Maybe a Miracle

by Brian Strause

When he finds his sister, Annika, floating facedown in the family pool the night of his senior prom, Monroe Anderson becomes a reluctant hero. He saves her from drowning, but despite his efforts she slips into a coma. What follows astonishes everyone: Within days of the accident, mysterious events begin to occur around Annika. Monroe's family members react to these apparent miracles in very different ways -- Mom finds God, Dad finds the bottle, and older brother Ben finds new ways to torture Monroe. In the end, Monroe must decide what's worth believing in, what's worth fighting for, and, finally, who he wants to be.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Book Club, Adult Fiction, Adult, Realistic Fiction, Family

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Talia · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a horrible book. There is no plot and no change in emotion. The novels remains monotone the entire time and it is extremely difficult to stay awake/ alive while reading it. If you like books with no story, please go ahead and read this book. However, if you are a not a potato, please save yourself from this misery. I am an English teacher.

[Crystal · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story seemed ok, although I just couldn't get into it. What really turned me off of this book though was the amount of times "retarded" and "fag" were used as derogatory terms. The non-chalant use of these words in the form of insults is just not ok with me.

[Shawna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started off interesting enough but half way through I just wanted to get it done so I could move on to something else.

[Katie Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some GREAT quotes in this book.

Here are a couple:

"Maybe its not what you believe in, just that you believe in the first place."

"... you can spend your whole life living up or down to other people's expectations, but in the end, the only thing that matters is living up to your own."

"For those who believe, there's no explanation needed. For those who don't believe, no explanation will suffice."

"It's like life's this slippery slope and we're never really in control and sometimes it seems like running into a tree is the worst thing that could ever happen, when really it's what stops us from going over the cliff."

[Hannah Puckett · Rating 4 out of 5]

an interesting read for sure. i liked monroe’s stream of consciousness, unreliable narration because it was fun to follow along with. however, there were too many quotable statements, and some parts seemed to hit the nail too exactly on the head. i thought annika’s direct criticism at the end was weird, but also voiced a lot of valid concerns about religion. when you think about it, the expected ending would plaster her as more of a neutral poster child, so it’s cool she stood up to her mom. fuck the epilogue though, it was weird and totally unnecessary. i thought the book ending was good without it

[Kat Kovar · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book "Maybe A Miracle" kept me turning pages and I just couldn't put it down. The story line of a high schooler who saves his little sister from drowning and is kept on edge while waiting for her to come out of a coma is hauntingly interesting. The novel is quick paced and pulls the reader in instantly. I liked how this book continued to surprise me often leaving me wondering how I fell into the authors trap so easily. Religion also played a major part in this book and I found myself looking at christianity in a different light. Quotes like these truly made me question God:

"I ask, "Do you think prayers help?"
"I think they mainly help the people who pray. It makes them think they're doing something when they don't know what else to do. But who knows? Maybe if enough people get together it becomes something bigger. You know, like one of those things where the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts."
"But you don't believe In god."
"Maybe it's not what you believe in, just that you believe in the first place. It's like the Reds. Do you think it helps when you root for them?"
"Well . . . yeah."
"Well, maybe praying is like rooting for your favorite team, just quieter."

The emotion in this book is powerful enough to bring tears to my eyes. So by turns this heart wrenching, and humorous novel will show you an unforgettable journey through the life of teenage Monroe.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. When I bought the book a few years ago, its opening scene stuck with me this whole time. It was certainly memorable! Monroe’s narration of his sister, Annika, and her remarkable story flowed very naturally. An audiobook version would probably be really terrific as well. Strause balanced the touching and emotional scenes with some fun, realistic and genuine-feeling dialogue. While the miracles in the novel have appeared in other pieces of literature, the uniqueness of Monroe’s perspective gives this book a very fresh feeling. Throughout the course of the entire book, the point-of-view remains consistent and authentic. Strause is certainly a talented author and this is an impressive debut. I am looking forward to reading more from him. A surprising amount of action is crammed into this story, but it all unfolds in such a natural way that it never feels too busy or distracting. It is very well-written and I will be keeping an eye out for more from this author!

[Adam E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a freshman in high school. Im 14 and I think Maybe A Miracle was a ⅘ star rating. The reason I didn’t give this book a 5 star out of 5 is that I thought it took a while for the book to start getting into the action. On the other hand, I gave this book four stars because once the book got going I couldn’t put the book down. I really liked the ending to this book and I thought the author Brian Strause did a really good job of giving you an emotional connection to the characters. I liked how he tied in the different parts of Monroe's life and showed how the stress was weighing on him and how he was dealing with it.

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the night of his senior prom, Monroe finds his younger sister, Annika, floating facedown in the family's pool. I'd have been MORE interested if the book was just about the effect that Annika's coma has on the family, but instead, Annika becomes famous as people all over the country become convinced that she is a "victim soul" who can cure others by taking on their pain and suffering. I did like the book, but I got irritated with all of the "miracle" crap -- even though Monroe, our narrator, doesn't believe any of it himself.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This must be the most underrated book! I couldn't *wait* to find out if Annika came out of the coma. I loved that the ending was basically left up to the reader and I loved the tongue in cheek humour throughout. Such an easy, interesting read and I didn't want this to end. I just wish there was more from Brian Strause..

