Proof of Heaven

Publisher Wm. Morrow/Harper Collins, August 23, 2011

A mother’s faith, a child’s bravery, and a doctor’s search for healing come together in this moving and thought-provoking fiction debut that explores the meaning of family, faith, and love.

This compelling and heartfelt novel will appeal to readers of all beliefs and backgrounds.

Colm Francis Magee died seven times before his seventh birthday…

Though he might be young, Colm already knows the truth about himself—that he’s very sick, and he may not get better. His mother, Cathleen, takes comfort in the certainty that, whatever happens, Colm will be protected by the God in whom she so fiercely believes. But her son is not so sure. Afraid to tell his religious mother about what he fears may happen “after,” Colm faces each day with a wisdom far beyond his years, and eventually turns to his benevolent and logical doctor for advice.

And though Colm has come to terms with the realities of his short life, he does have one special wish—to meet his long-lost father, the man who left before Cathleen gave birth to her beautiful auburn-haired, green-eyed angel. But the quest to find his father will become something far more indelible—a journey of emotional discovery that will test their love, force them to confront their fears and their faith, and face the ultimate question: Can a child give his loved ones hope, peace, and proof of heaven? The answer may just be the cure they all need to heal their broken hearts.

“PROOF OF HEAVEN by Mary Curran Hackett belongs on any keeper shelf. It’s beautifully written, mesmerizing and tragic, thought-provoking, and a reaffirmation of faith. The story of a mother’s love for her son was touching…but it was the tale of one boy’s search for heaven that brought me to tears. I loved this book.”
— Shelley Shepard Gray, author of The Protector