The Case for Heaven Young Reader's Edition: Investigating What Happens After Our Life on Earth

Case for Young Reader's

by Lee Strobel

Is heaven real? What is it really like? Award-winning author Lee Strobel tracked down the evidence and provides answers to the questions children 8-12 ask about both heaven and hell in this young reader’s edition of The Case for Heaven that is perfect for teaching your child about the biblical evidence for eternal life. Every child wonders at some point what happens after we die—especially after the loss of a pet, a grandparent, or another loved one. Lee Strobel ( The Case for Christ ) understands your child’s questions, and presents a kid-friendly examination of the evidence for heaven, packed full of research The Case for Heaven Young Reader’s Edition is perfect By the end of this book, your child will have a clearer understanding of the afterlife, as well as peace knowing the Christian view of heaven is sound. Don’t forget to also check out The Case for Christ Young Reader’s Edition !

160 pages, Hardcover

Published March 15, 2022

About the author

Lee Patrick Strobel is an American Christian author and a former investigative journalist. He has written several books, including four that received ECPA Christian Book Awards (1994, 1999, 2001, 2005)[2] and a series which addresses challenges to the veracity of Christianity. He also hosted a television program called Faith Under Fire on PAX TV and runs a video apologetics web site.

Reviews

[Carol Kean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read "The Case for Christ," people told me. "It will convince you beyond a doubt."

It did not.

Over the years, I continue to hear that Lee Strobel's apologetics are convincing. He has published some 40 books using the same type of arguments that started it all.

This book is aimed at children, yet it seemed to me not to be tailored for ages 8 and up, and the focus on eternal hellfire and damnation could be terrifying for children whose grandpa may have been an atheist or even a Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Jew, whatever. Strobel's Fundamentalist interpretations of the Bible will not attract people who read, think, and compare and contrast Christianity with other religions.

I like the chapter on Pets in Heaven.

I like the accounts of Near Death experiences.

I would urge Lee Strobel to read and seriously ponder Julie Ferwerda's book, Raising Hell: Christianity's Most Controversial Doctrine Put Under Fire.
> Have you ever considered the apparent injustices, inconsistencies, and even contradictions of the doctrine of hell? For starters, do earthly parents love their children more than God? Does God ask you to forgive your enemies when He is not willing to do the same? Is being punished forever for sins committed in a short lifetime really "justice"? Does everybody really get the same fair chance to believe in Jesus before they die? If hell is the worst possible fate of mankind, and if God is truly loving, then…

Ferwerda learned Greek and Latin and builds her own "CASE for..." with actual logic and reason. (The case being, Jesus died that ALL may be forgiven.)

Would I buy this book for a child? No.

If I did, I would rip out the chapters on how God doesn't send anyone to hell; people CHOOSE hell by rejecting what God offers.

Not one Christian apologist (and I have read many) has convinced me that a loving God, omniscient and omnipotent, created humanity, knowing millions would be lured by the devil into eternal damnation. If not by fire, then by separation from God for all eternity or simply by ceasing to exist.

Nope, not my idea of a loving God.

I embrace the idea of an afterlife, a reunion with our lost loved ones, but nothing in this book assures me this is a promise we can all trust from a loving Father in heaven.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Zonderkidz for granting me this book to read.

As an adult have you ever had questions about heaven and what happens after death? Even though I have a pretty solid faith I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a question or two. Now imagine you are a child and have these questions. Where do you go for the answers? As a parent I wish this book had been around when my kids were little and had questions about heaven.

For the most part I think this book is well done but I think it's important to point out that this book is written for kids between the ages of 8-12. The book is both historical and fact based but any child younger might not be able to process the information.

The one thing this book does well is provide hope and answers questions that all of us have had at some point in our lives. I think the best way for a child to read this is with an adult with likeminded views to help with any questions.

Lee Strobel as a journalist does a terrific job in this book and I will read whatever he writes because of his background in journalism.

[Emily]

Shelved by my 6th grader

[Meredith Spidel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book for my son, who is a scientific thinker and reasoner. It has been so helpful for him in sorting and understanding his beliefs, and I so appreciate that there is a version for him at 12 years old. Thanks for sending a copy for review, Zondervan!

[Josh Olds · Rating 4 out of 5]

What will heaven be like? The cultural concept of heaven is usually envisioned as a walled city in the clouds where ethereal figures wear halos and play the harp. That’s…not a very appealing picture. Of course, the other cultural concept of heaven is that there isn’t one. You live. You die. The end. Lee Strobel has parlayed his investigative journalism career into what has now been over two decades of apologetics ministry, the latest of which being The Case for Heaven. But it isn’t just adults that have these questions and misconceptions. The Case for Heaven Young Reader’s Edition seeks to bring things down to an elementary school level, using material gleaned from the original book and refocusing on the questions that young kids might be asking.

