Book Description
for Miracle by Karen S. Chow
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Chinese American Amie shares a love of music with her father, Ba-ba. Amie’s mother provides the structure to their home routine, with scheduled time for homework, violin practice, evening walk, and health regimens for Ba-ba’s cancer treatments. Sixth grader Amie’s best friends are Bella (white) and Rio (Latino); they see themselves as a Harry-Ron-Hermione trio. When Ba-ba dies, this close network provides support for Amie, but also creates tension. She feels like Harry Potter—famous for family tragedy, with everyone looking at her and wanting to know if she’s okay. Meanwhile, her mother channels her grief into action by taking on more activities, much to Amie’s frustration. Overwhelmed by her feelings, Amie is unable to play violin, which has been an important means of expression as well as a connection to her father. The loss of that connection, along with her guilt at not visiting Ba-ba in the hospital on his last day alive, eats away at Amie in a moving middle grade novel that explores the rawness and pain of grief with tremendous honesty. Each chapter begins with a musical vocabulary word and a black and white line drawing, and Amie’s family’s blend of Chinese and American traditions feels both fresh and authentic in a story that sees Amie turn the corner toward healing. (Ages 9-12)
CCBC Choices 2024. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2024. Used with permission.