Miracle

Jul 21, 2012 Cara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, realistic-fiction, whoa-that-s-heavy

I'm afraid that I'm not the right reviewer for this book. Or actually the right reader either. But I'm going try to do my best guys.

Megan is the miracle. The one who lived. The anomaly. The result of something that happens once in a lifetime. She is the sole survivor of a plane crash. But as much as Megan keeps hearing she is a "miracle" all she wants is for people to stop praising her as a hero for being alive. Megan isn't happy or ecstatic that she is alive. She is mostly empty actually. Espec...more I'm afraid that I'm not the right reviewer for this book. Or actually the right reader either. But I'm going try to do my best guys.

Megan is the miracle. The one who lived. The anomaly. The result of something that happens once in a lifetime. She is the sole survivor of a plane crash. But as much as Megan keeps hearing she is a "miracle" all she wants is for people to stop praising her as a hero for being alive. Megan isn't happy or ecstatic that she is alive. She is mostly empty actually. Especially since she can't remember what happened. She just knows she is afraid of trees now and keeps envisioning fire. One of the weirdest things is that one person doesn't seem to just want to talk to her about the crash, Joe. The guy next door who has his own tragic story people can’t seem to look past either.

I'd have to say that this book is well-written, but I would be lying if I said it wasn't hard to read it at first. I believe it's because I couldn't like Megan because people are not their best after a horrific event. I'm usually invested in the main character rather quickly and since I didn't know Megan before the crash it was difficult for me to rally some compassion for her. But Scott handles Megan's story with a deft hand. She seems to know what buttons to push, which is all of them. I could feel Megan's emptiness and the vague feeling that she should do something about this hollowness she has. She drops soccer, her grades plummet, she loses her friends but she can't seem to find the energy to care. As the reader you know she is experiencing trauma, but she doesn't exactly know that since she can't remember the crash.

I think the family dynamic was done superbly. It's kind of awful and I know that makes it sound like it wasn't good, but it's the truth of the situation. Megan's parents love and care about her but don’t know how to handle her. It’s truly heartbreaking seeing them try so hard but failing miserably. Despite the description of the story Joe is not a big part of the story. He does help to give some normalcy to the story. For a person like me, who is too normal for her own good, I needed that.

So the verdict is that I thought the story was done well, especially dealing with a subject like trauma. It never felt melodramatic, and things didn't seem added for dramatic flair. And though I didn't always feel a great amount of sympathy for Megan I knew I had to see what happened to the girl everybody called a miracle.(less)

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Aug 09, 2012 Reynje rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemp-or-realistic, e-book-kindle, emotional-napalm, read-2012, young-adult

I think I like Elizabeth’s Scott writing more with each of her books. When I started out, I felt like I was missing something. I enjoyed the first book I read (Love You, Hate You, Miss You), but I didn’t quite understand the reverence with which Scott’s name was met in parts of my circle of reader-friends.

Since then I’ve read most of her books, recently finishing Miracle, and I need to say: I get it now.

I’ve previously commented on the brevity of Scott’s novels and the sparseness of her writin...more
I think I like Elizabeth’s Scott writing more with each of her books. When I started out, I felt like I was missing something. I enjoyed the first book I read (Love You, Hate You, Miss You), but I didn’t quite understand the reverence with which Scott’s name was met in parts of my circle of reader-friends.

Since then I’ve read most of her books, recently finishing Miracle, and I need to say: I get it now.

I’ve previously commented on the brevity of Scott’s novels and the sparseness of her writing, but I’m going to reiterate my appreciation of it now. Perhaps because I read Miracle on the heels of another contemporary YA that dealt with complex issues, the sharpness seemed even more apparent when compared with the latter’s florid, dramatic prose. Tellingly, Miracle was the novel I felt more skilfully handled its subject matter, and the novel that I ultimately found the most moving. Scott’s ability to exercise to restraint in her writing seems to have the effect of distilling her stories into the most potent, concentrated form. In 224 pages, she packs a powerful punch to the emotions.

In my opinion Scott has always written authentic teenage voices, and in Miracle she retains this accessible tone even in light of her main character’s extraordinary circumstances. Megan is the eponymous “miracle”, the sole survivor of a plane crash who walks away from the wreckage with only superficial physical injuries. It’s a premise with the odds stacked against it, requiring considerable reader buy-in, yet this doesn’t result in alienating readers from Megan. Rather, Scott anchors Megan’s story in familiar things – family, friends, school, community – creating a relatable frame of reference through which to explore Megan’s PTSD.

