HEAVEN'S BELL

Barch’s debut middle-grade novel tells a story of childhood illness, death, and friendship.

Ashley and Cody have been best pals since kindergarten, and they know each other better than anyone else. Ashley has difficulty connecting with other 11-year-old girls, and Cody is teased by other boys because his best friend is a girl. During a trip to the science museum, Ashley begins to suspect something is wrong with Cody; he appears to have lost weight, he’s distant, and he falls asleep during the planetarium presentation. Later, her parents break the news to her that Cody is in the hospital, suffering from leukemia, and that he won’t be coming home. In heaven, Gabe the Bell Keeper and Cody’s ancestors are busy preparing to welcome him. The text explains that, in heaven, everyone has a bell, and whenever a person is thinking about them on Earth, this bell rings. After a tear-filled video phone call with Ashley, Cody finds himself floating through space; before long, his great-great-great-grandmother welcomes him to the afterlife. Readers see how Ashley’s life progresses without Cody as well as Cody’s activities in heaven. Telis’ realistic black-and-white illustrations at the top of each chapter feature characters and scenes to come. Over the course of this book, the author attempts to provide a comforting notion of what life after death entails, and the work stresses a strong connection between those who’ve died and those still living. The writing style is appropriate for the target audience of 9- to 13-year-olds, although the heavy subject matter may be daunting for some children, especially those who are currently experiencing grief. The work lacks humor, which might have drawn in more reluctant readers; as such, this book is better suited to kids with a more mature reading palate. The dramatic scenes are pleasantly handled, overall, but the novel might have had more impact with deeper character development.

A comforting story that may appeal to young readers who’ve lost loved ones.