could get a sticker.
  • The No-Name Daughter Burpo: A miscarrige daughter of the Burpo family
  • Grandma Ellen Barber: Pop's wife.
  • Kay Burpo: Todd Burpo's mother, Colton Burpo's grandmother.
  • Dr. Timothy O'Holleran: doctor for colten
  • Hubert Caldwell: Uncle to Todd Burpo's mom, Colton's great uncle.
  • Ali: Babysitter that watches Colton and Cassie Burpo while their parents were out.
Show all 13 characters
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Quotes edit see section history

  • “"Dad, nobody's old in heaven," Colton said." And nobody wears glasses”
    Colton Burpo
  • Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers
  • What is childlike humility? It’s not the lack of intelligence, but the lack of guile. The lack of an agenda. It’s that precious, fleeting time before we have accumulated enough pride or position to care what other people might think.
    Highlighted by 4714 Kindle customers
  • It is the opposite of ignorance—it is intellectual honesty: to be willing to accept reality and to call things what they are even when it is hard.
    Highlighted by 3920 Kindle customers
  • “You might as well tell God what you think,” I said. “He already knows it anyway.”
    Highlighted by 3360 Kindle customers
  • “Well, Jesus told me he died on the cross so we could go see his Dad.”
    Highlighted by 2072 Kindle customers
  • “It’s going to be okay. The first person you’re going to see is Jesus.”
    Highlighted by 1819 Kindle customers
  • when I was angry at God because I couldn’t go to my son, hold him, and comfort him, God’s son was holding my son in his lap.
    Highlighted by 1775 Kindle customers
  • “Mom, Satan’s not in hell yet,” Colton said, almost scolding. “The angels carry swords so they can keep Satan out of heaven!”
    Highlighted by 1677 Kindle customers
  • “Dad, Jesus used Dr. O’Holleran to help fix me,” he said, standing at the end of the counter with his hands on his hips. “You need to pay him.”
    Highlighted by 1200 Kindle customers
  • “Dad, nobody’s old in heaven,” Colton said. “And nobody wears glasses.”
    Highlighted by 1159 Kindle customers
  • Akiane Kramarik, who lived in Idaho. Twelve years old at the time of the CNN segment, Akiane (pronounced AH-KEE-AHNA) had begun having “visions” of heaven at the age of four, the e-mail said. Her descriptions of heaven sounded remarkably like Colton’s, and our host’s friends thought we’d be interested in the report.
    Highlighted by 1080 Kindle customers
Show all 11 quotes from this book

Setting & Locations edit see section history

First Sentence edit see section history

The Fourth of July holiday calls up memories of patriotic parades, the savory scents of smoky barbecue, sweet corn, and night skies bursting with showers of light.

Table of Contents edit see section history

Acknowledgements
Prologue: Angels at Arby's
1- The Crawl-A-See-Um
2- Pastor Job
3- Colton Toughs It Out
4- Smoke Signals
5- Shadow of Death
6- North Platte
7- "I Think This Is It"
8- Raging at God
9- Minutes Like Glaciers
10- Prayers of a Most Unusual Kind
11- Colton Burpo, Collection Agent
12- Eyewitness to Heaven
13- Lights and Wings
14- On Heaven Time
15- Confession
16- Pop
17- Two Sisters
18- The Throne Room of God
19- Jesus Really Loves the Children
20- Dying and Living
21- The First Person You'll See
22- No One Is Old in Heaven
23- Power From Above
24- Ali's Moment
25- Swords of the Angels
26- The Coming War
27- Someday We'll See
Epílogue
Timeline of Events
Notes
About the Burpos
About Lynn Vincent

Glossary edit see section history

  • Intrigued: Arouse the curiosity or interest of; fascinate.
  • Humility: A modest or low view of one's own importance; humbleness.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 9 of 16 in New York Times Bestsellers - Hardcover Nonfiction (Current). (authoritative list)
This is book 3 of 20 in New York Times Bestsellers - Paperback Nonfiction (Current). (authoritative list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Todd Burpo (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Inc.
Country: USA
Publication Date: November 2010
ISBN: 0849946158
Page Count: 187

Classification edit see section history

  • Library of Congress: BT846.3.B87 2010
  • Dewey: 133.9013092

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Young Adults

From my own experience of just finishing the book I recommend this to 13-15. Not younger than that because you have to have a background knowledge of God, Jesus and what heaven really is all about. I was fascinated by this story and I hope that your 13-15 year old does too. it is also a very inspirational read for adults too!

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • 90 Minutes in Heaven
  • 23 Minutes in Hell
  • Daily Devotions Inspired by 90 Minutes in Heaven
  • The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven
  • My Time in Heaven
  • Flight to Heaven

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