While Megan emerges from the tragedy physically unscathed, the mental and emotional trauma she sustains and the repercussions thereof are the focus of the novel. Scott’s treatment of the subject of PTSD is unflinchingly frank, and you can read more about why that is here. Scott lays bare the realities of Megan’s situation, handling with particular honesty the way it impacts the people around her, and the confusion, frustration and isolation it results in. Of note here is the choice Scott has made in the way Megan’s PTSD manifests – in withdrawal and detachment – meaning that Megan’s actions are not always necessarily sympathetic. Throughout the novel, Scott doesn’t shield the reader from Megan’s difficult thought patterns, her anger or disconnection. And I applaud Scott’s decision, for challenging ideas about PTSD and for the integrity of her portrayal. I think this goes a long way to promoting understanding of an anxiety disorder that does not necessarily present in a uniform manner. Sufferers of PTSD may have vastly different experiences, and Scott draws attention to this fact through Megan’s story.

Miracle has a cast of strong, well developed secondary characters that add dimension to the plot, and to Megan herself. By contrasting diverse characters with a “small-town mentality” (whether that’s perception or reality), Scott prompts discussion around judgement and acceptance. This is most notable in Margaret and Joe, and how their experiences with prejudice, marginalisation and grief assist Megan in confronting her own issues, and reconnecting with her world.

(On a related note, can I just state for the record that I think Scott is a master of chemistry? She can get me genuinely invested in character relationships without a single stomach pterodactyl in sight.)

Given the topic, Miracle is not exactly a book with universal appeal, although I’d argue that there are nuances to the story that would have widespread resonance. However, for anyone interested in a powerful and honest depiction of PTSD and the problematic nature of labelling (both negatively and positively), I would recommend this compelling, candid novel.

* * * * *

This book punched me right in the FEELS. Review to come..(less)

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Jun 13, 2012 Tânia rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2012

By my accounts, this is the fourth book I read by Elizabeth Scott, and it’s hard not to notice the patterns. They all have a good story, interesting characters with the ability to grab the reader with their struggles and victories, but that’s as far as it goes. Even though there’s a suggestion that her stories are going to make a reader feel, they don’t captivate me. I always end up finishing one of her novels with the feeling that it’s lacking.

About the story, it was well thought out, and that’...more

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Jul 07, 2012 Aimee rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was an uncomfortable read. my heart broke for meggie,and her entire family. it is not a light subject though, so if that's what you want, don't choose this book. (imho, it is not as heavy as living dead girl, but it certainly comes close.)

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Mar 24, 2013 Maria Ignacia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, lgbt

¿Que tiene Elizabeth Scott, que hace que todos sus libros dejen una huella en mi?. Me hacen pensar y sentirme tan cercana. Con cada historia, hay algo de mi en ellas. Y su forma de contarlas, me hace sentir tan cercana a todo...
Siempre me ha llamado la atención la forma en que trabaja nuestro cerebro. Y como podemos ser capaces de curarnos a nosotros mismos despues de una tragedia o algun shock... Y esta historia tiene eso, ese profundo dolor debido a una tragedia, esa confusión, ese sin sentido...more

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Jul 19, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Oh. Wow. This was an excellent novel focused on PTSD. I don't know how relatable a lot of folks will find this book but it really got me. Meggie, the main character, is incredibly brave in the end. I'm bummed this little book hasn't gotten more love.

Update 6/19/2012 - All right, I did a more extensive, word vomit review of this one on the blog. I hadn't planned on reviewing it, but it had to be reviewed.

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Mar 12, 2013 Christin rated it 1 of 5 stars

I really did not enjoy this book at all. I kept reading hoping it would get better but it didn't. I understand that she may be the only person who has survived a plane crash and she is going through a lot, but come on. I was getting mad at her parents because they kept looking at her like she was a miracle. They kept saying how much of a miracle she was. They even ignored phone calls from her school when she was getting bad grades. When a child is getting bad grades at school, that's when parent...more

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Jan 28, 2013 Stephanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Megan is a miracle. She is the sole survivor of a plane crash. When her parents traveled to the town of the crash, they thought they were going to collect their daughter’s body. Instead, they found out that their daughter was alive.

