Lisa Reburn’s true story The Girl Who Saw Heaven is about Ari Hallmark’s near-death experience after surviving a tornado. I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this well-written, heart-wrenching, powerful, and hopeful book. A must read!

I enjoyed reading The Girl Who Saw Heaven. I thought it was a beautiful story. I am giving it five plus stars.

The Girl who saw Heaven.
This is the sad and devastating story of of one girl’s survival from a tornado that took nearly her whole family. 6 year old Ari Hallmark walked with her family to Heaven, though she really didn’t understand what was happening, she said she just knew she wouldn’t be staying but she felt good knowing where her family was going. This is her story of hope, peace and survival.
The author did a good job of making you feel like you really ‘knew’ the many people in this story.

What amazing book I think everybody should read this because it takes death to a new level. She takes death and looks at it in a very positive way and she explained how she came to this conclusion. Ariel was a little girl who was 6 years old. She had dreams about her parents dying. She was really afraid and they were trying to comfort her. And the small town in alabama called arab everybody work together to help everybody. They were building homes they were just having an ordinary life. Her mother jennifer was gonna be a nurse that was her dream. The weather turned suddenly very bad one day and they went to their cousin's house. The tornado struck and everybody was thrown. Ariel was found alive but she knew her parents were dead because of the stream and how she perceived in life with a very positive attitude. Her grandmother susan took her over to care for but there was a lot of legal battles in this book because there was no will. It shows how you have to be prepared for anything in life. Susan had a fight for everything for aerial plus she gave up conservative ship and these people were not very good because they would not give her the money. Ariel talked about this dream about how angel saved her and she would go around to groups and help people but the conservatives said no they wanted to be. A little girl Who had a normal childhood. Ariel did not like this but she came very sad and very stubborn. She wanted to explain to the world this was normal. I think this little girl is so brave. How she adjusted to having no parents and how people kept getting on her way not to let her express her opinions. Her grandmother was the fighter too she said what do you want ariel. This book talks about death in a lot of different ways. Margaret gets pregnant and then loses the child because of a simple test not being done. She's also a fighter. These people are amazing they have hardly anything but they're very happy in life. At the end of the book. There's really amazing how the closest book because you'll find out how this little girl dealt with grief and death. I've been close to that a couple of times and I know what she's going through. I prayed to my angels every night because there they are to protect people and me. Ariel had an angel who saved her and I really find out amazing how she cooperated this i And when she was up in heaven she saw people she knew.. The story made me feel so good how people dealt with this because my family has dealt with a lot of tragedies as well and we talk about it. American people do not like to talk about death it scares them. It's not a scary thing it's part of life. I think this book would be really good in hospitals and nursing homes. Because it would help people understand this is not a frightening experience. Thank you ariel bring this to light.

Both terrifying and comforting! This book is definitely difficult to read but it’s message is well worth it. There are many of us who will be reminded of how blessed we truly are. And will further be reminded of what is true. I could not read it through in one sitting and often times thought about not finishing it. Do read it to the end.

Amazing story! Ari's story is inspiring and I was heartbroken that she lost her family in this horrible tornado. This story is going to impact so many lives.

This book had me in tears from the moment she went to heaven till the moment she left. Absolutely powerful. I couldn’t really get into all the number facts, which I know where important but I just had so much anticipation for what she was going to experience that it felt like an eternity to get to that part. But I couldn’t stop reading till I exactly knew what she saw. hope faith and peace that this book offers is just amazing!

What a compelling, sad, beautiful and yet hope-filled book. Ari’s story really grabbed my heart and I hurt for and rejoiced with her. This story is going to impact so many lives for Jesus!!

The Girl Who Saw Heaven: A Fateful Tornado and a Journey of Faith by Lisa Reburn and Alex Tresniowski. NetGalley. Scheduled publication date: 09 May 2023. Simon & Schuster. Print length: 336 pages. Nonfiction. Religion & Spirituality. 4 Stars.

This is the unique, heartbreaking and inspiring story of a little girl’s precognition and NDE that occurred after surviving a catastrophic tornado that killed her parents and 3 other members of her close family. Unlike a tornado, its message isn’t big, loud or gymnastic but, like others served by a deep, abiding Christian faith, heartfelt, tender and profound.

