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To the Heights: A Novel Based on the Life of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati
“To live life without faith, without a patrimony to defend, without a struggle for truth, that is not living, but existing.”
— Pier Giorgio Frassati
Enter the heart of a passionate young man, who in his brief life reached the heights of adventure, friendship—and sanctity.
Born to a wealthy family in Turin at the dawn of the 20th century, Pier Giorgio Frassati was good-looking, popular and athletic.
He spent much of his youth climbing the rugged Italian Alps, disappearing into the clouds for days at a time.
He was quick with a joke or a prank and enjoyed a good time. It seemed he was blessed with everything a young man could ask for.
But he hungered for more.
Despite coming from a family of such prestige, Pier Giorgio spent most days in the slums of Turin, visiting the poor and serving the sick.
His love for Christ burned within him and brushed off on everyone he came into contact with – from lepers and orphans to college friends and political diplomats.
He shared his Faith with kindness and charity, and defended it passionately against the evils of Fascism,
even coming to blows with Mussolini’s thugs on numerous occasions.
Pier Giorgio touched the lives of thousands, yet his high-society parents remained unmoved by the life he led
as they frowned upon his religious practices and charitable work. Reaching them would be his last challenge, his final mountain to climb.
To the Heights is an unforgettable novel about Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. Dig deeper than the biographical facts and discover
the heart of a charismatic young man whose soul blazes brightly and uniquely among the host of heaven.
— Pier Giorgio Frassati
Enter the heart of a passionate young man, who in his brief life reached the heights of adventure, friendship—and sanctity.
Born to a wealthy family in Turin at the dawn of the 20th century, Pier Giorgio Frassati was good-looking, popular and athletic.
He spent much of his youth climbing the rugged Italian Alps, disappearing into the clouds for days at a time.
He was quick with a joke or a prank and enjoyed a good time. It seemed he was blessed with everything a young man could ask for.
But he hungered for more.
Despite coming from a family of such prestige, Pier Giorgio spent most days in the slums of Turin, visiting the poor and serving the sick.
His love for Christ burned within him and brushed off on everyone he came into contact with – from lepers and orphans to college friends and political diplomats.
He shared his Faith with kindness and charity, and defended it passionately against the evils of Fascism,
even coming to blows with Mussolini’s thugs on numerous occasions.
Pier Giorgio touched the lives of thousands, yet his high-society parents remained unmoved by the life he led
as they frowned upon his religious practices and charitable work. Reaching them would be his last challenge, his final mountain to climb.
To the Heights is an unforgettable novel about Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. Dig deeper than the biographical facts and discover
the heart of a charismatic young man whose soul blazes brightly and uniquely among the host of heaven.
280 pages, Paperback
First published July 11, 2014
30 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
November 10, 2020
An excellent story of a young man with a zeal for Christ, charity for the poor, and love for his family that we would all do well to imitate.
June 14, 2021
I loved this book so much!!!
It was overall quite well written, I think the characters were good, and from what I know a goood combination of fact and fiction. My only quibble is I think Pier Giorgio's relationship with Laura could have been explored more (like him not dating her because his mother didn't want him to and necause he felt it wasn't God's will) it was hinted at, but I would have liked a little more:-)
Pier Giorgio is now one of my favourite saints!!
It was overall quite well written, I think the characters were good, and from what I know a goood combination of fact and fiction. My only quibble is I think Pier Giorgio's relationship with Laura could have been explored more (like him not dating her because his mother didn't want him to and necause he felt it wasn't God's will) it was hinted at, but I would have liked a little more:-)
Pier Giorgio is now one of my favourite saints!!
March 24, 2021
"In their depths rested a wellspring which Pier Giorgio had filled with love throughout the days of his life. But he had not filled these wells by means of a powerful waterfall gushing over a mountain cliff; rather, he had filled the wells one bucket at a time."
What an encouragement to hold this Blessed soul even closer to one's heart! Blessed Frassati, pray for us!
What an encouragement to hold this Blessed soul even closer to one's heart! Blessed Frassati, pray for us!
July 26, 2024
A wonderful read. The life of Frassati inspires and touches me in a way I hope he will see from Heaven.
March 28, 2020
I think I cried at the end of every chapter. I want to be like him when I grow up.
August 4, 2015
This was a spectacular rendering of the life of a young man graced by God to pursue Him in an ordinary life. I was truly inspired by the life of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati and believe that every Christian could find inspiration in his story.