[Saleh MoonWalker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Onvan : Maybe a Miracle - Nevisande : Brian Strause - ISBN : 812975197 - ISBN13 : 9780812975192 - Dar 368 Safhe - Saal e Chap : 2005

[Tess · Rating 4 out of 5]

First novel. High school boy, sister in coma-really gets inside his head, his family, and religion.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eighteen-year old Monroe saves his sister Annika from drowning in their pool. He adores his sister; she is probably his best friend despite being seven years younger. She goes into a persistent vegetative state, and miracles start to occur. These miracles impact everyone differently; Monroe's mother sees the work of God; his father starts to drink heavily. The family is in an impossible position - if Annika is an instrument of God, getting closer to her means getting closer to God. People file in and out of their lives; the family is a media sensation. People believe Annika heals. There are hints of "Catcher in the Rye" and of the Terri Schiavo case.

The reader experiences all this through the eyes of a teenager who lives largely in his own head; like John Green characters, he's snappy and sarcastic and witty while mainly remaining a passive character; it is only when he acts rather than thinks that the plot progresses. We place our hopes in the next generation, and Monroe and his girlfriends do not disappoint - Monroe is skeptical about consumerism and about the Catholic church and suburbia and popularity. He can see the flaws of his adult role models. Baseball and love of music are all that is pure.

Monroe's mother turns to religion to cope with the tragedy, to make sense of it. Her convictions keep Annika out of Oakside so good does come of it, but she sincerely believes that Annika is suffering, that in her suffering she is with God, and it is God's will that she suffer. She actually believes this, that Annika takes on the suffering of other people (and sometimes cures them), and she still allows Annika to come into contact w/ the sickly faithful - she facilitates the suffering. Overall it struck me as somewhat overwritten - there were too many examples of mom as crazy religious nut and father as an alcoholic, dirty lawyer and brother as a mean sadist.

[Jill Furedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filling in notes from my 2006 book journal:
I'd seen this title at work on display when it first came out, so when I saw Jodi Picoult's website mentioned it as a favorite, I thought I'd give it a try. Due to an uneventful day, I finished it all in one afternoon. As it turns out with Picoult recommending it - it was a book with stigmata, like her Keeping Faith book. His main character is easier to relate to than hers usually are though, probably because his is told from first person. Even though one of the characters is in a coma and tragedies visit most members of this family, the story never gets bogged down and he keeps it light with sarcasm or observational humor.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I especially enjoyed being inside Monroe’s head as he thought about what he should and shouldn’t say. Something I really did not like, and maybe this is just a politically correct thing of the moment, but the use of the word “retarded“ was used way too much not just with the teenagers talking. I’m not sure why that word had to keep being used. This book is not that old for it to be in the vernacular at that time. Still, I would strongly suggest reading it, very very interesting And humorous.

[Jojo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do think this book could be improved with some editing because it got a bit redundant for me at times in the story about his mother’s extreme faith and Annika’s condition.

However I really loved the main character, Monroe, and early on made the comparison to Holden Canfield before I read other folks making the same observation. There were many passages in the book I wanted to highlight. I’m surprised this author is not more known. I can’t find that he’s even written another novel . I wish he would though.

[Mindy Gough · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was this supposed to be YA? It wasn't noted on the library label as YA but seemed that it should have been.

This book was ok; the stigmata and petals remained unexplained but I guess that was the point. The pacing was a bit challenging for me - the event that launched the whole tale seemed to be tossed into the narrative, and then very big events for the narrator (ie. a break up) are mentioned almost as throw-away lines.

The use of outdated/homophobic/racist/cruel words was also really troubling.

This one just wasn't for me.

[Sneha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpectedly good book. The main character discovers his sister in a coma on the night of his senior prom. Grief comes in many forms, a lot of fiction I've read doesn't delve into it the way this one does - each member of the family has a very different reaction to the youngest being in a coma. I have little to nothing in common with the characters, yet it felt relatable and well told. Many laugh out loud moments, things that made me smile - it's not all doom and gloom.

All of it added to an enjoyable read. Would definitely recommend.

[Kim andrea Brofeldt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fandt den på bibliotekets ungdomsbogshylder, men tænke rikke det er en ungdomsbog som sådan. Fortælleren er en teenagedreng, men hans stemme er sarkastisk, voksen og morsom, og den fremstår meget som en roman af Jonathan tropper fx.
Der gik lidt tomgang i historien undervejs, og jeg ville personligt ønske det ikke havde været kristne mirakler, men alt i alt er det en god bog. Han skriver rigtigt godt.
Mellem 3 og 4 stjerner. Ender på 4, for fortællerstemmen.

[Kaitlyn Concilio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Depressing as hell, but a fantastic book.

[Traci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the story, but it was hard to read. I skipped quite a few chapters to find out what happened at the end.

[saloni · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't really like it because it got really boring and nothing really happened in the story that made me want to keep reading it.

[Ktbird · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and insightful. Annika nearly drowns and her prom-bound brother drags her from the pool, setting off a chain of introspections and miracles.

[Ashley Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very different story but I liked it!

[V · Rating 3 out of 5]

ending didn't feel fulfilled - i was wishing for more almost.

[Teddy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting book. Really 2 1/2 stars, but I rounded down due to the homophobic comments. Overall not bad, but a little strange - and a little homophobic.

[BlanchRanch]

Boring beginning. Kinda funny. End is a little predictable. Overall pretty good. Religion stuff

[Suzette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn’t sure the direction the book was going at times. Kept some of my interest. I do feel the ending wrapped up quickly. The epilogue was different and kind of strange.

[Charissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t care for it. 2.75 ⭐️

[Olivia Eyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this book from Goodwill so didn’t expect much but throughly enjoyed it!