Customer Reviews

Heartsongs

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

You cannot believe this book and young 11 year old author. For his remarkable story see VSPbooks.com. Amazon has the best price, but his story is worth reading on VSP. I saw him on Book Talk show on c-Span Sept, 1st, and could not believe my ears and eyes. He is in Children's Hosp. in Maryland. His mom lives therE with him. She was diagnosed with a form of MD in 1992, Lost 2 children from it aT a young age, and now has 3 others who were also born with it. Mattie is the writer...mom does research and writes technical material, and is very well spoken, but it is the boy's command of the English Language and his self-expression that is nohing short of ASTOUNDING...read the book and weep....with joy and inspiration. There is no way of knowing how long he will live, nor his siblings, as it is progressive. Another book is coming out in Sept,

Mattie's wisdom is far beyond his years. What a gifted soul. Thank you, Mattie, for sharing your poetry with us. I wish you longevity and great happiness, and I look forward to reading more 'heartsongs' in the years to come. I also recommend a little book of wisdom by another young man who is wise beyond his years - "Open Your Mind, Open Your Life" by Taro Gold. Both Mattie and Taro are humble young sages with the faces of boys but the hearts of philosophers.

Mattie is an inspiration and the true peacemaker he aspires to be. I am so moved by the natural gift that he has been blessed with. While reading this collection of 20 poems, you have to keep reminding yourself that this was written when he was just 5 years old. Awesome!The life experience that this young man has had, rings through loud and clear in this collection of feelings. Children will love this book, and adults will be moved. Thank you to VSP books for giving us the gift of Mattie! Can't wait for more!

Honestly...all of those who want to place poets in a general "poetry" category. Poetry is not a race to place one person at the top of a long list of other poets he or she supercede. Anyone who believes in qualifying great writers that easily is not a student of literature.

To try and compare Mattie Stepanek to Sylvia Plath (or Sharon OLDS) is to try and compare Mattie's life to Sylvia's or Sharon's. Or to Shakespeare's. Motivations, inspirations, era, context...all alter the development of a writing style. Great works are determined not by comparing works line by line, but by gathering all elements of the writer's life and placing them within context of what the writer composed. At 13, Mattie had composed thousands of poems, and passed away after living his life, though burdened, to the fullest extent. At 13, Sylvia Plath was beginning her foray into writing that would haunt and torture her to her suicidal death.

Mattie WAS an amazing writer--his style is simple, yet evocative, and sometimes brutally honest. He doesn't mince words or disguise his hope or hurt with difficult metaphor. Burdened by a disease that made writing--nay, LIVING--difficult, he confronted it with a passion exemplified in his writings. Can you compare him to Shakespeare, Byron, Yeats? In some ways yes--his life influenced his art--in some ways no--he only lived to be 13, while the others struggled through the pangs of adolescence, through heartbreak, through adulthood's love and loss--not to mention a lifetime of literary study, while Mattie had but 8 years, at the most. But he WILL be remembered, like Shel Silverstein will be remembered, because the quality of his poetry is remarkable for who he WAS.

Please don't pretend that an overexuberance for modern or contemporary era poets makes your knowledge of writers superior to that of others. Those who run about flaunting their "intelligence" are often incapable of understanding true intellect. Being intelligent is not reading what you believe are "great" writers, it understanding that greatness exists at all levels, if you are capable of finding it.

For those reading this to consider Heartsongs, the collection of books ARE remarkable. Mattie Stepanek's understanding of the fragility of life, death, and hope are often mind-boggling, particularly when you consider he composed some of these poems before he could write. At three, he not only comprehended the death of his sibling, he coped with it, wrote about it, and wrote about it quite WELL. He understood his own predicament and continued to find hope in everything he pursued, until the end of his life. Heartsongs was appreciated long before Mattie passed away, as it should have been, and as it should continue to be.

"Heartsongs" is not a very long book, but it is a book that will touch your heart. Mattie Stepanek was only eleven years old when he wrote "Heartsongs", and he has endured much pain and grief in his short life. He has seen three of his siblings pass away from a rare form of muscular dystrophy, and he suffers from the same condition. Echoes of Mattie's pain can be found in some of his poems, but they are mainly dominated by a sense of love for everything in the universe and a deep desire for world peace. Mattie wants to be a peacemaker, and his poems are filled with peace and childhood wonder. Sometimes the deepest wisdom comes from children, and that is very true about this beautiful book of poems. This book leaves you with the thought that beauty is in the eye of the beholder; and in the heart of hearts.

Mattie's ability to express gratitude and grief with poetry and painting is extraordinary! His hand-painted illustrations are touching and bring an innocence to his profound wit and wisdom. Throughout the book readers see whimsical pink hearts with black musical notes dancing about, his coined "Heartsongs." Mattie says "If you believe in magical, musical hearts, and if you believe you can be happy, then you, too will hear your song."

Tears of joy and sorrow will fill your heart and eyes when you read "Journey Through Heartsongs," a literary gift of spirit and optimism for all ages. Mattie is guardian angel... a miracle kid whose wise soul shines peace, like beams of psychedelic lights in a rainbow.

Mattie brought me back to the feelings of childhood truth and honesty through his simple, beautiful observations and dialogue on the Oprah Show aired 10-19-01. Thank you for being a living, breathing, trophy of strength, courage and beauty. You are a reminder that God is all around us. This book is worth every penny. Thank you for fighting and sharing your peace Mattie!

Mattie's poems are truly heart songs. You can almost hear God through Mattie's words.

Mattie is a god-send. He was sent here to touch the world with his spirit- and that is just what he has done. His incredible poetry fills me with a sence of wonder. I found myself wrapped up in all of his teachings. His courage, his hope for the future. He has come to send a message of peace. Anyone who takes the time to read this book will know exatly what I'm talking about. Thank you Mattie, for showing me the way.

If ever anyone needed proof that the little "spark" within us that separates us from inanimate objects is timeless and can be crammed with wisdom it is this small book Heartsongs. It's a book adults AND children can read, savor, ponder, and re-again.

It's a book that can be read to a child, or a child can read. It's a book that adults NEED to read -- to reconnect with what's important and what we (adults) often fail to appreciate.

For 12-year old Mattie J.T. Stepanek not only "smells the roses" but he writes about doing so, and his short poems show how he enjoys and appreciates everything on this earth (and beyond). He was born with a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy and this year is the national ambassador for MDA -- but his illness is NOT why this is a great book.

Heartsongs is the first volume of his poetry, which he started writing at age three. It is the simplest. Each heartfelt "heartsong" is a straightforward, yet profound verse on topics that many people take for granted, or just don't think about as they worry about their bills (adults) or when they'll get Playstation II (kids). This book contains his MANY poems on the senses (among these The Smell of a Noise, Angels-Wings), the seasons (among these Leaf for a Day, Important Things, The Eye of the Beholder -- a WONDERFUL observation about when people weed flowers from the point of the flower) and celebrations (Being Thankful, Circle of Happiness).

This is a poet who is wise WAY beyond his years. And this volume represents his EARLY poetry (he deals with more complex subjects such as the deaths of his siblings in another volume, which clearly represents some of the later poems which again are wonderful for ALL AGES).

Can I give this book 10 stars?

PS: He appeals to everyone. I love this book so much I read another of his books. And when I showed Heartsongs to 6 year old Kayla she immediately siezed it and began to read. Even though I had to help her a bit, she wanted to keep reading more. Read it, lend it, gift it; his message is simple but profound.