Books with a pronounced religious theme, especially if they are written for children, usually turn me off. However, I was attracted to this one because of the focus on miracles. I don’t know the author, and hadn’t heard about the book but the description pulled me in. I was not disappointed.

We meet protagonist Wunder as he and his family are immersed in tremendous grief after the death of his 8-day-old sister. His mother has retreated to her room and sent all the family away, leaving Wunder and his father to attend the funeral alone. Wunder is clearly in the midst of the most difficult time in his life which it seems he has to navigate on his own.

Wunder’s lifelong fascination with miracles is the core of the story, with him rejecting the concept because of his sister’s death. Making this even more heartbreaking is the name Wunder selected for her - Milagros (Miracle). Wunder meets Faye, a young girl dealing with loss herself, and they both meet a “witch” who helps Wunder recover his faith.

The writing here is lovely and the story both heartbreaking and uplifting. Recommended.

What a wonderful hopeful novel about miracles and grief. Fans of Skellig will love this novel. Recommended.