But Megan doesn’t feel like she’s alive. She feels like she’s died and is the only one who knows it. She doesn’t understand why she survived when everyone else on the plane didn’t.

Memories of the crash and the way everyone is treating her change Megan. She doesn’t fee...more Megan is a miracle. She is the sole survivor of a plane crash. When her parents traveled to the town of the crash, they thought they were going to collect their daughter’s body. Instead, they found out that their daughter was alive.

But Megan doesn’t feel like she’s alive. She feels like she’s died and is the only one who knows it. She doesn’t understand why she survived when everyone else on the plane didn’t.

Memories of the crash and the way everyone is treating her change Megan. She doesn’t feel like a miracle when she forgets where she is as she is taken back to the burning sky. She stops playing soccer. She stops talking to her two best friends, Lissa and Jess. She stops doing homework and then stops going to school. Her parents refuse to acknowledge that anything is wrong with her. I really liked the way Megan reacted to her survival. It was extremely realistic.

The relationship between Megan and Joe was one of the things that made this book so different. Joe is the boy next door, but he is not the boy next door that Megan’s parents want her to spend time with. Joe’s family is in pieces. His younger sister died, his mother left, and his dad is an alcoholic. Megan’s small town has never had good things to say about Joe and his family. Yet since Megan never talked to Joe before the crash, he is the person she needs to talk to after the crash.

For the most part, Megan and Joe talk at night. Neither one of them sleeps at night; Megan runs, and Joe drives. Considering what else Megan is doing, it makes sense that she would sneak around with Joe and that they would use each other to make their pain go away. But that doesn’t happen. I expected their relationship to go in that direction, but it didn’t. Scott did an excellent job of steering clear of the predictable when it came to including a guy in Megan’s life.

One of the my favorite parts of this book was the way it dealt with death. No matter how people die, everyone always says that it was an instant death and no pain was felt. In truth, this is rarely the case. Megan’s memories of how the other people on the plane died and Joe’s understanding of his sister’s death proved this. Our society is always afraid to look at death as what it is: death. We want so badly to believe that there is no pain in death and that those who have died are not really gone. Unfortunately, this is not true. It is a hard lesson to learn, but it is one that needs to be learned. “Miracle” helps us learn it.

I honestly have nothing bad to say about this book. It took me on an intensely emotional ride, something that I wasn’t expecting when I first started to read the book. The old test stands true: If you read a book in one sitting, it’s a good book. I read “Miracle” by Elizabeth Scott in one sitting.(less)

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Jan 23, 2013 Bezawit Legese rated it 5 of 5 stars

Meagan was on plane crashed. She was not hurt but she had other people Blood on her cloth. She was the only survivor from the plane crash and when her parents saw her in hospital they keep saying it’s miracle that she survived, But Megan didn’t think so. She tries to remember what happened to the people at last she remembered that she saw two people dying who were sitting next to her what happened she keeps telling the she doesn’t remember. Megan’s parents are just glad they have her and they we...more Meagan was on plane crashed. She was not hurt but she had other people Blood on her cloth. She was the only survivor from the plane crash and when her parents saw her in hospital they keep saying it’s miracle that she survived, But Megan didn’t think so. She tries to remember what happened to the people at last she remembered that she saw two people dying who were sitting next to her what happened she keeps telling the she doesn’t remember. Megan’s parents are just glad they have her and they were not expecting to get back her memory and tell the story .Megan felt guilty after the crush and being the only survivor and seeing people dying. She was shock alone she do not know whom to run to :everything seem closed everyone except for the handsome guy next door with tragic pasts and other secrets holding for long time by himself. There connection was clear. “I felt nothing all the time .and it had started to feel normal. It shouldn’t have scared me, but it didn’t. “Elizabeth Scott #32

