What do you think?
Rate this book
The Theft & the Miracle
On a cold, rainy day, ordinary Hannah Price stumbles into the cathedral and does something extraordinary--almost in a trance, she makes a perfect drawing of an antique carving of the Virgin and Child, capturing their every detail.
The next day the statue of the Child is taken from the Virgin's arms, and a few days later Hannah is interviewed by the police. Soon, strange things start happening to her. An odd man keeps appearing. The portrait she painted of her best friend, Sam, is vandalized. Is it all related to the theft? Hannah is determined to find the statue, even if it will take a miracle.
Rebecca Wade has crafted a thriller that will puzzle and provoke every reader until its stunning conclusion.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
5 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Wade
11 books11 followersLibrarian note: There is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads database.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
September 11, 2008
I liked this book. I looked forward to having a quiet moment to read it, but it wasn't quite the can't-put-it-down variety. The author is obviously a talented writer, and I liked the main character and her friend, but the story was inconsistent. At times it seemed very well thought out and the clues to the mystery were intriguing, but the end seemed overall weak. The bad guy tells the good guy exactly what has been going on, and I'm reading it wondering why he's telling her and what the whole point is. I still don't know exactly what the bad guy planned to do with the restored statue, or how that would help him obtain power. I also don't understand why the statue's healing powers disappeared over time. Does that sort of thing just wear off? I really liked reading this book, and I'd read other stuff by this author, but I wish this mystery had a more clear and satisfying resolution.
October 29, 2008
A great premise, but the writing was surprisingly amateurish--too many adverbs, one-dimensional characters, plotlines that don't go anywhere, implausible events, a Mary Sue narrator, a (very long) "here's what happened" ending... it read almost like a first draft, while at the same time you feel like the author slaved over it (and so I feel almost guilty for saying all that).
I'm surprised that a previous commenter was offended by the portrayal of Wicca "as a religion", since the portrayal was not positive. Some of it was fairly accurate, but I think the young reader would come away with a negative/scared feeling about Wicca.
I'm surprised that a previous commenter was offended by the portrayal of Wicca "as a religion", since the portrayal was not positive. Some of it was fairly accurate, but I think the young reader would come away with a negative/scared feeling about Wicca.
August 21, 2020
In this book we follow Hannah Price, one day she takes shelter from a storm in a cathedral and comes across a unique statue. The next day part of the statue is stolen and soon after Hannah is interviewed by the police. After that strange things start happening - will Hannah track down who really stole the statue? And is there something else going on?
So this book wasn't bad, I expected it to be a lot more religious than it was which is a positive. The book has a little bit of everything - we have a little bit of magic, history, supernatural etc. as the statue is believed to have protected the town from the plague and after part of it goes missing a flu breaks out in the town - are the stories of its protection true?
I can't say I overly loved this book, it read like a young teen book (which unfortunately I certainly am not) so although we did have a mystery aspect it didn't fully grip me. However I did enjoy it and it certainly wasn't a bad book, the mystery is fun and did keep me entertained throughout.
I do think the ending felt a little rushed to me and even though everything was explained I still felt like there were quite a few loose ends or things that just didn't quite add up so it did get a little confusing.
Overall I probably would recommend this book (just about), I would definitely suggest picking it up from your library if you are looking for a quick mystery with some religious and magical aspects. However if you're looking for something a bit deeper and more gripping then this isn't really the book for you. The story is just ok but the ending felt rushed and the mystery just average.
So this book wasn't bad, I expected it to be a lot more religious than it was which is a positive. The book has a little bit of everything - we have a little bit of magic, history, supernatural etc. as the statue is believed to have protected the town from the plague and after part of it goes missing a flu breaks out in the town - are the stories of its protection true?
I can't say I overly loved this book, it read like a young teen book (which unfortunately I certainly am not) so although we did have a mystery aspect it didn't fully grip me. However I did enjoy it and it certainly wasn't a bad book, the mystery is fun and did keep me entertained throughout.
I do think the ending felt a little rushed to me and even though everything was explained I still felt like there were quite a few loose ends or things that just didn't quite add up so it did get a little confusing.
Overall I probably would recommend this book (just about), I would definitely suggest picking it up from your library if you are looking for a quick mystery with some religious and magical aspects. However if you're looking for something a bit deeper and more gripping then this isn't really the book for you. The story is just ok but the ending felt rushed and the mystery just average.
