Hope Through Heartsongs [Hardcover]

Mattie J. T. Stepanek (Author), Gary Zukav (Foreword)

Book Description

The award-winning bestselling poetry of 11-year-old Mattie Stepanek has touched the lives of hundreds and thousands of people. From Heartsongs, to Vietnam War Memorial, to Prayer for a Journey, Mattie has written movingly and courageously about life and death, love and loss, faith and hope, innocence and joy. His struggle with a rare form of muscular dystrophy has given him wisdom and insight, and his life, work, and message have been recognized by Oprah, National Public Radio, The Washington Post, ABC TV’s Good Morning America, People, NBC TV’s the Today show, and C- PAN’s BookTV.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The celebrated child Mattie J.T. Stepanek continues his internationally inspiring poetry with Hope Through Heartsongs. For those who haven't followed Stepanek's rise to fame, this young phenomenon writes poetry that is wise beyond his years and has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and Larry King Live. Indeed, as Gary Zukav marvels in the book's foreword, Stepanek's wisdom seems to extend beyond what most human beings master in a lifetime. "A heartsong is something deep inside each of us," Mattie Stepanek explains in his introduction. "It's our sense of why we are here and how we can keep going. It's like a purpose. It may be to live as a mommy or a daddy, or a firefighter or a delivery person, or a child with a disability who teaches others about patience and love and acceptance."

As a child living with muscular dystrophy who has lost all three of his siblings to the same disease, Stepanek knows the landscape of loss and grief. How easy it would be to wallow in despair, yet Stepanek has chosen hope--not the wide-eyed hope of the innocent, but the hope consciously chosen in the face of human suffering and troubling global problems. Many believe that global healing has to start with the little people and move its way up to the leaders. What better place to begin than with the words of this amazing child?

You may be tall
I may be small,
But inside we are the same
length of strength
--Mattie J.T. Stepanek, June 1998

--Gail Hudson

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School-Teens will be touched by the poetic observations of this preteen author. Both he and the words he chooses are exceptional in many ways. Stepanek has a rare form of muscular dystrophy, but his writing and positive outlook are more powerful than his physically debilitating disease. Readers are introduced to his views about illness, imagery, relationships, peace, prayer, fear, and perseverance. All are filled with hope, reflecting his philosophy to "remember to play after every storm." A selection written on and about September 11, 2001, is included. A few illustrations are added to the mix of poems, which are dated by month and year.
Karen Sokol, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 76 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; First Printing edition (April 3, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786869445
• ISBN-13: 978-0786869442
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #402,449 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #78 in Books > Children's Books > Religions > Inspirational

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Wisdom of Youth, April 8, 2002

By 

Tom R. (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hope Through Heartsongs (Hardcover)

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.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Matties Light and Words Will Live Forever, July 14, 2004

By 

Barbara Rose (BornToInspire.com) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hope Through Heartsongs (Hardcover)

I just learned of Mattie's physical passing, and I must salute this brave, caring, and genuine soul for his profound work, inner strength, words of heart, soul and wisdom, as well as his example to triumph over adversity.
Mattie's work did this. His poetry is a beacon in the dark that will endure forever. His spirit is priceless. His heartfelt compassion is an everlasting beacon in the dark for those who have lost all hope of their own.
May all who are suffering find solace in the work and words of a child who wrote from the depths of his heart to uplift the lives of others.
Mattie's beautiful work will certainly live on forever.

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The powerful sequel to Journey Through Heartsongs., April 2, 2002

By 

"shayamorph" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hope Through Heartsongs (Hardcover)

Mattie Stepanek, the young poet and peacemaker who wants to spread peace throughout the world through his poems, returns in Hope Through Heartsongs, a powerful book that speaks through the voice of a young child and reveals the powerful message of hope in many touching ways. It is a book that can be enjoyed by about everyone, not simply because it is a special book, but because it is written by a young and very special person. From age three and beyond, Mattie's poems reflect positive and sometimes sad meanings, in which he wants people to understand the simplicities of life with a newer, more hopeful meaning. The poems are all written with power and feeling, and they are very touching in their own ways. It is obvious that he is very gifted person who views his suffering as a message more than as pain. My favorite poems in this book were "Beyond the Pain",Possession"
and "Only One", just a select few of some of the powerful poems that can be found in this book. Mattie's poems also speak about the subjects of terrorism, and more so on the recent national tragedies in some of his poems. Hope Through Heartongs must be read especially if you have read his previous two books, Heartsongs and Journey Through Heartsongs. But even if you haven't read any of Mattie Stepanek's previous Heartsongs books, Hope Through Heartsongs will still manage to capture your heart and amaze you with the brilliance and wisdom of a person who, someday, may accomplish the dream of worldwide peace through the messages he has presented in his three wonderful books.