This is more than just an adaptation of the adult book. While the same material is used, Strobel and Jesse Florea remix it to answer a series of questions:

• Can we live forever?
• Is death something to fear?
• Do we have a soul?
• Can we peek into life beyond death?
• What is Heaven really like?
• Why should I believe in Heaven?
• Will there be pets in Heaven?
• Will there be rewards in Heaven?
• Who will be in Heaven?
• Is Hell for real?
• Doesn’t God want everyone in Heaven?
• What do other religions say happens after death?
• Can I decide what I believe about this later?
• How can I really live forever?

Each chapter is about ten pages, making the book highly readable and accessible. Each chapter also ends with a “cross-examination,” four discussion questions that help young readers reflect on the content of the chapter. It’s well-written, clear, concise, and thoroughly evangelical.

What I appreciated most about the book is that it retains some of the interview questions that is central to Strobel’s style in all The Case for… books. This introduces young readers to theologians, philosophers, and Christian leaders they probably haven’t heard of. A lot of books for kids don’t rely on “experts” for their answers because, what’s the need? And indeed, this book could have been written without citing any expert. Just put the information out there. But by retaining the professional interviews, The Case for Heaven Young Reader’s Edition adds depth and nuance, teaching kids to go to experts in the field for answers. It’s teaching investigative journalism and good research techniques all while developing a theology of the afterlife!

I love these young reader’s versions. They really enable intergenerational study and spiritual thinking. Don’t just give this book to your kid. Read the adult version and talk over the concepts with them. Have them share what they learned, then share what you learned. Get a conversation going. While Strobel doesn’t hit on every interpretation of various doctrine (in particular, I think more could have been said about annihilationism and the stronger arguments in defense of universalism were downplayed), it is a robust and age-appropriate apologetic for a traditional evangelical idea of the afterlife.

[Jalynn Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Disclosure**This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

About the Book:

Is heaven real? What is it really like? Award-winning author Lee Strobel tracked down the evidence and provides answers to the questions children 8-12 ask about both heaven and hell in this young reader’s edition of The Case for Heaven that is perfect for teaching your child about the biblical evidence for eternal life.

Every child wonders at some point what happens after we die—especially after the loss of a pet, a grandparent, or another loved one. Lee Strobel (The Case for Christ) understands your child’s questions, and presents a kid-friendly examination of the evidence for heaven, packed full of research that:


Helps readers 8-12 understand the biblical, historical, and contemporary facts about the afterlife in a logical and easy-to-follow way
Explains what happens after we die
Explores what heaven and hell are really like, based on tested biblical truths
Presents what it means to have eternal life
The Case for Heaven Young Reader’s Edition is perfect for:


Sunday school and homeschool education
Comforting kids 8-12 following a death, and reassuring those experiencing grief
Unpacking biblical principles in a way anyone can understand
By the end of this book, your child will have a clearer understanding of the afterlife, as well as peace knowing the Christian view of heaven is sound.

My Review:

I love books like these. These type of apologetic type books help us to better understand the scripture and just overall apply it better. Kids need their own type of book like this, in words they can understand and apply, as well.

Young readers aged 8-12 have a book now for them written in words they can understand that explain some pretty tough questions for parents or elders to answer. This helps them sort out these "God" questions and in turn to further understand the Gospel.

Questions such as, "Is Hell for Real?", "Who will be in Heaven", and "Why should I believe in Heaven?". These and so many more are answered in the text. There are 14 different chapters that go a little more in depth and ask many other questions that a child may ponder.

This is a great text for further Bible study.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved The Case for Heaven Young Reader’s Edition by Lee Strobel. In The Case for Heaven Young Reader’s Edition Mr. Strobel does his best to answer if Heaven is real. Through his journalistic perspective, he tackles the question head on with research and interviews. I have read many books by Mr. Strobel, but this is the first book that I have read by him that is geared towards kids. The Case for Heaven Young Reader’s Edition is written with the same approach as the previous books I have read by Mr. Strobel. Mr. Strobel writes from a journalistic perspective with lots of research and interviews in order to get answers to whatever questions he has. In The Case for Heaven Young Reader’s Edition, it’s no different. The Case for Heaven Young Reader’s Edition is full of research and interviews to tackle the question of whether Heaven exists. Though the topic of Heaven’s existence is heavy, he breaks down the in way 8-12 year olds can understand. Mr. Strobel has questions at the end of each chapter to help the reader understand and process what they have just read.

I highly recommend The Case for Heaven Young Reader’s Edition by Lee Strobel. While it answers the questions about Heaven’s existence, there are some questions we will not be able to answer this side of Heaven. I like how Mr. Strobel broke his research down and wrote it in a way 8-12 year olds can understand. I believe Mr. Stobel thoroughly researched the topic and it shows in his writing. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book. My review is also on Goodreads.