I like the book and story, because it is miracle that she survives .I like how she was strong enough to handle people treat her after the accident. “I want to care, but I don’t .I look at you and all I feel is tired. I walk through school and all I want to do is leave. I wake up in the morning and don’t know why I’m here. I feel like I’m not real .I feel like I died when everyone else on the plane did and I’m the only one who is noticed. ”Elizabeth Scott – Miracles. This statement left me absolutely heartbroken. It was hard to read about someone in so much pain for so long, while everyone around her denied her condition, this more reason that makes me to like this book its more persuasive and also it give the reader a lesson how to pass your struggle, the problems that faces you, and there are time in your life when you cannot decide whether to give up or try harder. It gives me so many life time lessons and I really like the book. It was a good novel book focused on PTDS and it will help many peoples out there who need help I was happy to read it and I enjoyed it
The weakness of the book was how Meagan took her so long to tell the story which makes it a little retelling in the story and the reader should know what had happened. Especially after she gets her memory back I was so curious to know what happened in the plane. There was some statement on the book that Megan’s own thoughts were different to her thoughts.”…awake and waiting for another day I didn’t want” Elizabeth Scott # 74 and the other one is “…afraid that if took another step I’d die or vanish…” Elizabeth Scott #79. This two statements are too different she want to die either she is scared of death I understand she suffers from PTSD and needs help but she is not even ask for it and it seems she do not want it. In the other side this things made me to finish the book right away and the finishing was good that she got the boy from the next door and the end up being together .The seem like unlikely match they don’t exactly get along perfectly . Elizabeth Scott she does a good job of capturing the pain and mix-up following a tragedy which makes it more persuasive and credible .The book still inform a lot of understanding about how we deal with tragedy. I really recommend this book to anyone it a very good book and have so many effects in everybody’s life.
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Jan 23, 2013 Bezawit Mekonnen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Miracle Book review

This book is a very good book and I recommend it for anybody. This book has a lot of messages, and it teaches the reader a lot of important lessons. This book is about a girl who survived a plane crash and she was the only one who did not die. Even though she is thankful for her live, she is still confused about why she is the only one who survived this crash. This book teaches the readers about being strong in a very hard time, to help one another, and to support your famil...more Miracle Book review

This book is a very good book and I recommend it for anybody. This book has a lot of messages, and it teaches the reader a lot of important lessons. This book is about a girl who survived a plane crash and she was the only one who did not die. Even though she is thankful for her live, she is still confused about why she is the only one who survived this crash. This book teaches the readers about being strong in a very hard time, to help one another, and to support your family members.
This paragraph is going explain how this book teaches the reader about being strong in a very hard time. In this book the main character Megan was very scared and confused, but she got through it by being strong. She did not become depressed or change her life to make it easier for her. She tried to handle all of her problems by herself by telling her parents” I am fine and all better” (Scott 10) when she clearly wasn’t even close to fine. This shows that how strong she is about her crash. Overall, this book teaches the reader to be strong when something is hard.
This paragraph is going explain how this book teaches the reader about helping one another. Helping in general is a very generous thing to do and this book is one of the books that tells the reader to be helpful to people even if you don’t know them. This book shows how the media and other people who she didn’t even know supported her through her hardest time. In this book we see that people who she didn’t know were coming to her house and saying ” I am very glad that you are ok and if there is anything that I can do for you just name it” (Scott 15). This means that even though she was try to figure why she survived, there were a lot of people who want to help her pass this confusion. Overall, this book teaches the reader to support one another.
This paragraph is going explain how this book teaches the reader about being there for your family. In this book it shows that family is everything. Also, it shows that family is needed for bad and good times. In the book Megan said that “Even though my parents pay attention more to me than my brother, I know that they still love him too” (Scott 20). This means that her parents are there to help her every step of the way. Overall, this book teaches the reader to be there for your family.
In conclusion, this book can teach us a lot of things and out of these lessons three of them are being strong in a very hard time, to help one another, and to support your family members. Even though the crash changed her life, she still has one thing left that did not change her family and people who supported her, so this teaches us that if things are different there is still things or people who support us throughout the change.

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Oct 18, 2012 Anh Tran rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book has a sad, melody tone. At the beginning of the book, Megan survived after an airplane crash, I misunderstood she was dead and some machine was put inside her to make her alive. I thought for a second this book was some science fiction-thank God it was not, I'm sick of all the fantasy nonrealistic series nowadays. This book is written perfectly about grief and letting go. Megan felt guilty after the crash and being the only survivor. I feel sympathy for her. Seeing people die and being...more

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Sep 20, 2012 Sebrina Parker rated it 3 of 5 stars

