It follows the life and death of a ride mechanic named Eddie (inspired by Albom's uncle[1]), who is killed in an amusement park accident and sent to heaven, where he encounters five people who had a significant impact on him while he was alive.

Their group burned the camp during their escape and Eddie, while running away, remembers seeing a shadow move in one of the huts.

Eddie then learns how the Captain died: he stepped on a land mine that would have killed all the men had he not set it off.

They remember their wedding, and Marguerite teaches Eddie that love is never lost in death; it just moves on and takes a different form.

Janet Maslin, writing in The New York Times, gave a cynical review, calling the story "a string of reassuring verities."

[1] Publishers Weekly's review was far more positive, comparing the book favorably to A Christmas Carol and saying it would be "cherished by a vast readership.

Jon Voight starred as Eddie, with Ellen Burstyn as Ruby and Jeff Daniels as the Blue Man.

The New York Times gave the film a negative review, calling it too slow-paced and overly sentimental.