Sometimes when I turn to lives of saints I find the information delivered in a dry way. The approach that Brian Kennelly has taken is to be upheld as a great model for telling the stories of the saints.
This was a gripping story centered in Italy during the time of Mussolini. Descriptions of Pier Giorgio’s relationships with friends, family, and those in need are very rich in the telling and it really draws you into the story of his life.
Highly recommended for everyone! Especially recommended for young men coming of age.
Sometimes when I turn to lives of saints I find the information delivered in a dry way. The approach that Brian Kennelly has taken is to be upheld as a great model for telling the stories of the saints.
This was a gripping story centered in Italy during the time of Mussolini. Descriptions of Pier Giorgio’s relationships with friends, family, and those in need are very rich in the telling and it really draws you into the story of his life.
Highly recommended for everyone! Especially recommended for young men coming of age.
October 2, 2020
This book would be ideal for middle school students through adults. It's such an inspiring story of how one a person can touch so many lives in such a little time. The book is written as fiction but it's based on the true story of the life of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. His life reminded me of St. Therese, doing little things each day to make big differences in other people's lives. It would be beautiful to see him named a saint. He certainly was a saint when he walked this planet in the beginning of the 20th Century during turbulent times in Italy. The inspiring thing about him was that he seemed to be such an outgoing and joy-filled yet pious person. Many of us could learn lessons from him.
May 29, 2018
What an incredible look into the life of an incredible man. Pier Giorgio Frassati is a somewhat newer saint, having lived in the early part of the 20th Century. Because of this, there is a lot known and documented about this Saint. I thought the writer did a good job of keeping to the facts but making it feel more like a story than a dry biography. The reader is able to get a wonderful sense of Pier Giorgio through this book, which at times almost felt like a collection of inspiring short stories. What a treasure for Catholic families.
April 11, 2019
Finishing a book in tears is a tell tale sign that this is a beautiful book. We know so little of Pier Giorgio’s life. This book, while being a work of fiction, feels true. His humility prevented documentation of his life, but it was such a good life. I pray to live through his canonization. Verso l’alto.
September 19, 2014
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati is a saint who has been receiving a lot of attention in the Catholic world as of late. Perhaps, it was because he didn't live that long ago (from 1901 to 1924). Maybe it was because he died at the very early age of 24. Or it could be that he was just an "ordinary" man, and not a member of the clergy, thus we see someone we can relate to and identify with. No matter the reason, he is a special figure who we could all benefit to learn more about. Brian Kennelly looks to provide us this knowledge in his latest book To The Heights.
To The Heights begins not with the birth of Pier Giorgio Frassati, but his death, more specifically a funeral procession. Two boys living at the Provincial Institute for Children are pretending to be sick. However, they are not doing it just to get out of classes or to raise mischief. Instead, they are pretending to be sick so they can sneak off to see their friend. Their friend isn't some boy from another school, but Pier Giorgio Frassati. He had passed away recently, and they wanted to attend the funeral procession of a man, a friend, who had stopped by to visit them many times and always made them feel important. This theme of Pier's love for mankind presents itself many times over in this book.
After this surprise opening, we are then taken back to the life of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. We see him first as a young boy born into a household of privilege. A drunk man comes to his household looking for food. How many of us have not experienced a very similar scenario before? To Pier's dismay, his father turns the homeless man away empty-handed. Pier begs his parents to reconsider and the next day they take him a loaf of bread. However, the man was drunk when they found him, so they didn't leave him the bread, and his father rubbed it into Pier that he was right.
We see other touching stories about Pier visiting the sick or connecting with some of the outcasts of society. However, we also see amazing stories that speak to the fire and passion of people in their 20s standing up for a cause they believe in, like when Pier fought against the Black Shirts. The most amazing story of all in this book happened in the last chapter. With Pier's death, thousands of people from all walks of life showed up to honor him. His parents finally realized how special their son was, and what an impact he had on the world. It took his death, but Pier finally accomplished his greatest challenge...bringing his family to Christ.
Like the subtitle says, To The Heights is a novel based on the life of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. It is not a biography per se (If you are looking for that, check out A Man of the Beatitudes by Blessed Pier's sister, Lucianna Frassati), but instead would fall into the category of historical fiction. That means some minor details required creative liberties to be taken by the author, so that he could paint a captivating picture of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. I highly recommend this book to all Catholics, young and old. Be sure to check out Brian Kennelly's other book Two Statues.