Elizabeth Scott is one of my absolute favorite authors. She's also one of the few who I have had personal contact with. So when she announced the release of miracle, I preordered it. But I just now was able to sit down and read it...
I knew going in, this book was going to be a lot heavier than my preferred choices. And while it was beautifully written as I always expect of Scott, it was a very hard book for me.
Now Elizabeth is no stranger to writing triggering pieces. A simple google search can...more Elizabeth Scott is one of my absolute favorite authors. She's also one of the few who I have had personal contact with. So when she announced the release of miracle, I preordered it. But I just now was able to sit down and read it...
I knew going in, this book was going to be a lot heavier than my preferred choices. And while it was beautifully written as I always expect of Scott, it was a very hard book for me.
Now Elizabeth is no stranger to writing triggering pieces. A simple google search can enlighten you to the whole drama involving a certain feminist magazine and her Living Dead Girl, which in full disclosure I haven't read along with a few of her other "darker" books. Most of her recent stuff is pretty heavy actually and not my cup of tea.
I keep hoping she'll go back to the style of her early pieces. Where her books filled that void while waiting for the next Sarah Dessen to come out. No such luck yet.
And I totally understand her current point of view. She has been going through some pretty scary personal health issues for a few years now. And in fact it wasn't till working on Miracle that she realized she suffered from PTSD. So this book is very close to her heart.
For me though, it was hard to get through :-\ I feel like part of it is because the whole book is about the emotional spiral instead of the help. If I didn't understand what emotional illness felt like nor suffered from anxiety, maybe it would feel cool to get sucked into the head of someone with PTSD; to be able to truly empathize with them. But that's not something I enjoy or need because living with anxiety is to close to reality for me. I read to help me escape my overactive brain and anxiety.... I don't need my books amplifying those feelings.
Another deterrent was the mother in this book. Basically every time she entered the storyline, I cringed. She was no help to her daughter emotionally and her basket case views toward God and miracles drove me up a wall. It was really irritating to read any scene she was involved in.
So while Miracle is an amazingly written book, it wasn't a favorite for me :-/(less)

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Sep 16, 2012 Erica rated it 3 of 5 stars

Megan Hathaway was a soccer star, an older sister, a student, a daughter, and a friend, but after a plane crashes and she is the only survivor, she simply becomes heralded as a miracle. Her doctors, her community, and especially her parents marvel at her complete lack of physical injuries after she was initially assumed to be dead. Megan is anxious to get home and get back to normal, but instead of feeling miraculous or lucky or even regular, Megan feels nothing. She conceals the fact that she h...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Adrienne rated it 3 of 5 stars

When the small plane she's flying in crashes, Megan is the only survivor and is instantly proclaimed a miracle. Her parents, who thought she had died, now dote on her, rejoicing in the fact that she's alive, and Megan's afraid to let them know how messed up she is after the crash, since she knows how desperately they want her to be okay. But she isn't okay--she has no interest in her friends, school, or former hobbies, and while she can't initially remember anything from the crash, she begins se...more

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Jun 27, 2012 Natalie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen

I've read most of Elizabeth Scott's books, starting with Living Dead Girl. She never fails to pull me into the story and at times, shock me.

This is the story of Megan, who is the sole survivor of a plane crash. She can't remember anything that happened, but after being in the hospital and seeing how happy her parents are to see her--she tells the doctors she's fine and she remembers what happens.

It's clear to the reader, however, that something is seriously wrong. Megan has no desire to do anyth...more

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Jun 27, 2012 Carrie Kaut rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: it-real, good-for-under-15, 2012

the thing i seriously think i liked most about this book was that it was real it wasnt some made up bullshit..after the accident the girl was messed up which is how it always is after something tramatic happens and people tip toe around you and always coddeling you and youre just like OMG LEAVE ME HE HELL ALONE and i think Scott protrayed that fabulously.

megan got in a plane crash and was the only survivor and had to learn to deal with that...and Joe had to deal with a seriously broken family be...more

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Jun 12, 2012 Liviania rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have heard nothing but good things about Elizabeth Scott. Every time one of her books comes out, it seems like every blogger has nothing but good things to say about it. I always make a note to pick up one of her books, yet I never had. MIRACLE may be Scott's eleventh novel, but it's my first time reading one of her books. And I feel guiltier than ever for putting it off so long.

