Miracle

Gr 3-7–Over half of Amie’s life is spent in the shadow of her father’s cancer. She has always been close to Ba-ba; she plays his favorite instrument (the violin), and they love sharing their interests. When he passes away, Amie feels disconnected from everyone and everything she knows, including her beloved violin. The first half of this title drags, lost in media references—“Harry Potter,” “Zelda,” Holes. They are too essential to the plot without enough contextual explanation. But the back half shines, a perfect exploration of gradual disconnect after a loss. It picks up when discussing grief, capturing the trapped, desperate sadness. Amie wants to be alright but has no clue how to express it. Grief is part of life, but difficult to pin down in writing. Chow adeptly accomplishes that, in addition to presenting the tumult of puberty, a recipe for explosive emotions. Along with encapsulating loss, this work is at its best when discussing music: the emotional response, the dedication to practice, the euphoria when a piece clicks. Amie’s love for music is by far the best part of the beginning, which makes her later struggles hurt more. Each chapter begins with a musical term and definition, a neat and informative Easter egg.