October 30, 2016
One evening, a poor man in the 14 century, is given the job to build a statue of Virgin and baby Jesus. He puts his pride in his work, and when he finally finishes it, ready to take his reward, he went out for food with the last of his money, three lonely pennies, and buys a loaf of freshly baked bread and a bottle of ale. He could not get water from the well because more often than not, the water was dirty from wild animals pooping in it, and even more often he would get sick, and he had no money to spare for medicine. On his way home, he saw a woman with a baby in her arms, pain and hunger reflected on their faces. The man decided that this woman and the baby need the food more than he did, even though hunger clawed at his stomach. He gave the woman the loaf of bread and the bottle of ale. When he reached home, he climbed a flight of steps and fell dead. The story continues in the 21st century with an overweight girl with bad skin and much acne called Hannah. Nobody bothered about her except Sam. She was bad at everything but art. She drew wonderful ever changing pictures in detail. One afternoon, she stayed late after school talking to on of the teachers about the homework, and when she finally left the staffroom, she found Katie preparing to leave school. She had no raincoat, so Hannah offered her coat to Katie, and because she had not eaten lunch, Hannah bought her a Mars Bar and a Coke bottle. As Katie and Hannah left school, the pouring rain attacked their backs trying to soak them. Katie escaped to her bus, but Hannah's bus stop was far away, so she ran into the cathedral. What a sight awaited her there. The statue of Virgin and Jesus as beautiful as ever, their faces reflected love and joy. Hannah sat down, mesmerized, and she drew the wonderful statue. Ten minutes later, the chaplain was standing over her shoulder and staring at the beautiful picture of the statue, mesmerized. Hannah left minutes later to find that the rain had cleared. She arrived at the bus stop just in time to catch the correct minibus and went home. Hannah did the stupid homework and lay in bed. Her parents called her for dinner, and she heard the news reporter discussing the theft of baby Jesus. She was astounded. Hours ago it was in Virgin's arms and now, at a thief's mercy. It was a 600-year-old treasure and its value inestimable. It was also said that after it had been created a poor beggar, the black death plague affected no one in the city. It was supposed to have healing powers. What did the thief want from baby Jesus? Would he offer it for ransom? Was he a criminal who wanted all his records erased? With these questions in her mind, Hannah left for the cathedral. As she entered the cathedral, her change fell out of her wallet and rolled around a column. She bent and picked it up and with it came a tiny piece of a stick and she hastily put it in her pocket and left hurriedly went home. After closer inspection with her friend, Sam, they discovered that it was baby Jesus's pinkie finger. Amazing. What will happen now? Read the book for more information.
The characters in a good book always change. I would like to share three characters, two major characters, and one minor character. Hannah Prince: She is an acne prone girl with bad skin and overweight stomach. She thinks that everyone hates her because she is so ugly and bad in all the subjects. The only thing she was good at was art. She barely had two friends. Until at the end of the book, she finds out that one of her only friends had betrayed her, but she still wanted to be friends. She thought that the rich girl in the class hated her and that she had not even invited Hannah to her birthday even though everyone was invited. Hannah thought that the rich girl was the cause of all her problems. She finally found out at the end of the story that the rich girl was defending her from bullies and that someone had stolen the invitation. Hannah changed at the end of the story that it was not her weight or her skin, or her acne that counted; it was her thoughts and her heart that counted. The ending in the story filled up the blank spots and made life continue in an uncrazy way, typical in any story. The ending was not original, they did not show the future, and it makes us think there should be a sequel or something because the story ends abruptly, we need more action. That is is why the ending is not appropriate for this book. The setting in this story is especially unique because the setting is in the present, with a realistic fiction setting and characters, nothing out of the ordinary, so it makes it more believable and it helps you sink into the story. Because it is a very good page turner, it is like watching a movie.
The book had an amazing voice and was full of amazing actions and amazing suspense. My favorite part was when Hannah received a letter from the association that had organized the painting contest. She had won 2,000 pounds worth of computer equipment for her school and 300 pounds for herself. Hannah had just woken up with the flu. She read it, and her mind started spinning. She had to lie down again. Imagine having the bad flu and winning 2,300 pounds. My least favorite part of the book was the break-in. "As Hannah entered the living room, her mouth dropped in shock. The robber had thrown all the books on the ground and put the ornaments on the ground. The spice jars lay open, the cupboard doors in the midst of overturned pans and saucers. The worst room was her own. On her bed, her teddy bears were torn, and the stuffing was falling on the ground like flakes of dried blood. The small boxes that were usually neatly arranged were now overturned piles of junk and toys. A disaster." I would recommend this book to Alia Kafil because she loved Harry Potter and Percy Jackson so she will love this book.