MIRACLE is what people call Megan. Megan walked away from a plane crash that left everybody else aboard dead. They'd...more

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May 04, 2012 Becky rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

I have a feeling that it isn't exactly fair to judge a book by an author's previous books. But. I can't help feeling that Miracle just isn't as wonderful as some of the author's previous books. Even if I exclude Elizabeth Scott's contemporary romances and only consider her darker YA novels like Grace, Living Dead Girl, Love You Hate You Miss You. Do I like her darker books? Yes and no. Grace wowed me, I won't lie. It was definitely a strong book for me. Same with Living Dead Girl. It was very, v...more I have a feeling that it isn't exactly fair to judge a book by an author's previous books. But. I can't help feeling that Miracle just isn't as wonderful as some of the author's previous books. Even if I exclude Elizabeth Scott's contemporary romances and only consider her darker YA novels like Grace, Living Dead Girl, Love You Hate You Miss You. Do I like her darker books? Yes and no. Grace wowed me, I won't lie. It was definitely a strong book for me. Same with Living Dead Girl. It was very, very, very, very dark. And not at all pleasant to read. But I did feel that it was a powerful story well told. I felt their was a certain strength in the writing, not anyone could write like that. And the fact that the same person who writes like that also writes giddy-making (seriously giddy-making) YA romances, it is a lot to keep in mind. Scott doesn't just write the same book over and over and over again. Although some fans might prefer her to keep writing giddy-making romances. I certainly wouldn't mind reading *more* YA romance from her. But neither do I expect her to just write one kind of a book and only one kind of book.

So. I didn't exactly love, love, love Miracle. I didn't dislike it. I really didn't. It's just that I didn't have a strong connection with the narrator, Megan. She didn't annoy me. I didn't hate her. And I did feel something for her. So what didn't I like? Well, I HATED (yes, hated) Megan's parents. I HATED the way they treated Megan's brother. I thought it was absolutely positively ridiculous. The way the parents treat David was all kinds of wrong. And the way we're led to believe that before the plane crash the case was reversed, well, it convinced me that Megan's parents need HELP. (Before David got 100% of the attention.) Is not liking the parents of a narrator reason enough to not particularly "like" a book, probably not. And I did like a handful of the characters. I particularly liked Margaret. She was one of two people who really got Megan, well, post-crash Megan. She was one of the only people who saw Megan for herself, who saw Megan's need and looked at it without turning away. The other person was Joe, a next door neighbor with swoon potential. If Miracle had more Bloom to it, well, it would be a different book. Still. Joe was an asset to this book. I did like the way he got to know Megan, and how he helped her through some of her darkest times.

I think Miracle is more of an issue book than a romance. It does go dark places. Being the sole survivor of a plane crash would be traumatic. Being a survivor--sole or not--would be traumatic. So there is a reason this isn't a giddy-making romance...(less)

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Apr 26, 2012 Annette rated it 4 of 5 stars

Miracle left me absolutely heartbroken. It was difficult to read about someone in so much pain for so long, while everyone around her denied her condition.

Megan is the only survivor of a small airplane crash, and everyone keeps insisting she is "a miracle." Megan doesn't feel like a miracle. In fact, she doesn't feel anything. She doesn't remember anything about the crash, but has told her friends and family she's fine and dealing with it.

It very quickly becomes obvious, at least to the reader,...more Miracle left me absolutely heartbroken. It was difficult to read about someone in so much pain for so long, while everyone around her denied her condition.

Megan is the only survivor of a small airplane crash, and everyone keeps insisting she is "a miracle." Megan doesn't feel like a miracle. In fact, she doesn't feel anything. She doesn't remember anything about the crash, but has told her friends and family she's fine and dealing with it.

It very quickly becomes obvious, at least to the reader, that Megan is NOT fine. She quits the soccer team, she can't sleep, she's having visions of the other people on the plane, she's alienated herself from all her friends, and she very seldom can go to school. But, all is forgiven by her parents, coach, and teachers. Even after her coach and teachers begin to realize that Megan is failing miserably, her parents still don't call her on her behavior. They are just so happy she's alive that nothing else matters.

There are a couple of redeeming people in Megan's life. Her neighbor, Margaret, seems to be very perceptive. She tries to help Megan, but with Megan's parents' disbelief and dislike of Margaret, nothing much can be done.

There's a neighbor, Joe, who begins to talk to Megan. He's had his own problems -- his little sister died several years ago, and Joe's family has fallen apart. Joe is the only person who Megan feels understands her at all.

I had some problems with the basic premise. First of all, wouldn't doctors realize that it is likely that Megan doesn't remember the accident? Why didn't they push harder to get Megan some help? Also, even after her coach realized Megan was failing, all he did was talk to her about working harder and catching up. Why didn't it occur to him that this was a cry for help?

