Book Review of A Seal Upon the Heart
The Children’s Book Review
A Seal Upon the Heart
Written by Arian Hatefi
Illustrated by Andy Bridge (cover design)
Ages 10+ | 256 Pages
Publisher: Long Drive Press (2025) | ISBN-13:979-899884032
What to Expect: Philosophical exploration, family drama, love, loss, immortality, espionage, and magical realism.
A Seal Upon the Heart embarks on a profoundly moving and intellectually stimulating journey through the eyes of two remarkable children, Leonardo and Leili. When their father, Arian, receives a devastating leukemia diagnosis, the siblings are thrust into a world where the conventional boundaries of life and death begin to blur.
Driven by a strong desire to save their “Bobba,” Leo, a boy with a vivid “Imagination”, and Leili, who has a special “Connection”, set off on an adventure to find the legendary Tree of Life. On their journey, they meet different people, such as Gerard Monde, a wealthy man who seeks eternal life, and Olivia Roy, a secret agent with her own motivations for searching for the Tree. The children’s unique abilities help them navigate the grown-up world of seeking power, facing tricky situations, and grappling with unclear right and wrong, prompting them to reflect on what life and love truly mean.
The narrative masterfully intertwines family drama with thrilling adventure and profound philosophical inquiry. As the children’s understanding of “Imagination” and “Connection” evolves, these once-childish whims transform into powerful conduits for empathy, memory, and a deeper grasp of human existence. The novel challenges readers to view immortality not as an escape from death, but as an embrace of love’s enduring power and the permanence of memory. This emotional depth, particularly evident through Arian’s unwavering bond between the children, is further enriched by contrasting landscapes—from urban sprawl to arctic wilderness—which serve as vivid backdrops to the characters’ internal journeys.
A Seal Upon the Heart is a creative and memorable tale that delves into the very core of what it means to live and to love—it’s a story that will resonate with readers long after the final page.
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About the Author
Arian Hatefi is an author and a physician, two professions that share stories in common. In one, he creates stories-which are foundational to the human experience. In the other, he is a part of someone’s story, one in which he can impact their lives with care. When he isn’t busy being an author, a physician, and a dad to Leonardo and Leili, Arian enjoys reading, playing basketball, gardening, traveling, and being outdoors. He lives with his family in San Francisco, California.