To The Heights begins not with the birth of Pier Giorgio Frassati, but his death, more specifically a funeral procession. Two boys living at the Provincial Institute for Children are pretending to be sick. However, they are not doing it just to get out of classes or to raise mischief. Instead, they are pretending to be sick so they can sneak off to see their friend. Their friend isn't some boy from another school, but Pier Giorgio Frassati. He had passed away recently, and they wanted to attend the funeral procession of a man, a friend, who had stopped by to visit them many times and always made them feel important. This theme of Pier's love for mankind presents itself many times over in this book.
After this surprise opening, we are then taken back to the life of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. We see him first as a young boy born into a household of privilege. A drunk man comes to his household looking for food. How many of us have not experienced a very similar scenario before? To Pier's dismay, his father turns the homeless man away empty-handed. Pier begs his parents to reconsider and the next day they take him a loaf of bread. However, the man was drunk when they found him, so they didn't leave him the bread, and his father rubbed it into Pier that he was right.
We see other touching stories about Pier visiting the sick or connecting with some of the outcasts of society. However, we also see amazing stories that speak to the fire and passion of people in their 20s standing up for a cause they believe in, like when Pier fought against the Black Shirts. The most amazing story of all in this book happened in the last chapter. With Pier's death, thousands of people from all walks of life showed up to honor him. His parents finally realized how special their son was, and what an impact he had on the world. It took his death, but Pier finally accomplished his greatest challenge...bringing his family to Christ.
Like the subtitle says, To The Heights is a novel based on the life of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. It is not a biography per se (If you are looking for that, check out A Man of the Beatitudes by Blessed Pier's sister, Lucianna Frassati), but instead would fall into the category of historical fiction. That means some minor details required creative liberties to be taken by the author, so that he could paint a captivating picture of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. I highly recommend this book to all Catholics, young and old. Be sure to check out Brian Kennelly's other book Two Statues.
June 7, 2019
A wonderful life, beautifully told by a very sincere young man. It has wonderful reviews, all four or five stars. I feel ashamed giving only three.
There is a problem here. The language is great in parts but embarrassingly bad in others. It gets worse towards the end, although the content is always excellent. It gave me the impression of a first draft having been rushed into print without being edited. Certainly this writer's other books show no sign of this at all. Somebody needs to edit this, so that it can be the excellent book that it has the potential to be.
There is a problem here. The language is great in parts but embarrassingly bad in others. It gets worse towards the end, although the content is always excellent. It gave me the impression of a first draft having been rushed into print without being edited. Certainly this writer's other books show no sign of this at all. Somebody needs to edit this, so that it can be the excellent book that it has the potential to be.
November 27, 2025
Great book to get a glimpse of the life of a true saint (let's remember it's a novel!).
Pier Giorgio is truly inspiring, most of all, because he did not engage in huge missions. His sainctity is grown by his everyday service and sacrifice. His love for EVERYONE and God at the center of it all.
The last chapter of the book gives you a taste of how with his everyday apostleship and friendship, he impacted thousands, truly bringing God to those he encountered.
Pier Giorgio is truly inspiring, most of all, because he did not engage in huge missions. His sainctity is grown by his everyday service and sacrifice. His love for EVERYONE and God at the center of it all.
The last chapter of the book gives you a taste of how with his everyday apostleship and friendship, he impacted thousands, truly bringing God to those he encountered.
August 21, 2018
I can’t remember the last time I cried over a character’s death, but this book did an excellent job telling the story of this young man’s incredible life. Pier Giorgio lived a life of faith, defending it from the evils of Fascism, and never gave up helping the poor until his death. Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, pray for us.
Verso l’alto!
Verso l’alto!
July 8, 2024
To the Heights was a moving introduction to the life of soon-to-be-saint Pier Giorgio Frassati. There is so much to admire in this young man - his zest for life, his love of family, his patriotism, passion, and piety. The novel gave historical context to the details I knew of his life, grounding it in early 20th century Italian culture and the political milieu. The author did a good job of allowing the reader to see Pier Giorgio's heroism and virtue but also his weaknesses and flaws.
