Heaven Looks a Lot Like the Mall

Children's Literature

After a freak gym-class dodge ball accident, comatose Tessa finds herself in what she believes to be her own personal Heaven. In this case, Heaven is more shopping mall than billowy clouds. In fact, it is not just any shopping mall. It is the mall in Tessa's town, the one where her parents work. The mall is nearly empty, and no one seems to know Tessa is there. No one, that is, except a mysterious boy with a drill bit sticking out of his head. He clarifies that she is not actually dead but is having a "near-death experience." He takes her to the mall's Lost and Found. There he helps her find a large shopping bag filled with an assortment of odd items, ranging from a princess costume to a bicycle horn, a red bra to a bottle cap. Soon the high school junior is revisiting various incidents in her life, reflecting on her relationships, her activities, and all that led up to the day's pivotal moment on the dodge ball court. Not many teens have the impetus to take stock of their lives but maybe more should. Wendy Mass pulls no punches as she shares the angst and pain--and yes, drama--of childhood and adolescence. The result is a funny but thought-provoking look at one girl's life. Reviewer: Heidi Hauser Green

VOYA - Stephanie L. Petruso

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up
With a dodge ball soaring toward her head, time slows as Tessa considers all of the trivial things floating through her mind; an Ashlee Simpson song, the wedgie she has from her gym shorts, and the color of the dodge ball. But the final thought she must consider is the question she needs to answer-if only she could remember it. At 16, Tessa finds herself in heaven taking a journey through past events in her life while she wavers in and out of consciousness in the hospital. Written in verse, her recollections span her earliest memories as a toddler to her most recent memories leading up to the gym-class accident. Tessa's witty and honest voice tells the story of a girl who struggles to make friends, maintain family relationships, and to be honest with herself. Before she can return from where the accident has taken her, she must face the reality of her life and her role in creating that reality. However, what Tessa discovers is a truth that is far more optimistic and promising than she gave herself credit for. Tessa's journey and authentic voice is one that readers will appreciate. Her tendency to turn a blind eye to the good in others and herself is a trait that many teens have in common. What makes this novel unique is its ability to bring the character to this realization without being preachy or condescending. Funny, thought-provoking, and at times heartbreaking, this story will entertain and inspire readers.
—Lynn RashidCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.