Hi everyone, this week’s post has a title that’s better suited for the teenager in your life. I had read this book some time ago when all I wanted to do was read everything by Wendy Mass! And truly, she really is a master storyteller!! Have a sit down, call that teenager of yours, and delve into this post together…
Title: Heaven looks a lot like the mall
Author: Wendy Mass
Genre: Fiction – contemporary
Publication details: Little, Brown & Co; NY; 2008
ISBN: 97803160585086
What this book is about: When sixteen-year-old Tessa suffers a shocking accident in gym class, she finds herself in heaven (or what she thinks is heaven), which happens to bear a striking resemblance to her hometown mall. Written entirely in verse, this tale pays homage to the traditional style of A Christmas Carol, and takes young Tessa on a journey throughout her young life up until the moment she gets hurt. She sees some things she’d rather forget, learns some things about herself she’d rather not know, and ultimately must find the answer to one burning question – if only she knew what the questions were.
My review: This was an engaging and thought-provoking read!! Captivated by the witty verse that made this story, I don’t know how, but I whizzed through it within a day!! Despite the familiar setting of having to relive her life to date, the voice of young Tessa gives this read a modern feel. I remember that I did cry a few times during this but other times I was rolling my eyes!! Wendy Mass created an interesting character in Tessa and the different format of writing gave it an extra layer of sorts.
The part that stayed with me was this little bit: “Our lives are shaped by the future / Not by the past. Once you decide / How you want your life to be, / All you need to do / is live into the future.” It felt as if you were a dealt with life lessons at every turn of the page.
A good read recommended for teenagers!
My rating: 4 ⭐
Miss Mahee's Library of Reads 