The novel is suitable for a Young Adult audience, but could be improved with additional editing. A proofreader should catch repeated errors such as using "clinging" instead of "clanging" and "conscious" instead of "conscience" as well as punctuation errors, misspellings, and incorrect word usage. Despite the obvious mistakes, the book is not riddled with errors and is still a worthwhile read.
The novel is suitable for a Young Adult audience, but could be improved with additional editing. A proofreader should catch repeated errors such as using "clinging" instead of "clanging" and "conscious" instead of "conscience" as well as punctuation errors, misspellings, and incorrect word usage. Despite the obvious mistakes, the book is not riddled with errors and is still a worthwhile read.
January 7, 2026
In awe of how well this book was written, it felt like I was reading a story of a good friend. His life is one of immense beauty, depth, and authenticity. If you need a call on in faith or a look into the beauty of how to live life with Jesus, read this!!
June 27, 2017
A story so masterfully told that, in the end, conjures a feeling of heartbreak as if one was part of the life of Pier Giorgio, himself.
March 22, 2022
I love novelized biographies and I love stories that make me want to be a better person so I loved this book!
May 28, 2022
A solid fictional account of Blessed Pier Giorgio's life. Read it out loud to the kids and they really connected with it.
September 5, 2025
forever inspired… VERSO L’ALTO!
October 26, 2025
Nicely written story. I didn’t know much about this young man and I just made a new friend in heaven! St Pier Giorgio, pray for us.
January 28, 2026
How could you not love a book about this beautiful human.
October 27, 2019
I enjoyed reading the life of a potential saint who I knew next to nothing about. I didn’t know how it ended or what to expect.
Very readable, well written.
Very readable, well written.
November 7, 2014
I've often wondered what my life would've been like by now had I followed, as a young boy, the call of God's voice. Erroneously believing that a life of pain and hardship lay in that direction, I hardened my heart and adopted a more "realistic" attitude toward my future.
To the Heights, Mr. Brian Kennelly's novelization of Bl. Pier Giorgio Frasseti's life, showed me what such a life devoted to caring and loving, begun at a very early age, would have looked like. Pier Giorgio simply and humbly believed that no one is ever too young to love and to care for others, especially for the marginalized, the poor and the disenfranchised.
I found the life of Bl. Pier Giorgio Frasseti incredibly inspiring. I admit that before reading To the Heights I had not heard of this popular third order Franciscan. I'm not offering this observation as either a criticism or a complement, but having read Kennelly's masterful writing I still do not know where facts end and fiction begins. It simply doesn't matter.
Mr. Kennelly does a great job fleshing out Pier Giorgio Frasseti's love for his family along with his passion for the Catholic Church; his pious devotions to praying the Rosary, attending daily Mass and spending time in adoration of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. It is important to show, especially to young Catholics, the rewards of a strong lived faith. This book does just that. To the question: given the current state of the world, how can I believe in a God? Mr. Kennelly replies, through Pier Giorgio Frasseti's humble actions and words: take account of all the graces in your life. How can you not believe in God?
As a Vincentian, I was heartened to read of Bl. Pier Giorgio Frasseti's work in the St. Vincent de Paul Society. The spirit of caring and charity rings true on every page. In a moving passage Pier Giorgio explains to someone seemingly indifferent to serving the poor, “There is a special light behind the poor and unfortunate, one we do not have, one that has nothing to do with riches and health. I urge you to see that light tonight, not with your eyes, but with your heart.”
There are many echoes of past saints and sanctifying grace in the young man's life: his fondness for hiking reminded me of Pope St. John Paul II's passion for the outdoors; Pier Giorgio's love of the poor and the sick, and the selfless acts of kindness with which he filled his days, brought to mind St. Vincent de Paul and St. Thérèse of Lisieux (especially in his love of flowers), and his limitless charity towards the poor is exemplary of St. Francis' concerns.
But Mr. Kennelly also shows us that the tenderhearted and pious young man was no stranger to physical confrontations. Pier Giorgio (1901-1925) lived through WWI and the chaotic political aftermath in Italy which gave rise to Mussolini's infamous fascist (and anti-Catholic) Black Shirts. Pier Giorgio did not back down from unjust confrontations, although he would only fight when all peaceful avenues had been exhausted. In reaction to the Black Shirts, he remarked, "It's a sad day when Catholics cower to evil and treat the teachings of their Church as if they are merely suggestions, abandoning them without the slightest sign of a troubled conscience.” How prophetic and timely this warning, as our Church continues to face relentless assaults from the secular world.