The characters in a good book always change. I would like to share three characters, two major characters, and one minor character. Hannah Prince: She is an acne prone girl with bad skin and overweight stomach. She thinks that everyone hates her because she is so ugly and bad in all the subjects. The only thing she was good at was art. She barely had two friends. Until at the end of the book, she finds out that one of her only friends had betrayed her, but she still wanted to be friends. She thought that the rich girl in the class hated her and that she had not even invited Hannah to her birthday even though everyone was invited. Hannah thought that the rich girl was the cause of all her problems. She finally found out at the end of the story that the rich girl was defending her from bullies and that someone had stolen the invitation. Hannah changed at the end of the story that it was not her weight or her skin, or her acne that counted; it was her thoughts and her heart that counted. The ending in the story filled up the blank spots and made life continue in an uncrazy way, typical in any story. The ending was not original, they did not show the future, and it makes us think there should be a sequel or something because the story ends abruptly, we need more action. That is is why the ending is not appropriate for this book. The setting in this story is especially unique because the setting is in the present, with a realistic fiction setting and characters, nothing out of the ordinary, so it makes it more believable and it helps you sink into the story. Because it is a very good page turner, it is like watching a movie.
The book had an amazing voice and was full of amazing actions and amazing suspense. My favorite part was when Hannah received a letter from the association that had organized the painting contest. She had won 2,000 pounds worth of computer equipment for her school and 300 pounds for herself. Hannah had just woken up with the flu. She read it, and her mind started spinning. She had to lie down again. Imagine having the bad flu and winning 2,300 pounds. My least favorite part of the book was the break-in. "As Hannah entered the living room, her mouth dropped in shock. The robber had thrown all the books on the ground and put the ornaments on the ground. The spice jars lay open, the cupboard doors in the midst of overturned pans and saucers. The worst room was her own. On her bed, her teddy bears were torn, and the stuffing was falling on the ground like flakes of dried blood. The small boxes that were usually neatly arranged were now overturned piles of junk and toys. A disaster." I would recommend this book to Alia Kafil because she loved Harry Potter and Percy Jackson so she will love this book.
January 4, 2023
75%
"Magic and miracles! These are just words. Words that men use to show their disapproval of one and their reverence for the other. That is why witches have always been persecuted, but priests respected. In the end, there is only one word - wisdom!"
Kind of made witchcraft/paganism look bad in the end, especially with , which felt unnecessary, especially considering that the great quote I included above was included earlier in the book.
"Saturday morning's sky had the clear, blue-eyed innocence of child who has quite forgotten yesterday's tantrums."
"The words looked like writing remembered from a dream: charged with significance at the time, but in the end quite meaningless."
"Magic and miracles! These are just words. Words that men use to show their disapproval of one and their reverence for the other. That is why witches have always been persecuted, but priests respected. In the end, there is only one word - wisdom!"
Kind of made witchcraft/paganism look bad in the end, especially with , which felt unnecessary, especially considering that the great quote I included above was included earlier in the book.
"Saturday morning's sky had the clear, blue-eyed innocence of child who has quite forgotten yesterday's tantrums."
"The words looked like writing remembered from a dream: charged with significance at the time, but in the end quite meaningless."
March 19, 2017
young adult book - mystery, some history mixed in, some supernatural and spiritual as well. examination of good and evil - if you liked Winter's Tale - you will love this book. A lovely young adult mystery novel with a surprise theological twist at the end. It is a story about a young teen outcast, overweight and feeling unattractive but with a unique artistic gift who finds herself in the middle of intrigue when the historic Christ statue of the town's cathedral disappears. The statue protected the town through the plague years, and as soon as it disappears, a flu epidemic breaks out. Wade explores the questions of actual spiritual power, the interpretation of that spiritual power, and the value of charity. the mystery of the theft and the mystery of who the teen Hannah really is are inextricably tied together. Some of it is definitely for young adults and you chuckle to yourself, but on the whole an inspirational, fun mystery book examining God and his power among us and Satan (evil/darkness) and his power among us. Some parts were a bit too simplistic and actually silly - but on the whole, an excellent book. I would read more of her work.
October 15, 2019
Good mystery for young people. Hannah’s character is not real deep, but her relationship with Sam is priceless.
March 6, 2015
Heather Price is a normal girl, living in a British town where the biggest tourist draw is the cathedral, one of the few not destroyed in WWII. She had never been to the cathedral outside of field trips, but a chance to help one of her school friends by lending a coat during a rain storm sends Heather to the cathedral to hide out and wait for the storm to pass. She finds herself studying the statue, hand carved out of oak, of Mary and the baby Jesus, and develops an urge to sketch them.
So she does, feverishly, barely remembering any time has passed. And when she raises her head the storm is over, and her sketch is touted as amazing.
This starts a very peculiar correspondence between Heather and the statue - specifically of the baby, as it can be removed from Mary's arms. When the baby goes missing, and Heather is one of the suspects, it's up to her and her best friend, Sam, to try and figure out who stole the baby, and why. There's just one problem - somehow, the baby's finger gets caught up in Heather's scarf, and now, it seems she's being stalked for it.