[Tim Baumgartner · Rating 5 out of 5]

As stated above, this is the Young Reader's edition, which means it can be for those who are preteen (since there's a Teen version). I thought it was very well done in terms of readability regarding some of the toughest topics to cover in our world:

-Philosophical and sociological beliefs about the living forever (how the fear of death drives culture)
-Is death something to be feared?
-Do we have a soul?
-NDEs and whether they are legitimate in giving us insight into the afterlife
-What is heaven really like?
-Why should we believe in heaven?
-Will there be pets in heaven?
-Will there be rewards in heaven?
-Who will be in heaven?
-Is hell for real?
-Is universalism true (Does everyone go to heaven)?
-What do other religions say happens after death?
-Can't you decide what to believe about this later?
-How can we REALLY live forever?

There's an "Adult" version, that is about 200 pages with more technical terms and more elaborate explanations, but this one is HIGHLY recommended as it gets to the crux of all these issues simply, but yet with substance. Another Lee Strobel classic!

[Cover Lover Book Review]

If your child has questions about death, heaven, and the afterlife, The Case for Heaven contains a lot of answrs. In my opinion, it works well as a study book or a reference book but is too detailed to ponder for a read-through in one sitting.

One thing I find interesting is the author is an atheist-turned-Christian, so coming from someone that made a complete turnaround is fascinating.

I’d guess to say that just about any questions an 8–12-year-old child would have about heaven is addressed in this book. It is straight-forward and detailed, often referencing Scripture. I particularly like the “cross examination” sections at the end of each chapter, presenting questions that help the reader review and absorb the information they’ve read.

Disclosure: #CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book.

[kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a mom of three, I’ve had to tackle the question “what will heaven be like?” on more than one occasion. Luckily for me, The Case for Heaven Young Reader’s Edition by Lee Strobel astutely addresses not just this question but so many others about heaven in this thought provoking book.

Relying on the truths found in the Bible and interviews with a wide array of experts, scholars, and theologians, this book tackles some of the major questions children (and adults!) have about heaven: how to get there, will their pets be there, and who will be in heaven with them. Easy to read, this book is both a book a child could read to themselves or as an engaging read aloud for the whole family. My family greatly enjoyed this reading book together and came away more knowledgeable about heaven and where we go after our time on earth ends. Includes a lovely chapter with Strobel’s favorite verses on the subject of heaven. Engaging questions at the end of each chapter provides a jumping off point for parents and teachers to engage in more in depth conversations.

This book is a must read for any Christian with curious children who want to know more about what the Bible and science say about heaven!

Many thanks to Zonderkidz and Net Galley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thoughts: this book is not exactly what I was expecting but it is a book that might interest preteens or young teens that heaven does exist just in case they are doubting it. It could be a difficult read for young children and on the other hand it is informative and contains some comfort. There are questions and areas to write your thoughts in the book if you like to write in books. And it might be wise the study as a group so you can simplify the answers for children who don't understand. I was given a copy free and all opinions on my own.

[Anna Gillis · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with all of the Lee Strobell books aimed for kids, the wording is perfect and the meaning is not taken away from.

This book has great points that helped me and countless other conquer their fear of death. From the testimony of NDEs to whether or not pets will be in Heaven, it answers a lot of common questions.

It also has questions after each question that help you examine yourself and where you stand in your beliefs about Heaven.

I have not read the adult one but would love too! All in all 10/10. Highly recommend if you are struggling with the thought of death, Heaven, and Hell.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't realize this was the young reader's edition until I started reading it, which was just fine. I was just hoping it was a book that discussed scientific research about NDEs. This book had a little of that, but most of the research was bible and religious based. Not the book for me. It wasn't too bad - just wasn't what I was intending to read. As a side note, I also had a hard time with using Christian teachings and the Christian bible as research to prove Christianity is the "right" religion.

[Sarah Creeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Like Basic Christianity

This isn't a book just about heaven. It's about hell, other religions, and even the reliability of Scripture. A better title would be Basic Christianity. Still, it has a lot of good points. This book would still be too advanced for truly young readers, but it would be great for early to late teenagers (or adults who want the quick version of this book).

[Kate Henderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was really intriguing.
Unfortunately it was a little bit too on the 'religious side' for me.
However, I did really like the sections at the end of the chapters for deeper thinking. These would make interesting debate topics or journal prompts.
I liked these questions more than the chapters themselves due to the heavily religious nature.

[christinemm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a young adult book written for teens as a watered down and approachable version of the book by the same title which was written for adults.

[Deena Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! I read aloud to a 9yr old and 11 yr old. It clearly explained the gospel while also asking and answering questions about why and how we know heaven is for real. It began rich conversations. I recommend 8+ for read aloud and 12+ for independent reading. But you know your kids!

[Sharon Beavers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent! But not for younger than High School in my opinion.