Megan, by her actions (not her words), really begged her parents for help. I refuse to believe that two caring, intelligent people could remain in denial for so long. I know Megan's brother, David, had something to do with this, since they had experienced the stress of his illnesses, but I still didn't buy it.

However, Scott writes great characters that you can't help but care about. I really got wrapped up in Miracle, and it is a quick read that will appeal to my reluctant readers. The pace moved along, and I never felt it dragging, although I was sometimes frustrated with the plot.

Miracle is a very accessible book for teens and preteens. It's prose is simple, but still beautiful. The story is dramatic enough to hold attention, and the characters, like I said, are relate-able if not always likable. There's also a teeny bit of a romance, just to tug a bit at your heart. I'll encourage teens to give Miracle a shot if they like contemporary "problem" novels.(less)

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Aug 30, 2012 Bristol Public Library System rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-main-libary

As the sole survivor of a terrible plane crash, Megan is having trouble dealing with being deemed a "miracle." She can't remember the crash that she survived yet she continues to be haunted by the other passengers who died next to her. Feeling smothered by the people who are fascinated and (justifiably) overjoyed with her life, Megan begins to withdraw more and more from family, friends, and the life she once knew. She finds unlikely comfort in an older woman from her church and the mysterious...more

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Jan 21, 2012 Krystal rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc

Megan is considered a miracle child for surviving a plane crash almost entirely unscathed. All of the other passengers perished in the horrible plane crash, but Megan was lucky. Megan doesn't know what to make of it; she doesn't consider herself any more special than before and is more confused than anything by her stroke of luck. She begins to feel worse about her survival and proving to others that she deserved to survive. Her next-door neighbor, Joe, knows what loss is. Joe experienced loss f...more

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Oct 05, 2012 kari rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, ya

I do believe this is where Ms. Scott's books and I part ways. I didn't care much for her last book, As I Wake, and this is more of the same type read. Tough to slog through because very little is actually explained, character with whom you can't feel any connection or empathy and repetitious. This, to me personally, does not make for a good read.
Can I enjoy a novel in which the protagonist isn't a positive character, someone to admire or understand? Yes, I have done so and those can be the most...more I do believe this is where Ms. Scott's books and I part ways. I didn't care much for her last book, As I Wake, and this is more of the same type read. Tough to slog through because very little is actually explained, character with whom you can't feel any connection or empathy and repetitious. This, to me personally, does not make for a good read.
Can I enjoy a novel in which the protagonist isn't a positive character, someone to admire or understand? Yes, I have done so and those can be the most interesting reads.
However, what I cannot abide and so am finished here, are protagonists who cause their own drama because they won't simply have a single conversation and even hint to anyone what is going on with them. It feels false and I feel manipulated.
The entirety of this story is because Megan refuses to say she doesn't remember what happened. And everyone asks so it isn't that she can't bring it up. She simply won't and when sitting in front of a therapist who, I don't know, just might be trying to help her, she just stares at her.
There is some message about how her parents need her to be a miracle because she is the product of an unplanned pregnancy that resulted in her mother being cut off from her family. Really? I might be able to buy this if her family, or even just her mother, is descrbed as being ultra-religious, but I didn't get that from the story. Going to church does not make one ultra-religious, nor does believing in the possibility of miracles. I thought this was poorly done.
And Megan simply throws her life down the toilet with a shrug, and we are supposed to believe her parents, who are concerned and loving people with a good, stable marriage, don't notice or don't try to help her. I simply can't suspend my disbelief to get past that.
Megan's own thoughts are contrary to her own thoughts.
p 74: " . . . awake and waiting for another day I didn't want."
p 79: : . . . afraid that if I took another step I'd die or vanish . . ."
So, which is it? She either doesn't want to live or she's scared of dying? Which? And having survived a plane crash, her whining about how she must keep on living was disgusting. Yeah, I get it, maybe she has PTSD and needs help, but she refuses to ask for it, or accept it when it is offered so tough for me to feel for her. And her whole "woe is me, I must live" attitude just got on my very last nerve.
Another thing, one hundred twelve pounds on a five foot four and a half inch frame isn't fat. Her description of developing a jiggly layer of fat just reinforces every negative body image out there that anything over skeletal bones is disgusting to look at. This infuriates me.
Plus her I-care-about-nothing attitude makes her suddenly attractive to the most beautiful boy in town. Not buying that, particuarly when their interactions are mostly negative and yet, he still keeps coming back. For gosh sakes, why? Oh, I get it, she is the only one who sees past his utter gorgeousity into his whatever, yeah, I get it. Not buying it, but I get it.
And precisely why should this girl be rewarded for her nasty behavior to everyone who cares for her? Is this the message we need to take away? Yes, turn your back on your friends, abuse your little brother, both mentally and physically, ignore your parents concern, blow off your classes, disappoint pretty much everyone you come into contact with, and your reward is hooking the most sought after boy in town. Wow. And not a good wow, either.
The ending is happy little rainbow sparkles. Yuck.(less)

