Customer Reviews

Messenger: The Legacy of Mattie J.T. Stepanek and Heartsongs

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"Messenger" tells the story of Mattie Stepanek, the poet and peace advocate who died of a rare form of muscular dystrophy just before his fourteenth birthday in 2004. The book is written by Mattie's mother, Jeni, who lost her three other children to the same disease and, sadly, has an adult onset form of it herself.

What struck me most about Mattie were his preternatural powers, this child-sage who announced that he wanted to be remembered as "a poet, a peacemaker, and a philosopher who played." He was all of that and more, having sold more than two million books of his Heartsongs poetry, co-authored a book on peace with former President Jimmy Carter, and achieved celebrity status himself by forming friendships and appearing with Oprah Winfrey, Larry King, and others. Mattie believed he was a messenger from God, and in his eulogy, Jimmy Carter called him an angel. Reading this book is enough to make you agree.

A quote that I cannot find or attribute was running through my mind while reading this book. It says the problem is not that people die but what dies in them while they live. What this book does so powerfully for adults is reacquaint them with that time in childhood when they were a prophet, before they were trained, conditioned, and shamed out of that best part of themselves in order to adapt to the "real" world. This book and Mattie's legacy teach us to rediscover this part our ourselves and bring it back into the light.

If inspiration is your need, "Messenger" is the story for you. It takes us through the amazing life of Mattie in a way only a mother could tell us. His life will inspire and help many in the decades to come.

Jeni Stepanek brings the disease of " Dysautonomic Mitochondrial Myopathy" to the forefront of our thoughts. We will forever be indebted to her for telling us about this terrible disease.

Mattie, you are giving and giving beyond your young life.


Author of: Mr. NewHeart - Heart Attack to Transplant and Beyond

I just finished reading Jeni Stepanek's wonderful biography of Mattie Stepanek's life and message. The novel beautifully outlines Mattie's trials and tribulations throughout his difficult life as told by his mother. This book shows that Mattie's message of hope and peace is universal and still pertinent in today's world. Jeni Stepanek has captured how Mattie came to be a peacemaker in his life through a superb narrative. This book is well worth your time and will truly change your perspective on life. Buy It!
~ A Fan and Supporter

I read this book in two sittings. Having a hard time reading it through the tears. These tears are mostly from the overwhelming joy I felt from Jeni (Mattie's Mom). How proud I know that she is of not only Mattie but also of her other three children afflicted with this fatal disease. I felt her pain, her Joy, and her love as a mother. I sat with our nine year old son and read some of Mattie's poetry and explained what message Mattie was spreading. Again, crying and knowing how fortunate I am to share this story with all our children. I will teach our children Mattie's message of peace, love, and of course playing after a storm. Mattie will live in our hearts forever and we are so blessed that God let us borrow Mattie long enough to hear his message. My children will be taught to always be kind to their school mates; especially the children that might need a friend. Mattie is a true inspiration to anyway willing to open their hearts and share their "heart songs". I also pray that Jeni realizes how blessed her children are that they had her to call "Mom". I hope that everyone is lucky enough to read this book; as it is a true honor to know Mattie and his mom. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing Mattie and this beautiful story.

I found Jeni's book "Messenger" to be a great read and the most detailed account of the life and feelings of her son Mattie. She filled in the details of Mattie's suffering and dealings with pain in a way that explains what he was dealing with while at the same time not overdoing it and managing to mix in just the right amount of humor and background to keep it about him and the life he led, despite his Muscular Dystrophy. The fact that his work and memory carry on today, five years after his death, just strengthens the hope for peace he sought in his lifetime. I highly recommend this peek into Mattie's life and thank Jeni for bringing it to us and helping us to get to know even more about Mattie J. T. Stepanek.

"Messenger" is the message of Mattie Stepanek's life by his mom, Jeni, and, it is also the message of Jeni's life with Mattie. There are, in fact, two messages which are clearly recognizable. They each have the same goal: Peace.

The most recent Mattie book was Just Peace: A Message of Hope In it, Mattie described "The Mosaic Vision of Peace" "Messenger" describes the lengths to which he went to spread his message, to the point of giving his life for it, one might say.

