Book Talk - the five people you meet in heaven

Kelsey Bergman

ENGL 493

Agriss

Book Talk

February 27, 2017

What is this book about? In this novel, an old man and war veteran named Eddie works as a maintenance man for the local amusement park. Eddie learns about the connections with his earthly life in the afterlife. He dies trying to save a little girl from one of the rides and learns what heaven is really like. Eddie’s life is explained to him by five people, all of whom he meets in heaven. These people were a part of his life in one way or another whether he knew them or not. Eddie wakes up in the same place he died; at the amusement park. The first person Eddie meets is a Blue Man. The Blue Man explains that Eddie is in heaven. He soon learns that he is in the Blue Man's heaven. Throughout the rest of the book, when Eddie meets all five people, he is visiting their personal heaven. Eddie learns that he will soon be in his own personal heaven.

Why I chose this text: the first reason is because the first time I read this book I really enjoyed it. The second reason that I chose this text is because it deals with one of the big questions of life: what is the afterlife like and what is heaven like? I read this book my junior year of high school and it really made me think more about how we live out our lives and what we do with our time. That is how the book so interesting. It makes the reader question what they are reading about and question what the author brings up. I think high school ages are the best years to introduce this book because it is an easy read. It is also not too long so it is not one of those books that will take weeks for you and your students to get through. I think many students would find this book interesting like I did because it is one of those page turner books. Once you start the book, you can’t put it down. You must find out what happens to Eddie next.

Please include some teaching ideas. How do you envision this text being used in a secondary classroom? Provide at least 3 specific ideas for what is possible with this text.

Some teaching ideas would be utilizing group discussion. This would be good especially in a secondary classroom. The book does raise a variety of questions and it would be a good idea for the students to talk about the questions they have about the book. This book also brings up a topic that may or may not be difficult for some students to talk about. It is a topic that challenges the norm but at the same time provides learning experience with how we live our life and what we do with our life.

Another idea for teaching this book is simply to read! This book is not very long and the chapters and sections are also on the short side. I think having a book that does not contain so much detail but enough to tell a story and for the reader to enjoy it is a good idea especially for a secondary classroom. Students who do not enjoy reading that much may find this book easier to read. The chapters are short so the students won’t feel like they are trying to remember so much material at once.
This book would also be a good tool to create a writing assignment. I think it offers up enough ideas for students to be able to write a paper. Students can either do research on this book or simply write a paper stating what they learned from the book, what they thought about the book, or what specific detail or moment stood out for them in the book. Being able to express your thoughts is always a good thing, especially in school.

Please consider some obstacles to using this text. What are the potential issues that may arise from using this text? Predict an administrator’s response to the use of this text. Predict parents’ responses. Predict students’ responses.

Some obstacles may be that students’ parents may not like their child reading about a topic like death. They may also be against their child reading about heaven. It all depends on if they have a religious background or not. As a teacher, you must be careful when picking a book for your students. I think these are the only potential issues that might arise but letting the parents know what books you are planning to have the students read for the year is a good idea. That way parents have a heads up on what material is going to be provided. I think an administrator’s response to this text may be more on the positive side as long as you have an appropriate goal for the use of this text. As for students, it is always a hit or miss. Some may enjoy the story and some not so much. But the short chapters in this book could potentially play a positive factor in the students liking the book.

Anything else you think is important for us to know and understand about this text and its use with students.

I think it is important to keep an open mind when you are reading books. Every book you read must be given a chance. This book teaches lessons about life, death, and afterlife. It causes us to think about our life and if we are living it in the way we choose to. Are we doing the things that make us happy? Are we surrounding ourselves with the people we love? I believe it is important to live life with an open mind and can experience everything you want to experience. I think this similar message could be sent to students. They may learn something from this book but as a future teacher, I do hope that every student learns something from every book they read.