A book written for tweens, it's a good look at a small town and the mysteries surrounding it, with a little faith-based magic thrown in.
So she does, feverishly, barely remembering any time has passed. And when she raises her head the storm is over, and her sketch is touted as amazing.
This starts a very peculiar correspondence between Heather and the statue - specifically of the baby, as it can be removed from Mary's arms. When the baby goes missing, and Heather is one of the suspects, it's up to her and her best friend, Sam, to try and figure out who stole the baby, and why. There's just one problem - somehow, the baby's finger gets caught up in Heather's scarf, and now, it seems she's being stalked for it.
A book written for tweens, it's a good look at a small town and the mysteries surrounding it, with a little faith-based magic thrown in.
October 24, 2010
The Theft and the Miracle is about overwieght Hannah Price who gets involved in a mystery. One day, she enters the cathedral and draws a perfect drawing of the Virgin and Child. The next day the statue of the Child is stolen. Thats when strange things start to happen to Hannah and she determined to find out what happened, even if it will take a miracle.
I loved The Theft and the Miracle because it was very suspensful and mysterious. The author really pulled me in with the plot. She was detailed but didn't go overboard with detail. I also liked how the author wove in some side mysteries and riddles, but tied it all together in the end. This book is definitely one of my favorite books.
I loved The Theft and the Miracle because it was very suspensful and mysterious. The author really pulled me in with the plot. She was detailed but didn't go overboard with detail. I also liked how the author wove in some side mysteries and riddles, but tied it all together in the end. This book is definitely one of my favorite books.
September 21, 2011
Sometimes it is easier to gush over a four- or five-star book than to explain why I am not giving a particular book four or five stars. To give three stars means it was OK but I'm really not recommending it to my friends.
The story was OK, and actually not the run-of-the-mill story. Although I'm a religious person, I was not overly taken by the "religious powers of statuary" part of the story. I liked the characters. I liked the "English" feel to the story (as opposed to an "American" feel to a story). I would read future books by Rebecca Wade.
The story was OK, and actually not the run-of-the-mill story. Although I'm a religious person, I was not overly taken by the "religious powers of statuary" part of the story. I liked the characters. I liked the "English" feel to the story (as opposed to an "American" feel to a story). I would read future books by Rebecca Wade.
May 24, 2012
Hannah and Sam are well-defined and highly likable characters which is what keeps me going in my least favorite genre, mystery. Wade also does a masterful job of creating a sense of place and time. The plot, however, was a bit confusing especially at the end when too much was happening too fast (it would have be a 4 star if I had stopped 3/4 through, but then I would not have know how it ended!). This is a first novel and I am trusting the her next will be better.
November 27, 2007
I feel conlicted about this one. It was a gripping book, very hard to put down, but some elements were disturbing. I didn't appreciate the discussion on Satanic worship and Wicca as a religion. However Christianity was the religion championed in the end. I definitely won't read this or recommend it to my kids.
January 23, 2012
It was a pretty good book. There were some grammer errors :( It bugged someone so much that in one part the put the correct puntuation in. lol :) Over all it was really easy to get into, fun, and kept me guessing! :)
June 26, 2013
The plot twists in this book were actually really unexpected, but they were a good unexpected. It was one of the best books I've read recently, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in trying something new.
July 1, 2007
This was a really intriguing and original mystery.
February 14, 2008
An unusual book - I couldn't put it down until I was done although had sworn to go to bed early.
June 15, 2022
This book was amazing! It is such a mystery that has you guessing the whole way! The ending is so unexpected! It is such a good book!
January 2, 2012
I thought this was going to be a fantasy but it was more of a mystery and mysteries are always a little weird(this is the first book I read on my Kindle Fire that I got for Christmas!)
May 11, 2016
This was a really good book. At first I thought it took place in the middle ages but its really in the present.
April 25, 2013
I love it. Good things and weird things, yes! Happens to ordinary, normal people like Hannah and Sam.
November 30, 2013
Wasn't one of my favorite books but it was interesting but I can't say that I'm going to re read this book anytime soon
Read
August 26, 2016This book has a wonderful set story. It makes you imagine the world you see and it makes you care about the book
Read
September 1, 2016I quit this book because I felt that there was a lot of fantasy in the book. And it felt really confusing.
February 27, 2022
Interesting moments and weird moments
July 3, 2012
Intense and unpredictable (to me anyways:), this book is a great mystery.
March 31, 2017
I liked this book of a misfit girl that is chosen to save the day. I liked the spiritual thread through the story. I very much loved the chapters of all the miracles that occurred on Christmas eve. The anti-climax was detailed and revealed that assumptions and misunderstandings can make a mess of things. This book was heart-warming.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews