Miracle Girl

Gr 9 Up–June 8th has always been a source of stress and fear for Leanne. Every year, reporters, devotees, and travelers from around the country gather in her yard. As a baby Leanne experienced a medical miracle that allowed her to enjoy a childhood free of the pain and suffering of a spinal disorder. This year, as she escapes through neighbors’ backyards, she encounters a stranger wielding a baseball bat. Leanne later learns that the handsome baseball player is a newcomer to her neighborhood, Braeden Dalisay. Over the course of the summer, while working in her father’s law office, Leanne and Braeden move past their initial reservations about each other to form a solid friendship. Readers will expect both the romance and the issues that arise between them. Breaden is struggling with the loss of his sister and Leanne is tormented over her role in the opening of the shrine dedicated to the saint affiliated with her miracle. The story is unique in that it focuses on the Catholic process of documenting and honoring a miracle, and romance fans will find that it has universal appeal. Breaden and Leanne’s voices and emotions are authentic and the plot moves along at a readable pace.