In the process, Jeni was inevitably involved. Her commitment is no less than Mattie's was -- probably even more now that she feels the total weight on her shoulders. This, notwithstanding the frailty of her own health.

Yet, listening to her at a book signing or watching her in any of number of television appearances, she seems to draw on limitless resources to retell the story and its significance while drawing her listeners and viewers increasingly into their own participation.

Jeni describes Mattie's faith and her own as well as the importance that it plays in the successful distribution of the message of peace. Peace after all is a major component of religion.

It is difficult to imagine anyone reading this extremely well-written book without coming away with a deeper commitment to peace, at least in his or her own life.

To the degree that it happens, Jeni I feel sure will believe that her efforts are successful. You are cordially invited to contribute to Mattie's and Jeni's goal.

One of Mattie's favorite songs was: "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me." -- a modern version of "Make me a channel of thy peace." by St. Francis of Assisi.
Bob Balkam Rockville,MD

Messenger is written by Jeni Stepanek and is an excellent biography about the life of his son, Mattie J.T. Stepanek, the young author behind the bestselling collections of Heartsongs poetry & peace essays. It tells about Mattie's upbringing, his love for his family as well as extended family and friends, his hardships with having Dysautonomic Mitochondrial Myopathy, his incredible passion to live life and his dream to be a Peacemaker.

I thought the book balanced well with the happy and sad stories of Mattie's life, including insights from his mom, the author. The book also shows the humorous & witty side of Mattie, even during some of his `storms', and includes some of Mattie's published and never-before-published poems.

I believe there is something we all can learn or relate from reading this book and grow from it. He had an extraordinary life and beaten many odds over the course of his young life before he passed away in June, 2004. During his life and after his death he gave people inspiration and hope. This book shares inspiration and hope. His Heartsongs live on in his books and people who met or learned from him.

I highly recommend anyone to read this book. It is a celebration of a Messenger's life. And if you have not read any of Mattie's Heartsongs books, I encourage you to read them as well.

Lastly, I feel strongly of Mattie's philosophy and encourage everyone to "Remember to play after every storm."

Jennifer (Jeni) Stepanek has give us inspiration and insight into her gifted son's life. Mattie J.T. Stepanek was truly proof miracles do exist today. He was born with a crippling and ultimately fatal disease which he conquered by his indomitable spirit. This young man lived just short of 14 years but has left a legacy of inspiration and hope for all who come into contact with his writings. His dream was to be known as a "Peacemaker" and he did achieve this. Jeni shows us more of who Mattie was and gives an example of true Faith in how she has coped with his death. She conquers Death by celebrating Mattie's life. I highly suggest this book to everyone.

I just finished reading Jeni Stepanek's beautifully written book, "Messenger", on the life of her son, Mattie. I could not put it down. I'm not one to write reviews, but I feel this book is THAT special...everyone should read it. Similar to Mattie's books of poetry, each page I read in, "Messenger", had something that touched my heart as only Mattie's authentic and honest views on life can. There is so much I can say on how it affected me, but I think the important thing is that you read it for yourself and experience how it affects you. Jeni Stepanek is so generous as a Mom/author to share so much, which I really appreciated. Her book to me is a handbook on how to live life right. Mattie has the ability to bring out the best in people by just being himself..., a poet, a peace maker and a philosopher who played. In this book, Jeni delivers her sons message of hope and peace with perfection! So take the opportunity and read it.

I am a Mattie Fanatic and have been waiting for years for a book ABOUT Mattie. Although I love his works,I really wanted to know the boy and his life behind his Heartsong. I was so excited when I found that Mattie's Mom, Jeni, was writing this book, Messenger: The Legacy of Mattie J. T. Stepanek and Heartsongs, it was like waiting for the last book in your favorite series. The book does not disappoint, it is not the typical biography with a format that chronologically details a person's life, this book takes you on Mattie's journey and transformation into the Peacemaker we know and love through his Heartsong books. Mattie's Mom takes the reader though the devastating effects of her family's deadly disease while making you laugh and cry. If you loved Mattie's works, you will love getting to know him though the person closest to him, his Mom.