Heaven is For RealBy Todd Burpo

Charlie HattasReading Miss Roche

Period 35/11/12

AUTHOR

Todd Burpo is the husband of Sonja and the father of Cassie, Colton, and Colby Burpo. Todd is a pastor of Crossroads Wesleyen Church in Imperial, Nebraska. His sermons are broadcasted locally every Sunday on the local radio station. He also works at Chase County Public Schools as a wrestling coach and as a member of the school board. Todd also – in times of emergency – works as a firefighter for the Imperial Volunteer Fire Department. I think Todd Burpo was very courageous and brave when Colton ruptured his appendix. He is now on the list for one of my role models.

SUMMARY

One day, Colton Burpo’s stomach began hurting. His mother and father thought that he just had the stomach flu. It turned out that Colton’s appendix had ruptured. At the hospital, the doctors and surgeons did all they could to help Colton, but from their looks, Colton’s father new that Colton wasn’t going to make it. Colton’s dad prayed hard to God for a miracle, and then that prayer was answered. Colton was alive! He miracuosly survived. Even the doctors were surprised at what had happened. At the Burpo house, everything was back to normal, until one day. Colton’s dad asked Colton what it was like at the hospital and Colton replied, “That’s where the angels sang to me.”

CHARACTERS

Main Characters:

Todd Burpo – the father of Colton – husband of Sonja – pastor – has a strong belief in God

Sonja Burpo – the mother of Colton – wife of Todd – very brave and loving

Cassie Burpo – sister of Colton – oldest child in the familyColton Burpo – had his appendix ruptured – went to heaven and

back – had bravery when going through his treatmentsColby Burpo – brother of Colton and Cassie – the youngest – had

a sense of humor and always liked to joke around

CHARACTERS CONTINUED

Supporting Characters:

Pop – Todd Burpo’s grandfather – met Colton in heaven – was very handsome when he was young – Todd liked Pop better than his father – owned a farm where Todd liked to visit

PLOT

Intro- Colton feels sick and his parents think he has the stomach flu- Colton’s parents take him to a hospital because the “stomach flu”

was actually a broken appendixRising Action- At the hospital, everything seems hopeless- Colton’s dad prays hard and so does his mom- They gather together some people from their church to pray for

ColtonClimax- It turned out that Colton survived!- He miraculously turned out to be okay- Even the doctors were astonished with the news

PLOT CONTINUED

Falling Action- Over the months, Colton tells his parents how he had been to

heaven and back- Everyone in heaven has wings and is young- Jesus has a crown and a purple sash- God sits on a throne, Jesus sits on the right, and Gabriel the

angel sits on the left- Colton also saw Pop, Colton’s dad’s grandfatherConclusion- Colton concludes that a war is coming between Jesus and Satan

and that Todd has to fight in it- He tells his dad not to worry because Jesus will win, like he

always does

VOCABULARY

- Appendix n. - a tube-shaped sac attached to and opening into the lower end of the large intestine in humans and some other mammals. – “Your on has a ruptured appendix,” he said. – page 37

- Gurney n. - A wheeled stretcher used for transporting hospital patients. – In the surgical prep room, Sonja laid Colton on a gurney, kissed his forehead, and stepped away as a nurse closed in with an IV bag and a needle – page 37

- Deductible n. - A specified amount of money that the insured must pay before an insurance company will pay a claim. – “There’s a $3,200 deductible.” – page 54

VOCABULARY CONTINUED

- Glum n. - Looking or feeling dejected; morose. – He looked a little glum when he said this. – page 72

- Capacity n. - The maximum amount that something can contain. – But we hadn’t told Colton, judging the topic was a bit beyond a four-year-old’s capacity to understand

ACTORS

Todd Burpo played by Sonja Burpo played by Ryan Phillipe

Katie Holmes

ACTORS

Cassie Burpo played by Colton Burpo played by Joey King Jonathan Lipnicki

ACOTRS

Colby Burpo played by Pop played by George McCarthy Walter Matthau

MUSIC

– “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” by Guns N’ RosesI would have this song in a scene when Colton takes his last

breath and dies.– “Stairway to Heaven” by Led ZepplinI would put this song in a scene where Colton is floating up into

heaven.

RATING

I rate this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

I give Heaven Is For Real a 4.5 out of 5 stars because I really liked the story. It was very interesting. I wonder what it would be

like if I went up to heaven and cam back. That would be pretty cool. I would get to see Jesus and all the angels. The

thing I didn’t like about the story was that it wasn’t as detailed as other books I’ve read. Otherwise, Heaven Is For Real is a

really good book.