The Miraculous

Gr 3-6-Wunder Ellis always believed in miracles, collected examples of them in his book The Miraculous, and thought of himself as "a miracologist." Yet all of that changes when his sister dies after just eight days of life, and Wunder and his family spiral into grief. When a strange woman shows up at a house in the woods and Wunder makes a new friend with a strong interest in the paranormal, he begins to question the existence of miracles again. He and his friends attempt to show their town how many miracles are happening all around them. This bittersweet story of loss and hope will appeal to readers intrigued by highly emotional magical realism. Wunder and his family and friends are all exceptionally quirky. While Wunder and his friend Faye are well rounded, other characters are not fully developed. The climax takes a long time to build, and the magical realism is so lightly included in the beginning that it all seems to be coincidence, but becomes obvious by the end. Redman's handling of grief is realistic, and she shows how each character copes very differently. VERDICT While the adventure is slow to build, fans of emotionally charged fiction with light magical aspects will enjoy this title.-Ellen Conlin, Naperville Public Library, IL

After the death of his eight-day-old sister, Milagros, 11-year-old "miracologist" Wunder Ellis stops believing in miracles. His parents deal with grief by isolating themselves and essentially avoiding Wunder's existence. But something peculiar is blossoming in the small town of Branch Hill, whether Wunder likes it or not: the day after his sister's passing, an ancient woman appears in the condemned DoorWay House, with its spinning, spiraled wood that prompted Wunder to believe in miracles in the first place. The woman entreats Wunder and his assertive new friend Faye Ji-Min Lee to deliver letters to townspeople on her behalf. Faye, who has just lost her grandfather, is eager to believe the woman is a witch--quite possibly the reincarnation of Wunder's sister. But Wunder is torn between allowing hope back into his life and letting "the stone of his heart" lie still forever. Infused with a whisper of fabulism, this debut's quiet exploration of love and loss will remind readers to recognize the magic in the mundane. Ages 8-12. Agent: Sara Crowe, Pippin Properties. (Aug.)

"Redman explores faith, the intertwined nature of sorrow and joy, and the transformative process of grief through Wunder's eyes in a part-fantasy, part-realistic adventure with genuinely humorous moments. . .Layered, engaging, and emotionally true." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review