The Five People You Meet in Heaven

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom  196 pages

I first read this delightful short novel when it was first published in 2003.  I couldn’t put it down, then, and I couldn’t put it down this time either. I wanted to refresh my memory about Eddie, the 83 year old amusement park maintenance man before I started Mitch Albom’s sequel, “The Next Person You Meet in Heaven.”

The story starts at the end, with Eddie dying on his eighty-third birthday. Eddie had worked at Ruby Pier in the Maintenance Department all his life. He considered himself a nobody, no one special. But Eddie was very special. Every day he walked through the park. He could hear a problem with one of the rides as acutely as if the park was empty and completely silent. All the regulars knew Eddie and loved him. He even carried yellow pipe cleaners in his shirt pocket to make little animals for the kids.

On that particular day, Eddie was nearby when one of the rides began to fall.  He rushed to the scene, grabbed little Annie by the hands and got her out of the way before one of the ride’s cars plummeted to Earth.

Eddie arrives in heaven. It’s not at all like he expected. There he learns that there are five people, whom you may or may not know, that are connected to your life. They are to answer the question that haunts us all:  why am I here? What is my purpose?

As Eddie advances through heaven, those questions are answered. Eddie soon learns that he wasn’t a nobody, he was important. Very important. Not just the maintenance man at an amusement park, but his real job was to protect the children. 

Eddie’s story has struck with me through the years. Oftentimes I find myself wondering why I am here and what my purpose is. Then I think of this little story and wonder who might my five people be.  This read is just as compelling and appealing as it was the first time I read it. That’s why  “The Five People You Meet in Heaven” receives 6 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

The Resident Witch

The Resident Witch by Marian T. Place 119 pages

Witcheena is almost ready to fly up from witchling to junior witch.  She can’t wait for this important move and when her aunt assigns her to haunt a carnival, she thinks that this could be her big chance to prove that she’s ready to fly up.  Although Witcheena eventually succeeds in shutting down the carnival early, during the night she meets an earthling, Nancy, and finds out that she likes her and wants to see her again.  Witches are not usually allowed to be friends with earthlings but Witcheena is determined to honor her witch ways while she looks to changes that could be made in the future, and, hopefully, be friends with Nancy.  I loved this book as a kid and was thrilled to get a copy of it recently.  The library doesn’t own a copy, but it’s a fun, although old-fashioned, read for kids who like adventurous or witch stories.