A Piece of Heaven

by Sharon Dennis Wyeth

Book Overview

A young teenager deals with her family's disintegration with the help of a teacher who gives her a summer job working in his garden. Haley's excited about turning 13, but her teenage years start off... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679885358
• ISBN13: 9780679885351
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
• Length: 200 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.8" x 8.6"
• Age Range: 10 to 13 years
• Grade Range: Grades 5 to 8

Customer Reviews

Review for 'A Piece of Heaven'

I thought this book was great! Sharon Dennis Wyeth did a great job with writing the book. The characters were reallly well wriiten, by the end of the book it seemed as if you had known Mahalia, Otis and Jackson forever. The plot of the story was also very, very good. The idea of having Mahailia get a job as a 'Yard Helper' and making her boss someone who can she can confide in through all of the bad things was magnificent! I think she should keep writing, I am looking forward to her next novel.

Shelby's greatly written book review

First her mother and now her brother! It all started when Mahalia Moon aka: Haley Moon wakes up and sees her mother sobbing over a dreadfully burnt cake. Unfortunately the sobbing never stopped so Mrs. Moon put herself in a hospital, which then leaves Haley all alone with her big brother Otis and the Browns to look after them. A Piece Of Heaven written by: Sharon Denis Wyeth is about Haley Moon taking part in a clean up job for a music teacher named Jackson. Haley has to use her robust muscles to clean up all of Jackson's possessions for a Barbeque that he is having for his daughter Brielle as a welcome home party. Haley wants it to be extra perfect so she has to work tremendously hard within her 2-week period. One day when Haley gets home from work she sees a stunning blue dress so she asked Otis where. He got it he replies, " The thrift shop that Reggie and I work at" Sorry to say a couple of days later Otis and Reggie get sent to jail for stealing. That leaves Haley all by her self in her apartment. One morning Haley gets home from the Brown's and sees some strange women sitting on her couch, it was social services. They take Haley to a shelter with other kids that get taken from their parents but Haley dislikes the other children. Haley will stay there until her mom gets out from the hospital. One afternoon Haley discovers a piece of heaven within her paintings on rocks and accomplishes her dream: of being an artist. Subsequent to all of the obstacles that Haley faces in life she manages to keep her goals and maintain her persistence. This is a great realistic fiction novel; I would recommend this book from anyone of the ages 10- 14. I would rate this book off the charts great I'm truly surprised that it didn't get a Newbery Honor award. When will her mom ever get out? You'll have to read to find out!

A Piece of Heaven- Megan's Review

Envision being a 13-year-old girl living on your own, in Manhattan. Haley Moon experienced this revolting story in a Piece of Heaven by Sharon Dennis Wyeth. The author takes you along through Haley's dismay and despair but of course her delight and celebrations also. Haley's life seems to be crumbling before her eyes. One difficulty after another. Her mother has broken down and is staying in the hospital for the time being. But can Haley endure the bumps in the road she's facing? The day of Ma's depression out burst was Haley's 13th birthday. It was a birthday she's been looking forward to since Haley was a young girl, her ticket to her teenage life! The night of that birthday as she looked through the windows at the twinkling stars wearing the pajamas the woman gave her that is now living in the hospital, a woman once known as Haley's sanguine mother. As she sat there she realized it was going to be a birthday she desires to forget. Haley now only lived with her brother without a vigorous mother. Otis Moon was Haley's brother. He played a very essential roll in Haley's life. Otis was her roll-model, her idol and her only brother who she loved and cherished. Otis was captured and brought to juvenile hall with the police and once again a dilemma popped up, and Haley was without help. Her brother had apparently had been stealing with a friend Reggie for the thrift shop they were trying to manage together, a thrift shop of stolen merchandise. Otis left Haley on her own with only the support of Nirvana, Dill, and Mrs. Brown who were close neighbors. Jackson was also important support in Haley's life. Now that Otis was gone Haley set out for a job and Jackson was her boss. Growing close to Jackson made every moment of work meaningful for Haley. Jackson was a wealthy piano/vocalist instructor with a backyard more cluttered with disarray then his relationship with his daughter. She knew how Jackson longed to see Brielle who was his daughter. She wanted the Welcome Home Baroque party that Jackson was throwing for Brielle to be grand celebration! Haley put every ounce of beauty into the yard until it was cleared out and colorful. She made a vivid border of painted rocks, she took her inspiration from Jackson's music she was hearing and painted onto the stones with beauty and elegance. As the yard shaped up Haley's life seemed to coming together too. Haley pulled through and learned that in life you can never give up. She tried and tried again to make things work, and eventually everything shaped up. Haley completed her goal, she had always wanted to be an artist and in Jackson's backyard she achieved thisHaley's world was finally adjusting for the better. With every slammed shut door came a wide-open window! Haley survived with a vibrant smile stretching from ear to ear. This book deserves 5 stars because reading about Haley's belligerent strength towards the difficulties she's facing is an invigorating experience. To develop an understanding of her in

po's review

This book is called, A Piece Of Heaven by Sharon Dennis Wyeth. It was published in 2001.On a scale of 1-5 I'd give it a 5, because I loved it. The 2 main characters are a nice, wealthy man named Jackson, and Haley, a medium sized African- American with a brother that goes to jail and that she always argues with. On her birthday, her mom goes to the hospital becuase of depression. Haley wants to impress Jackson's daughter With a surprise party and Haley gets paid for cleaning Jackson's yard. They become good friends. But when Haleygoes to Jackson's house for the party Jackson gets a call from his duaghterwho says she won't be coming. Haley learns and the moral is whenyou are in a hardship don't let it take control of your life. I loved this book because that girl was amazing to withstand her tragedies. I recommend this book to ages 10 and up.

A Piece of Heaven

"A Piece of Heaven" is a sensitive story of the positive ties that form for those left behind when families are torn apart. Great realistic contemporary fiction revealing the turmoil of urban families. Poverty, crime, mental illness, unemployment, and abandonment are all explored on a level comprehensible to children. Throughout the book, soft touches of humor are employed to ease the pain as Haley accumulates tears. Haley's load is also lightened with the distraction and enjoyment of a part-time job in Mr. Jackson's yard. Music and art create the prelude to the happy ending, which occurs behind a waterfall of tears for the main character, Haley. A cleverly written intergenerational story demonstrating the value and impact for both Haley and Mr. Jackson with the development of a tender releationship between a man, rejected by his own daughter, and a girl, abandoned by her father. This story presents a fine introduction to work ethics, purposes for using the thesaurus, gardening, the cleansing effects of organizing and house cleaning, and intergenerational ties.