Through these unimaginable losses, this child lived in the shadow of major legal struggles that threatened her stability and happiness during a time when she and her family needed encouragement and kindness.

Stories like these are important: they make us more human and help us cope by seeing a part of reality that has been hidden from view. It is to Ari Hallmark’s credit that she has generously shared this message on such a personal subject with the world. Though your heart may break a little (or a lot!) when reading this, it will also expand….

Warning: a bit over the top on atmospheric science and tornado history.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing this ebook for review.

This book tells a story of struggle and ultimate strength. Surviving a tornado and losing almost all would be only the beginning of hardship for many of the survivors of one of the most deadly tornado swarms in US history. This book tells of a survivor and her experiences near death and afterward. This book is uplifting and offers encourages others to help even when it seems impossible.

Most people that pick up this book are curious. A six-year-old girl is caught in a monster tornado, visits Heaven and then there’s the miracle: she returns.

Ari Hallmark was having dreams that her parents were going to die and as anyone can imagine, her anxiety level was high. She begged her parents to create a will and determine who would have custody of her if that happened.

Her mother was gearing up for a final nursing school exam and said her daughter’s wish would happen right afterwards. It wasn’t soon enough. A massive tornado in their hometown of Alabama caused catastrophic results.

This book emphasizes the great importance to parents of creating documents that will protect their children in case they both die. I was shocked to learn that only 40 percent of American adults have a will. While it can be low on the to-do list, this story emphasizes how important it is.

The focus of the story is about Ari who visits Heaven. It’s why most readers will pick up this book and while it’s engaging, I wish there was more to tell. It may be best for those just learning about near death syndromes.

Ari said she wanted to pass along hope to others that are grieving for loved ones. She emphasized that they’re not “dead” but in another place. As a teenager, she also was good about helping charitable organizations.

While there are some enlightening points, there are parts that are repeated. It’s also a challenge to present the information so the legal battles aren’t simply a series of complaints. Ari’s grandmother told her to always think of those who are less fortunate. After all, she owned a house thanks to her parents.

My thanks to Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read this advanced copy with an expected release date of May 9, 2023.

I received a complimentary copy of this book "The Girl Who Saw Heaven" and all opinions expressed are my own.
didn't hold my interest DNF
I almost read half of the book but it was really not holding my interest. There was too much going on.

This is the story of a 6 year old girl who lost her family during a tornado. While unconscious she escorted her family to heaven, along with an angel. Afterwards she relates her experience and feels that she was given a specific purpose as a result of seeing heaven. I was expecting this story to be more about Ari's actual experience when I started reading this book., as opposed to including information about tornados, the town, the judicial system as it relates to inheritances, etc. There were times I felt like I was being taken down too many side stories. Having said that, I think this book is meaningful in several ways. For anyone who has lost a loved one this book brings comfort - which is part of what Ari thinks is her specific purpose. I also think that the lessons the author shares she has learned about death as a result of Ari's experience are excellent. They are thoughtful and spiritually deeply meaningful .One of the things this book highlights is problems within the court system as it relates to custodial care and the long lasting effects of a single court decision. Although I'm sure this wasn't a specific purpose of the book, it definitely brings the topic to the forefront. #netgalley #TheGirlWhoSawHeaven

Great read...very emotional about and full of hope. Ari does a wonderful retelling of her experience and there's a nice history of the surrounding events for context. Easy to read, inspiring and informative....highly recommended!

Such an amazing story of a little girls encounter with Heaven. Very thought provoking and makes you realize what lies beyond life on earth.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher and Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are my honest opinion.

This book was interesting and I really was envelope in Ari's story. I felt like the book bounced around in timeline and focus too many times. I felt lost at times and confused on whose story was actually being told. I felt there was a LOT of extra material that didn't add to the story. There was also a lot of questions i that never got answered. Such as, what happened to the other survivors? Why was the 'steward' kept so secretive? I was also disappointed that there was not a single photograph of Ari, her family, the town, house, nothing. For such a personal narrative, I expected a few photographs at the end.

Amazing story. Very touching.
Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free, it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

The Girl Who Saw Heaven by Lisa Reburn and Alex Tresniowski
Rating (5/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publishing Date - May 9th 2023
A remarkable story about a little girls account of Heaven. Truly inspiring! Highly recommend this one! Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for this arc.