Miracle of 'Miracles'

When Cam Cooper discovers an old wish list she composed at the age of twelve, it's a painful reminder that she probably won't have time to complete any of the mundanely teenage tasks. For the last five years, Cam has had cancer, and the doctors are ready to give up on her. But Cam's mother comes through with a last-ditch effort that involves moving from Celebration, FL to Promise, MA. The town of Promise is said to have mystical powers that may help Cam's health improve. The skeptic of the family, Cam tries to find logical reasons for the seemingly miraculous happenings; but even she is at a loss to explain why the local teen crowd is so friendly to her, or why town hunk Asher is so keen to stick around her. Slowly, Cam starts to accept the weirdness of Promise and grow attached to a couple of baby animals who like her brand of TLC. And she even allows herself to think of the future - a future that may or may not include her. But she learns that in the present, if there is peace of mind, you can live forever.

Is it brave to write about a character who's dying, or in danger of dying? It certainly can't be easy, although the best writers can find ways to make it appear effortless. This is the case with Miracles, a novel that boasts a distinctive and funny voice and a solid story of hope and freedom. Cam has that wonderful brittle brattiness that readers will find engaging even during its annoying moments. We understand where Cam's attitude is coming from; her condition is an explanation, but not an excuse, as she learns later on when she starts to think of others around her. This is one of those books where nearly all the characters have the same ironic, biting sense of humor, and it helps set the tone early on. Cam and her family members - single mother Alicia, tween sister Perry, their Nana - are lovably quirky and have a nice chemistry together. Asher is an impossibly nice guy with one or two major hang-ups, one of which Cam attempts to fix. They share some sweet moments together, especially toward the end.

If the book has any weak spots, I'd point to some relatively minor plot points. A subplot with Cam's first lay starts out strong and then just disappears. A bigger subplot is Lily, Cam's best friend who is also stricken with the big "C" - it stretches unevenly throughout the book, and sometimes I forgot about Lily entirely. Cam's "closure" with her feels tacked-on, which is too bad, as there is so much to like about Lily and how her actions affect Cam's growth. The book also briefly loses momentum in the middle of the third act, but it offers a nice break, too.

In the end, there's a lovely little message about giving of yourself and letting others in. The very end will satisfy readers enormously and will most likely stick with them. Thoughtful prose and colorful imagery really sets this book apart. Rating: 4.5 baby flamingos out of 5.