I truly enjoyed To the Heights and I will be recommending it to everyone for years to come. Mr. Kennelly not only understood what was in Bl. Pier Giorgio Frasseti's mind, he showed us the care, love and charity alive in the blessed's heart. We are grateful to such a talented author for revealing these graces. I also enjoyed the book's short chapters, and I liked that Mr. Kennelly includes some actual prayers in the text, introducing some of the Church's treasures, such as the Tedeum, to readers.
If you know someone, especially a young person concerned about the plight of the poor or injustice in the world, you must inspire them to action with a copy of To the Heights.
Note: This review was originally published at AmazingCatechists.com
To the Heights, Mr. Brian Kennelly's novelization of Bl. Pier Giorgio Frasseti's life, showed me what such a life devoted to caring and loving, begun at a very early age, would have looked like. Pier Giorgio simply and humbly believed that no one is ever too young to love and to care for others, especially for the marginalized, the poor and the disenfranchised.
I found the life of Bl. Pier Giorgio Frasseti incredibly inspiring. I admit that before reading To the Heights I had not heard of this popular third order Franciscan. I'm not offering this observation as either a criticism or a complement, but having read Kennelly's masterful writing I still do not know where facts end and fiction begins. It simply doesn't matter.
Mr. Kennelly does a great job fleshing out Pier Giorgio Frasseti's love for his family along with his passion for the Catholic Church; his pious devotions to praying the Rosary, attending daily Mass and spending time in adoration of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. It is important to show, especially to young Catholics, the rewards of a strong lived faith. This book does just that. To the question: given the current state of the world, how can I believe in a God? Mr. Kennelly replies, through Pier Giorgio Frasseti's humble actions and words: take account of all the graces in your life. How can you not believe in God?
As a Vincentian, I was heartened to read of Bl. Pier Giorgio Frasseti's work in the St. Vincent de Paul Society. The spirit of caring and charity rings true on every page. In a moving passage Pier Giorgio explains to someone seemingly indifferent to serving the poor, “There is a special light behind the poor and unfortunate, one we do not have, one that has nothing to do with riches and health. I urge you to see that light tonight, not with your eyes, but with your heart.”
There are many echoes of past saints and sanctifying grace in the young man's life: his fondness for hiking reminded me of Pope St. John Paul II's passion for the outdoors; Pier Giorgio's love of the poor and the sick, and the selfless acts of kindness with which he filled his days, brought to mind St. Vincent de Paul and St. Thérèse of Lisieux (especially in his love of flowers), and his limitless charity towards the poor is exemplary of St. Francis' concerns.
But Mr. Kennelly also shows us that the tenderhearted and pious young man was no stranger to physical confrontations. Pier Giorgio (1901-1925) lived through WWI and the chaotic political aftermath in Italy which gave rise to Mussolini's infamous fascist (and anti-Catholic) Black Shirts. Pier Giorgio did not back down from unjust confrontations, although he would only fight when all peaceful avenues had been exhausted. In reaction to the Black Shirts, he remarked, "It's a sad day when Catholics cower to evil and treat the teachings of their Church as if they are merely suggestions, abandoning them without the slightest sign of a troubled conscience.” How prophetic and timely this warning, as our Church continues to face relentless assaults from the secular world.
I truly enjoyed To the Heights and I will be recommending it to everyone for years to come. Mr. Kennelly not only understood what was in Bl. Pier Giorgio Frasseti's mind, he showed us the care, love and charity alive in the blessed's heart. We are grateful to such a talented author for revealing these graces. I also enjoyed the book's short chapters, and I liked that Mr. Kennelly includes some actual prayers in the text, introducing some of the Church's treasures, such as the Tedeum, to readers.
If you know someone, especially a young person concerned about the plight of the poor or injustice in the world, you must inspire them to action with a copy of To the Heights.
Note: This review was originally published at AmazingCatechists.com
July 30, 2015
This book is incredible! I had never read about Pier Giorgio Frassati before (though I had often heard about him), and so through this book I found out that he read a truly incredible life filled with love!
Full review to come!
Full review to come!
January 27, 2016
As I've said in past reviews, I love books on the lives of the Saints. This one was well written and gives a nice overview of his short but very productive life.
June 4, 2016
Historical fiction about Pier Giorgio Frassati who came from a prominent family in Turin, Italy. He spent his life in service to the poor and sick. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews