Customer Reviews

Hope Through Heartsongs

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

The work and words of Mattie are beautifully inspiring. Much more so than the unnecessary negative commentary to tear down the hope of a child, along with all others Mattie's work is inspiring to keep on, despite tremendous obstacles, illness and pain.
Mattie's poetry is heartfelt, genuine, and filled with promise for those who may have lost all hope of their own.
KEEP GOING MATTIE! Your work is beautiful, inspiring, needed, and YOU are a treasure.

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.

Young poet Mattie J.T. Stepanek does it again. In Hope Through Heartsongs he takes his already wise, visionary, and layered poetry a step FURTHER. In his two previous Heartsongs books he showed that he was astoundingly wise (and talented) beyond his years, or beyond any years for that matter. Just take his two past books and multiply the wisdom and talent multifold -- and you have Hope Through Heartsongs.

When does this young artist and self-proclaimed peace-maker's incredible personal growth STOP?? There's absolutely no sign of it yet.

Indeed, Hope Through Heartsongs, clearly originally in the works before 911 took place, includes an up-to-date introduction by Mattie: "We cannot let sad or traumatic events, or even acts of terror, be the death of hope,' he writes. "That is why this book explores these issues and finds that in spite of each struggle, we can and will find hope if we choose to do so."

And he has clearly chosen to do so, and to urge others with every fiber of his being to make the same choice. By now you may know the story: he has muscular dystrophy and
lost all of his three siblings to the same disease. Several poems deal with his losses, his thinking through the death's meaning and possibility, and pondering life's meaning -- and
opportunities. One of the most touching poems is "Walking Again,' a reflection on the situation, changes and his wishes upon discovering that his beloved mother could no longer walk or playfully toss him in the air.

Yet his poems are not "downers" but about hope and peace, with titles such as Beyond the Pain, Bravery Prayer, On Saying Goodbye, Examination of Faith, Just Peace, The Bigger Picture, Believing in Someday -- and many more. He dedicates this book to "all people who are struggling to find hope" and divides it into three sections: Hope for Within, Hope for Each Other, Hope for Our World.

People are WRONG who call Mattie a great child poet. He is a great POET...period. In another culture he'd be a guru and would have followers far and wide. Why? Because Mattie Stepanek just doesn't speak from the brain, or even from the heart, but from deep within his soul....a very old, experienced and wise soul.

Mattie is truly a remarkable writer of prose and poetry. He will tug at your heart and mind with every page. I have given this book to friends who are experiencing health problems. I believe he can lift anyone spirits with this book.

Reader in Chicago just doesn't understand. Perhaps he should like to trade places with Mattie for even a day.

Mattie Stepanek is amazing! His writing is insightful, his
thoughts very deep for such a young age. I have been moved to
tears and have taken his books to work and have read his poetry aloud to anyone who will listen. Hope Through Heartsongs is every bit as good as earlier books. Mattie is a prolific and
wonderful writer!

I read this book called HOPE Through Heartsong is a good book .One of the poems is called "A day at mommy's work" "I was playing with mommy's work friends we ran up and dnow the halls in and out of doors then my heart was beeting fast and I said to my mommy put on my oxyen mask so I could berth". I like that part because he dose not say we ran up and dnow the halls and we left he is saying that he has a heart problom and he has to face it every day and I like that if someone wants to raed apart in the book he always has one of his poems on the back that you can raed so you do not have to look it side and that is why I read this book.