Student Reviews | Library | High School | District

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom, reviewed by Brienne K.

The Five People You Meet in Heaven is one book that truly deserved to be a number one New York Times Bestseller. The author, Mitch Albom, is truly a literary genius, given one of his previous international bestselling books Tuesdays With Morrie. He tells in The Five People You Meet in Heaven a fantastic tale about a man who dies trying to save a little girl, and then discovers himself in heaven.

The beginning of the novel is interesting because most books do not start at the end of somebody’s life. But this book isn’t most books. Eddie is at Ruby Piers, the amusement park in which he spent most of his life. It is an ordinary day until one of the rides, Freddy’s Free Fall, breaks down and Eddie tries to save a little girl that the ride is going to fall onto. Eddie goes into heaven, where he sees five people that tell Eddie facts about his life. Eddie is left to understand these facts and put them all together. Of central importance and culminating in the fifth person in his journey in heaven is that he stops blaming Marguerite, his wife, for leaving him. Overall, he learns that his life had an essential purpose.

This novel is a great characterization of a man. It thoroughly goes into the events and people that shaped his life. Then, it furthers the study by explaining his life to him through more events and actions. The reader will grow to love and sympathize with Eddie. The book is also well written, interesting, and immersing.

Some people may get a little annoyed by the novel. Frequent flashbacks are made to his past wife, Marguerite. However, it is only at the end that the reader actually gets to meet Marguerite and the anticipation is bothersome. Others may not understand Mitch Albom’s ideas, such as Christian conservatives.

Overall, this book deserves four stars. The Five People You Meet in Heaven is an excellent idea that transpired into an amazing book. It makes you think about the reason you were placed on earth and the people who have influenced your life.