Booklist Reviews 2019 July #1

Eleven-year-old Wunder is an unusual child. He's a proud "miracologist"—someone who studies and catalogues miracles—until his faith in the extraordinary is upset by the unexpected death of his baby sister. It's a heavy subject, but that shouldn't deter readers from pressing on, as Wunder tries to make sense of his chaotic life, which includes a mysterious house and a few curious inhabitants. Redman's gorgeous debut uses a cozy world of bright characters to tackle themes of death, grief, and doubt with gentle compassion and a light touch that keeps the story from becoming too maudlin. Even when things look bleak, an undercurrent of love and hopefulness buoys Wunder's journey. It helps that his eccentric friend Faye is there to remind him—and the reader—that it's important to keep looking for miracles in the worst moments. "You have to search for them," she insists. "You can't be afraid of the dark." It's a moving lesson for young people learning to cope with both the good and the bad that life has to offer. Grades 4-6. Copyright 2019 Booklist Reviews.