Heaven

Heaven
by Angela Johnson
Simon & Schuster, 1998. 138 pgs. Young Adult

Fourteen-year-old Marley is enjoying life in Heaven, Ohio. She loves her parents and little brother, is entertained by letters from her uncle Jack, and has good friends in Bobby and Shoogy. However, when a family secret surfaces, Marley has to adjust to a completely new way of thinking about the world.

Although this is part of a trilogy, this book can also be read as a stand-alone. A Coretta Scott King award-winning novel, this is one that draws the reader in emotionally as Marley has to work through this change in her life, yet unlike some novels, there is not an overwhelming amount of teenage angst. The cast of characters are lovable all in their own ways. Johnson offers readers a beautifully written and heartwarming story.

AE