This book is a fictional allegory and makes no claims to be anything else. But when one is addressing theological elements, it always seems to cause a stir. It's not particularly well-written, but it was originally written for his children, not for a commercial market. Understanding the kind of background and experiences that the author comes from went a long way toward helping me appreciate where his heart was with this story. 
 For people with even the most stable and ideal of upbringings, it will make you think. For those of us who've suffered great tragedy, loss, or parental abuse, there may be a solace to be gleaned from the gut-wrenching perspectives of the main character as he faces what torments him. For myself and a number of people I know, I found the greatest value in this book to be in the relational healing it gently promotes, both toward God and the rest of humanity. 
 I'll admit that I couldn't quite wrap my mind around everything that's mentioned, or completely agree with the way in which some things were explained, but I don't see that as a reason to throw the baby out with the bath water, as it were. It's fascinating to me that a fictional story could do more to mend and strengthen my relationship with my biological father -and- heavenly father than any self-help book. For that, my hat is off to the author.