The Probability of Miracles

Turn those hard-thrown lemons into lemonade!

Dandelions, flamingoes, and a town named Promise? Everything about The Probability Of Miracles sounds too good to be true. Improbably so. And yet. somehow Wendy Wunder pulls you into this story with main character whose doubts outnumber her dreams and leaves you wanting to believe that wishes can come true.

THE GOOD BITS

{Cam's humor with the perfect dash of sarcasm.} Without a doubt, this story would be way different if there had been any less snark - or if there had been too much. Maybe more melancholy, maybe more tragic, but definitely a lot less enjoyable. Cam and I share the same sort of humor - the same reflex to crack a joke, even during the worst of times - the same need to guard ourselves from heartbreak and disappointment, even when happiness seems possible. Which made it a lot easier for me to sink into The Probability Of Miracles and follow Cam as her shields start to melt.

{The bucket list.} What an ambitious to-do list! Delectably realistic that ranges from the simple to silly to emotionally-fragile. Life is all about risks, and living is all about taking them - or choosing not to. Cam makes a list of experiences that she considers "normal" for a teenager which involves breaking both hearts and rules. I loved how you never quite knew how certain items would play out.

{Little sister Perry.} I loved this little cupcake of a girl! Not too young to fade into the background, not too old to make the drama into a catfight. She provided some comic relief when Cam turned into a regular Grumpy. I also have to admire Perry's cheerful-but-tough exterior. She reminds me a little of Scrappy Doo: tiny, adorable, and wise beyond her years.

THE BAD BITS

{Almost too perfect?} I honestly cannot complain too much about The Probability Of Miracles being too perfect - because I wouldn't want it any other way. Wendy Wunder dished out the right balance between good and bad news, and while sometimes the good news felt too good to be true, I think it reflects how life can sometimes hand you lemonade when hope seems like a big joke.

THE OVERALL

If I learned anything from The Probability Of Miracles, it is that hope can be persistent, especially when you have loved ones. Quirky, unexpected, sarcastic, bittersweet, and altogether full of life, this story will steal your breath away - from laughing, from crying, and from sheer wonder when Promise, Maine, lives up to its name.

8 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

Woahhh!

A really truely awesome book . Not your average cheesey teen book. You'll laugh , you'll cry .... you'll be inspired. Love , love , love! Read it!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

You should buy this book.

Reasons to read The Probability of Miracles. . .

Having fought a serious illness for most of her childhood, the protagonist, Cam, finds that she was so busy fighting for her life that she has forgotten how to live. The Probability of Miracles is the story of Cam¿s realization that there is more to living than dying. Cam has one more shot at youth: a summer in a beautiful, magical town called Promise surrounded by people who love her and new friends she never expected to make.

The Probability of Miracles has a lot going for it. . . some of which follows:

The Probability of Miracles¿ Cam is a powerful protagonist: She is smart, funny and oh-so-real. She¿s the kind of girl who names her car and adopts a lobster. Cam will quickly become someone you really like, and you can easily get behind the decisions that she makes. When you close the book you will wish you had her cell phone number so you can keep in touch.

It¿s a story with a bit of magic. (key phrase- a bit): In the tradition of magical realism, Wunder¿s use of magic is subtle. The action doesn¿t stop whenever a bit of magic appears; it is accepted as part of life in Promise and the characters work with it. Wunder also thankfully keeps mythical creatures to a minimum: no vampires and no wizards, just one messed-up donkey.

It¿s a redemption story: For years Cam and her family¿s focus has been on Cam and her illness. Unintentionally and understandably, Cam became centered on. . . herself. As Cam starts to enjoy and live her life in Promise, she realizes her wrongs: impatient with her sister¿s belief in unicorns, unsupportive of her friend¿s relationship, dismissive of the man who loves her mom. Cam sets out to right these wrongs: she stops thinking of herself and instead finds ways (really funny and clever ways) to show her loved ones that she cares about them. It¿s a book that leaves you feeling good. Sounds simple, but isn¿t that the goal of a good read?

Most importantly, The Probability of Miracles will make you laugh! Wunder is so funny: Cam¿s witty observations, the characters¿ dialogue, and the action of the story come together to make this really well-written book a place to get happy.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I laughed & I cried

A fantastic novel. Heartfelt without being sappy, hilarious without being silly. And the writing is so good...it's obvious the author clearly cares not just about her characters, but about every word.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Good read

Read this book in one day. I reccomend this book if you like romance, truly inspiring.

this book is totally and completely uplifting. ONe of the best b

this book is totally and completely uplifting. ONe of the best books i have read thi year so far. This is a must read. LOVE IT!

