Miracles for Michael

by Joann Arnold

A terrible accident in a strange town leaves nine-year-old Michael Downing alone and his mother hospitalized in a coma. Social workers place him under the charge of two women--Harley-riding Samantha Porter and her spinster sister, Hannah Allen. As they care for him, Michael visits his mother each day in the hospital, singing and reading to her, and his spirit touches the town in miraculous ways. When his unloving grandparents try to take custody of young Michael, his local caregivers resist them in court and help to shape Michael's future in a series of events that climax on a wonderful, life-changing Christmas day.

Genres: Lds Fiction

234 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2004

Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve had this book on my TBR shelf for many years, but finally picked it up the other day. My mother and I were assigned this book in a book club, so reading it knowing she had read it was a tender mercy.

The book is an unapologetic celebration of the miracles of life — and the force behind them ... divine love. It moved along quickly, and even though all bows were tied up neatly with nary a character left without a happy ending ... I still found myself delighted and happy right along with the characters.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very good, I really liked it. It was wonderfully written and it had an amazing story to it. This tells a story of love and hope. I cried and laughed over this book. This is most definitely one of my new favorites.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a heartwarming, sweet, faith-promoting story with a lot of happy endings. I really enjoyed it.

[Kristie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet book about faith, hope and love.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a thoroughly enjoyable heartwarming story that felt like I was reading a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. You know what I mean if you've watch those. There was poignant moments of sadness and joy.

The story is about a young boy who has gone through a great deal of tragedy with the death of his father to illness, the death of his brother and mother in coma from a car accident and being placed into foster care. He has run away from each foster home and the story begins when he is caught running away from the last one the day after Thanksgiving. Fortunately he is caught by Samantha, a middle aged gal with a heart of gold. She goes to Michael's social worker and pleads her case to be considered for his next placement. David has tried almost every available good family on his list and decides that maybe something different is called for and he has known Samantha, her sister Hannah, their cousin Pamelia and their niece Sarah as fine upstanding people. He puts the choice to Michael about staying in the home with these ladies or going to the detention center for Christmas. Michael is just planning to run away again so he figures the home of the old gals would be easier to run away from.

Michael soon learns that Samantha is something special. He tries to run away and succeeds only to get tracked down in the cold snow before he could die from exposure. Samantha and the others prove their care when they arrange for him to see his mother. He is also surrounded by kind Dr. Martin, his mother's Dr. Matthew, his case worker, David, and so many others. Each of the ladies Michael lives with have their own touching stories. Michael is the one to get things moving in everyone's life, but it is Samantha who brings it all together. Hannah has been cold and withdrawn from life for years, Pamelia is a hypochondriac after the death of her husband and neglect of her too busy son, Sarah is attracted to Michael's social worker, but he is non-religious and was critical of their religion. Samantha with the help of Michael decides to go into the miracle business and try to see if they can get things worked out satisfactorily for everyone for Christmas including Michael who each day goes to his mother's bedside hoping his stories and singing will wake her up. When Michael's custody becomes an issue, Samantha and the others must really work hard and together to keep him and will Kate his mom wake up in time to help the case? Will Samantha and Michael's miracles come together to make for a good Christmas for all?

The story is gentle and sweet with a slower pace and many wonderfully written characters. I thought the storytelling was great at drawing in interest and feelings from the start. I think the creation of the character Samantha is fabulous. A fifty-three year old fun loving woman who roars through town on her Harley D, plotting miracles with a seven year old and snitching sugar cookies is just too fun. That whole houseful of women and their friends worked really well and I loved where the story went with them. Definitely a comfort read!

This is inspirational LDS fiction for anyone who is unaware. I am not of that persuasion, but I still really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.

[Chanae · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book a few years ago so when I saw it for at the Library Book sale I decided to get it. I liked this story - it is very touching and sweet. My only complaints have to do with 1) editing (misspelled words, author saying the same thing multiple time), 2)the young boy Michael sometimes talks and "thinks" as if he's the same age as Samantha (58ish?) which made it hard to believe that he was a vunerable little boy,and 3) the ending was a little too much (everyone had a love interest at the end of the book, which I thought was unrealistic and not needed as the center of the story was Michael and his Mom - I think his mom waking up is enough of a happy ending). So other than that it was an enjoyable easy read.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this and only brought it down from a four to a three because I thought the ending too storybook perfect. Michael's father and younger brother are dead and his mother is in a coma in the hospital. He is regularly running away from foster homes until he is found by a motorcycle riding woman when she sees him in a park during a storm. She and her sister take him in. This estranged grandparents arrive to try to take him away while his Mom is unresponsive. Story about the power of love.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so surprised that I absolutely loved this book. It was a great read! I think that it is fun that my grandparents know the author personaly!

[Lewestover · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story line is maybe a little too pat, but it is still a sweet read.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

So uplifting and fun to read!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is heart wrentching Dad maybe you would like this book

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great little book. A bit predictable, but sometimes I can like that in a book.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartwarming story! I loved it!

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michael's thoughts seem at times too mature/out of character for a nine-year-old, even one who has suffered emotional trauma. Still, this is a touching story.

[Keena]

I really liked how the book showed how a village can help to raise a child.

[N. Bowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite books. A very touching story.

[Niki · Rating 2 out of 5]

A sweet little story with very shallow writing

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are never alone...Faith inspiring....

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cheesy, but alright. Not really my kind of book, however, the story was fine.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

quick read

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story about a boy in foster care and how love produces miracles.