Book Review : Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo

I don't really know where to start here. I am an atheist and a keen debunker of religious hokum and what not , but this was like being in front of an open goal. All we have to do is slot it in. I love to be challenged and I always buy the latest 'heaven' book to see where we are. Given the reviews I was expecting to struggle with this book. I thought (before reading) wow a 3 year old kid has had a NDE and lived to tell the tale. How on earth am I going to debunk that? There's no clue in the blurb, back or front. Anyway after 2 or 3 chapters it's all over. We learn that the poor kid's parents are religious in extreme, and have been reading bible stories to the unfortunate youngster since forever. I do have to say that the book is well written (at least three people involved though including the publisher) and one does get carried along and of course I feel bad for the parents when they were in the hospital. Even if that part were half true , its horrid for them. Anyway, to get to the point. The child Colton is either (a) Brainwashed and/or (b) Trying to please his parents. Or dare I say it (c) The whole thing is made up. As usual in this kind of story there is a money issue involved and I do congratulate the father for being honest about the families financial difficulties. Nevertheless to use your own child to make money is abhorrent.