Customer Reviews

The Next Place

5 star:		(185)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

I WAS SO ATTRACTED BY THE BOOK'S COVER THAT I OPENED THE BOOK AND BEGAN TO READ IT. (I HAD BEEN AGONIZING OVER MY FATHER'S ILLNESS AND KNEW IT WAS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I WOULD BE FACED WITH HIS DEATH.) AS I CONTINUED TO READ "THE NEXT PLACE" WHILE STANDING IN THE BOOKSTORE, I BEGAN TO FEEL PEACE I HAD THOUGHT WOULD NEVER RETURN. EACH PAGE WAS SO BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED AND EACH PHRASE SO COMFORTING. I BOUGHT THE BOOK. I READ IT TO MY FAMILY AS WE WERE GATHERED AROUND MY FATHER'S BED, JUST MINUTES AFTER HIS DEATH. I ALSO READ IT DURING HIS FUNERAL MASS. IT SAID ALL THAT NEEDED SAYING BECAUSE DAD WAS, AT LAST, "PERFECT". I HAVE SENT "THE NEXT PLACE", IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, TO FRIENDS WHO HAVE LOST LOVED ONES. THE REACTION IS ALWAYS HUGS, TEARS AND GRATITUDE.

On September 10, 2001 Warren Hanson's book, The Next Place chose me. Its' beautiful artwork and compelling words held on and refused to let me go. I realized I must purchase it for the unpredictable future when I would have to explain death to my two children, ages 4 and 2. This was also the exact message I would want my children to hear should anything ever happen to me. On September 11, 2001 our world fell apart. Within a week a handful of strangers from across the country came together and started a grass roots, nonprofit organization, The Next Place Network. Each one of us so moved by the powerful message within The Next Place we came together with the sole purpose: to collect and distribute copies of The Next Place to those directly affected by the tragic turn of events of 9-11. The response has been extraordinarily heartening and encouraging. To date, through donations and gifts, we have presented over 6250 copies of The Next Place to the children, families, loved ones, shell shocked rescue workers and guilt stricken surviving coworkers of those who died on that tragic day. The incredibly effective and universally spiritual message is supported, appreciated and accepted by a myriad of September 11 organizations, religious leaders, death and dying professionals, family crises centers, Hospice, NYFD, NYPD, NYPA, NY National Guard, Salvation Army, NYSEMO, United Airlines, American Airlines, teachers, parents, and children who were directly affected by the terrorist attacks in America. Several copies have also been distributed to the families of the postal workers who lost their lives as a result of bio terrorism. The words and images have given an incalculable amount of emotional comfort and spiritual renewal during this most trying time. Through the expressions of The Next Place we are comforted in the understanding that our love, memories and friendships from this lifetime will carry our loved ones through to the 'other side'-making their light shine brighter in the next place that they go.

I was attracted to the gorgeous cover art of this book in the children's section. As I read it I felt swept away. The text and illustrations are so beautiful, so moving, and so unique. I'd recommend it for children, parents and adults alike. It's a simple but profound way of explaining death to a child, without seeming scary or overtly religious. Keep this in mind as a gift. As a parent and a child therapist, I know this will be put to good use.

Three months ago, my cousin, Josh, died very suddenly. I am 17 years old and he was only 18, we were very close. Since that time, I have had a lot of trouble dealing with his death and trying to understand it. My aunt sent me a copy of this book for Easter and it made the realization of his death more peaceful for me. It helped me to see this experience as not only a very painful and terrible one, but one that will make me stronger and will teach me a lot. This book helped to ease the pain of no longer being able to see Josh and know how he's doing. It made me accept that he's in a better place now and that he's being taken care of. Most of all, it reminded me that although I won't see his face or hear his voice anymore, he'll always be with me and I will always be with him. I hope every person, young and old, who has experienced a death, whether through family or friends, will get a chance to read this book. While the pain they're dealing with can never fully be resolved, this book will definitely help to ease it,

...
Well, as a devout atheist, I too have no hesitation in recommending "The Next Place."
My wife got it for our 8-year-old daughter, who's still struggling with the death of my father several years ago. Ironically, my daughter's pet hamster died a week before Christmas, and then my wife's grandmother died on New Year's Day. (some might say "God works in mysterious ways" while others would say "hamsters live about a year and a half, and 89-year-old women often die after a fall and a heart attack...")
My daughter read The Next Place tonight, came downstairs with tears and we sat and talked.
The book is comforting without the religious -uh- slant that many other books have. I'm pleased that the devout also recommend it. It's rare to find a book that reaches us both so well.

The comforting words in this book presents a kind and wonderfulimage of death; reinforcing that our relationship with the person hasnot ended. As a first grade teacher I read it to my class to ease the consuming concern one of my little girls has had about a young uncle who died suddenly from a heart attack. She told me twice that day that she feels better now. This book integrates comforting script with such beautiful illustrations and use of color and design that all I've shown it to are moved.

My son died three weeks ago, and I was given this book on the day of his funeral. All I can say right now is that it was a gift of peace for my shattered soul. I read it every day, and I feel like my son is reassuring me that he is free and happy and with us still.

UPDATE: 7/30/2011
This book may have been written for children, but it is a book for all ages. 8 years after our son passed away the day before he would have been 20, these words still have the power to let me feel his joy instead of my pain. The next place is a place without fear, and you can go there every time you pick up this uplifting book by Warren Hanson. I have given out dozens of these books, and always have a copy close at hand.

So do give this book to someone who is grief-stricken. It will help them, I promise you.

At the risk of sounding trite, I am using the word "pefect" to describe this book. It is ecumenical to the point that it can offend no one--not even athiests. I find the term "the Next Place" better than "heaven" (and certainly better than hell, because despite what the "Left Behind" guys think, an all-loving Creator would NOT make people suffer for eternity.)

Something happens to us when we die, and no one has come back to tell us what it is. But our "spirit," the energy of our thoughts and minds--must go somewhere when our physical body wears out. Hanson does a great job of describing this most indescribable of places (which may not be a place at all, but merely a state of being.)

This is the ultimate gift to give to anyone who has suffered a loss (if they haven't gotten it already.) The kind of loss matters not--parent, grandparent, child, even pet--just as the person's faith or secular humanism matters not. When you give this book, you are giving acknowledgement, sympathy, comfort, friendship, or love. Everyone who has suffered loss would gain something from this book.

My very special aunt who suffered from being bi-polar for most of her adult life, recently ended her pain by taking her own life. Many in our family did not know she suffered from this and was refusing treatment, so her unexpected death was a shock to many of us. Her only child found the courage to read this entire book before the funeral service to help her children try to understand their grandmother's death. It was as if this book was written for our grief. There were many times when she was "impatient and unkind" because of the disease, as Mr. Hanson writes. He has a way of wording things in the book that I feel can greatly help survivors of a suicide. This book has given our grief a voice where we were all struggling for words. I would be curious to know if other survivors of suicide have benefitted from reading this wonderful book.

My first exposure to Warren Hanson's poetry and the beautiful illustrations in The Next Place was at my mother's funeral. It was read as part of the funeral service. This lovely, peaceful yet hopeful book for children may have been written to help the adult explain death to a child. But in doing so the adult affirms their own belief of life beyond this world....The Next Place. I hope this book never goes out of print because it has become my personal way of helping my friends, their children and grandchildren through loss.