Wow.. just wow. This book was SO DIFFERENT from what I was expec

Wow.. just wow. This book was SO DIFFERENT from what I was expecting going into the story. Yes it is about a cancer patient, going to a 'magical' place that might cure the cancer, but I wasn't expecting the book to be dripping in sarcasm. First of, Cam was basically dragged into this supposed magical town, because she has given up. She doesn't think she'll ever be cured and just accepted it. However, by accepting her fate she didn't just lock herself in her room and treat herself as a weak cancer patient, she went all out. Half of what she did in the story, I would never have the guts to do! It definitely made me rethink my predisposed ideas of the definition of a 'sick patient'.
At the beginning I wasn't entirely comfortable with Wendy Wunder's writing. It seemed too direct and full on. However as I continued reading, I found myself enjoying the writing, and laughing along multiple times. Cam is definitely the comic relief in this story, ironic since she, herself, is the reason for the grief and sad aspect in the story. Some parts of the book had me gasping, while others just warmed my heart, especially Cam and her love for animals. This book is a perfect contemporary that warms your heart but at the same time doesn't lose sight of the reality of the situation, even with all the magical wackiness that occurs. I'm pretty sure those were there for a reason, and that is to bring back the hope and dreams of the future that Cam believes she can't have, and to let her live in the moment, because the right now is what we can guarantee. All in all this book is fantastic and you should all read it and I can't wait to read the next novel by Wendy!

BUY THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This book is really good. First of all, Im not ome to be really into third person point of view, but the author did such a good job of tieing in Cam's sarcasm that I forgot a couple of times that it actually was third person.

I dunno, its not everyday that you find a third person POV so easy to relate to.

Second of all, the plot was simple and easy to relate to. I hate books with overdone plots and waaaay too much stuff going on. But thats not saying the book was boring. It had so many little twists in the plot and you know in the end of the book there would be only two outcomes that it makes you keep on switching predictions.

Lastly, Cam is just an awesome character. Her personallity is just so painfully real that it sets her far appart from most other protagonists Ive found myself rooting for in a book. I love her witty humor that keeps a potentially tragic book from becoming plain old depressing. Cam's love for Cumulus makes me want a VW Beetle too : )

An emotional read.

First of all, I really enjoy that the author's name is Wendy Wunder. I can't help but think of how well it coincides with what her book is about, miracles and believing in them.

The main character, Cam, has been dealing with cancer for seven long years. When the story starts, she has just received news that her cancer is still spreading.

Her mother and younger sister refuse to give up on her, even though Cam has pretty much given up, and they move her to Promise, Maine which has been deemed a miraculous place because of all the events that occur there.

Oh goodness, I'm starting to cry while I'm typing this...

Cam is already starting to think about how her family will have to move on without her and how life will have go on. I understood her dry humor, because it was her way of dealing with her impending death. I can't imagine have to deal with the horrors of cancer as a young person.

As someone who stood on the sidelines and never gave up hope even though cancer took my grandmother 8 years ago, I can't help but feel for Cam's mother and sister. They never stopped believing or giving up hope. I know just how hard it is to accept that a beloved family member is going to die and have to watch them slowly deteriorate.

I also completely empathized with Cam's younger sister for having to take the backseat and make a lot of sacrifices for the health of her older sister. I dearly understood her anger with Cam when she wouldn't believe that miracles could happen.

I loved watching Cam grow emotionally throughout this book. I will say the only drawback was that the romance between her and Asher started out slow, but then suddenly felt rushed. I had a hard time accepting that in the story.

This is a tough story, but well worth the read.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

Best book I have ever read

Wow. I love this book. This book is so beautifully written and Cam will stay with you long after you finish this book. I read this book in a week, it was so wonderful. I cried and I laughed at everything in this story. It's whitty, and defiantly different. I am going to recommend this book to everyone I know. I will be touched forever from this read, I suggest you read it!!!!!

Brillant!!

This was so relatable i loved cause i have a sister named perry like one of the characters.

I LOVED THIS

Thisws one of the best books ive ever read the end is heartbreking and i cant stop thinking about this book its so great i recommend this to everybody whether your a teen or an adult it truly is a great book. FIVE STARS <3

i recommend this

the narrator's snarky voice definitely made this a great read.

Beautiful novel - must read for teens and adults alike

I an aunt of a fifteen year old girl and am often searching for books she will enjoy that I can also support -- The Probability of Miracles is it. Beautifully written, with a strong voice and hilarious, original characters. Although the main character is dying, she is so ALIVE, you nearly forget it. Truly a book about living. This was my favorite YA book of 2011, and my niece's as well! We can't wait to read what is next from Wendy Wunder.

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