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All We Know of Heaven

(2008, Fiction - Contemporary Fiction, Written by Jacquelyn Mitchard)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 16; suggested age 14.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Ripped-from-headlines story of mistaken identity.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–16

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Someone sells a cell-phone picture of Maureen in the hospital to a British magazine, which is posted on the Internet; someone posts a "MyPlace" picture of Maureen's face Photoshopped on a topless body after she forgetfully answers the door in her underwear. Bridget's family is cruel to Maureen. The media stalk family members and other people related to the accident. Bridget's father yells at Danny for mentioning Maureen during his speech at Bridget's funeral. Maureen's friends stop visiting her at the hospital. The girls' friends and Maureen's family start competing blogs, with some nasty comments posted. Danny's parents try to force him to break up with Maureen. Maureen stands up to a bully who calls her "Gimpo" and "Mental Girl."

  • Violence:

    Two teens are in a serious car accident; one dies and the other suffers severe brain trauma. There is some graphic description of the accident scene. Danny punches a guy who asks "Is it better with a gimp?" Bridget's mother vandalizes Maureen's new car, intimidates Maureen, and then files a false police report that Maureen attacked her. Bridget's younger sister mocks Maureen and scrapes her fingernails down her face.

  • Sex:

    Bridget and her long-term boyfriend Danny sleep together at homecoming. Maureen later has sex with Danny, with social repercussions for both. Nothing is explicit and birth control is clearly used.

  • Language:

    One blog post called Molly a "cheerslut." Other mild profanity includes "piss off," "crap," and "smart ass."

  • Consumerism:

    Medical uses for Teflon and Super Glue, plus "MyPlace" is clearly "MySpace."

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    A bully threatens to put a joint in Maureen's locker to get her in trouble with the school administration. While drunk, Bridget's mother insults Maureen and grabs her hair.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About All We Know of Heaven

Parents need to know that this book follows the aftermath of a car wreck with two teenage girls, one of whom dies. The survivor struggles to re-learn how to walk, talk, and care for herself. Mitchard also shows the dark side of the community's response to the accident, as friends exploit the media exposure and the family of the dead girl blames the one who lived. Topless cell phone pictures are even posted on the Internet. Teens in committed relationships have sex using birth control.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the elevated risks for new teen drivers and reiterate safety tips. You can also talk about Internet etiquette. Have you ever seen damaging photos or comments posted of friends? What did they do about them? Also in the book, what role did the media have, if any, in the negative behavior that followed the accident? Can you think of real-life situations when the news media spawned more negative reaction from the public?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    1-julia-12
    Lives in Minnesota
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 4.0

    Its awesome!

    This is not bad and there might be some iffy stuff but is a nice story that teaches people about the world and that everything isn't perfect

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    sara4ever95
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 5.0

    cool

    i like it 5/5

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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