The Miraculous

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. [em]Agent: Sara Crowe, Pippin Properties. (Aug.) [/em]