Mattie Stepanek
Mattie Stepanek

Mattie Stepanek dead at age 13

  June 23, 2004 at 10:24 PM ET
  Cheeser     The Leaky Cauldron (via Baltimore Sun)
  mattie stepanek, mattie j.t. stepanek, heartsongs, poetry, mattie stepanek poems


Mattie Stepanekopens in new window, 13, has diedopens in new window from complications of muscular dystrophy. A best-selling poet wise beyond his years, and a rabid Harry Potter fan, Stepanek rose to fame in 2001 with the publication of Heartsongs, his first volume of poetry, and a stint on the Muscular Dystrophy Association's telethon.

The same year, he appeared on the Oprah Winfrey showopens in new window and later met Potter starsopens in new window Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint in 2002.

Facing the Future

Every journey begins
With but a small step.
And every day is a chance
For a new, small step
In the right direction.
Just follow your Heartsong.

by Mattie Stepanek
© Hyperion. All Rights Reserved.

Listen to NPR's All Things Considered audio segment about Mattieopens in new window from June 23, 2004. See all of Mattie's booksopens in new window on Amazon.com.

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