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Mar 16, 2012 Proud Book Nerd rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, around-the-world-tours, contemporary, do-not-have, ya

I found myself quite frustrated with Megan throughout most of the book. Although, as she started to figure out how she felt and what she needed, I found I understood her better. As such, I loved the last quarter (or so) of the book. Suddenly, once I understood her better, I could tolerate her more. I could even have some empathy (or maybe sympathy, as I have never been the sole survivor of any type of tragedy, thank God) for her. Her connections with Margaret and Joe were really neat to watch un...more

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Mar 03, 2012 Andrea rated it 3 of 5 stars

So I just went back and checked and it seems like I always feel the same way about Elizabeth Scott. I want her books to move and and make me feel. The topics sure suggest that they will. But they never do and I think it's mostly to due to how the characters are written. I never really care about them or feel sympathetic for them.

I wanted to feel bad for Megan and feel sorry for her. After all she witnessed at the plane crash, I wanted to like her and be hopeful for her. But I really didn't care...more

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Aug 30, 2012 Audrey Wilkerson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books-read, books-reviewed

Ink and Page's Quick & Dirty Review

Rating : 4

The Low Down : High school girl survives plane crash.

Best Thang ‘Bout It : It's real, it's hard to read in places, and there's no neat little bow at the end. I love fantasy and happy endings, but reading something that positively could happen is very powerful. The main character's inner conflicts, change in her behavior, and inability to connect with her family and friends are spot-on. I also like the secondary stories with Joe, the next-door nei...more

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Aug 13, 2012 Jan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, teenbooks

Miracle is a novel about a teen who survives a horrific plane crash and then must struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The problem is that her parents, friends, and teachers do not realize or refuse to see that she is suffering with this disorder. She is able to connect with an older woman who served in Vietnam and understands what she is going through. She also feels a kinship with a next door neighbor who lost his younger sister to a severe asthma attack and is still processing his ow...more

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Jan 23, 2013 Maddy P. rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book is kind of like The living dead girl by Elizabeth Scott because it was a miracle that she had lived through all the stuff she had gone through. My opinion is that it’s wasn't the best book because i thought it jumped around too much and i really couldn't follow along with it. like they would talk about her getting in the plane crash then they would go onto a different topic. I’m sure it all was tied in with the plane crash but i didn't catch that. i would suggest some that has a higher...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Jodi Papazian rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-reads

As the sole survivor of a terrible plane crash, Megan is having trouble dealing with being deemed a "miracle." She can't remember the crash that she survived yet she continues to be haunted by the other passengers who died next to her. Feeling smothered by the people who are fascinated and (justifiably) overjoyed with her life, Megan begins to withdraw more and more from family, friends, and the life she once knew. She finds unlikely comfort in an older woman from her church and the mysterious...more

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Sep 11, 2012 Bookworm rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: borrowed

My first thoughts after reading this? This sh*t is heavy.
This is a story about the aftermath of a horrible accident. The aftermath. I'm not gonna lie, I thought surviving an accident was the hardest part, but didn't take into consideration what happens after.
Megan's is empty. She can't care anymore. She doesn't seem to care for most of this book, and that made me disconnect with her character. She does things that I would not do, but I felt the emptiness inside her as she struggles to be who...more

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Jan 11, 2013 Peg rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: disabilities, mental-health, sj, young-adult

Megan is physically unscathed after surviving a horrific plane accident, but emotionally and psychologically she's a wreck. She doesn't remember the accident, yet says she does. She hates that she is called a miracle by all in her small town and can't stand her parents' smiles and their constant attention. Readers don't know Megan before the accident, only after--and the picture she presents isn't pretty as she withdraws, often meanly, from her family, friends, and team. She is tortured by sight...more

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