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Miracles on Maple Hill

by Virginia Sorensen, Beth Krush (Illustrator)

3.72 of 5 stars 3.72 · rating details · 3,451 ratings · 219 reviews

Marly and her family share many adventures when they move from the city to a farmhouse on Maple Hill. Her father is recovering from being a prisoner-of-war. The small town and the varied happenings and activities of country life help them to recover from past unhappiness, and bond more closely as a family.

Paperback, 256 pages

Published August 1st 2003 by Sandpiper (first published 1956)

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Dec 27, 2012 Audrey rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of *Gone-away Lake* or *Return to Gone-away*. This book reminded me a bit of those.

Shelves: award-and-honor-recipients, juvenile, 1950s, nature

What I loved most about this book were descriptions of the wild, wonderful natural world. The author is gifted in describing things in a way that made me feel like I was seeing them for the first time. Although the plot is quite simple, it really stirred me how the family is revitalized by their connection to the goodness of people and the beauty and wonder of nature. The outdoor adventures that Marly and her brother had also reminded me a lot of my own childhood. Joe was a bit of a brat sometim...more

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Apr 24, 2013 Ann Carpenter rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, newbery

This book gets an extra star because it is exactly the sort of book that I would have loved as a child, and therefore it hits me in the nostalgia spot, even though I've never read it before.

This was a mostly quiet book without any sort of action, and no real plot. It is, instead, a loving look at living in the countryside in the middle of the century, and adapting to a life lived out of doors and away from the city.

The beginning of the book dealt with the father's PTSD (although it is never cal...more

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Mar 15, 2013 Janhmmn rated it 5 of 5 stars

I bought Miracles on Maple Hill years ago by accident, as I mixed up the author’s name (Sorensen) with the name of the author of The Year at Maple Hill Farm , Provensen. But it was a lucky mistake.

I read this book to C a few years ago now and really enjoyed it, and recently realised Jasper and M would appreciate it now, so I’ve just finished reading it to them. A family move out from the city to mum’s grandma’s abandoned farmhouse in the country, as Dad’s struggling after returning home from a...more

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Mar 11, 2013 Nicole rated it 2 of 5 stars

Definitely a product of the '50's. A "Leave it to Beaver" type innocence. Each "episode" resolves very nicely and with limited fault or flaw being shown from any of the characters. But that made them all a little too "perfect" for me. I couldn't relate to any of the characters because they didn't respond realistically or if they did they corrected themselves or all was resolved so quickly that you didn't really get a chance to see realistic depth to their responses. The writing was nice, but the...more Definitely a product of the '50's. A "Leave it to Beaver" type innocence. Each "episode" resolves very nicely and with limited fault or flaw being shown from any of the characters. But that made them all a little too "perfect" for me. I couldn't relate to any of the characters because they didn't respond realistically or if they did they corrected themselves or all was resolved so quickly that you didn't really get a chance to see realistic depth to their responses. The writing was nice, but the nature descriptions became tedious as I didn't feel they connected to the story enough. They were flowery and pretty, but had little significance and didn't stand out as the whole story (characters, plots, problems, etc.) were all flowery and pretty.

I compared it to 'The Secret Garden' and Daphne DuMarier's 'Rebecca' where nature is also a powerful force in the story; in fact you could even call it one of the characters of the story. Both books contain beautiful descriptions of flowers, plants, meadows, and hills and their descriptions add to the story because they are connected to people with depth to their characters. We see the faults in them clearly so that when the changes in them come as the seasons change the changes have meaning and depth. The plot twists and turns work out in a more realistic fashion and timeframe. We see the actual work and step by step progress that is made, rather than all the issues and flaws being wrapped up all nice and tidy at the end of the half hour episode (or after just a paragraph, or a page like what happened for me in 'Miracles on Maple Hill'.) A little more background and info on the challenges as well as more detail on how the problems were overcome would have made the story's prettiness stand out more.

I was drawn to the book after reading the summary. I thought the dad's recovery would play a more prominent role in the book, which if it had I probably would have found it more engaging, but again his change came about so quickly and with such limited reference to the real problems that it didn't evoke much connection or emotion.

As it stands it is a very nice story, with a nice ending. Sweet and more sweet. But kind of flat as it is devoid of any substantial events, character development, or insight. (less)

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Nov 17, 2012 Rosalinda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Main Character/s: Marly, Dale (father), Lee (mother), Joe
Setting: countryside home on Maple Hill
POV: Marly

Summary: This novel is about Marly and her family. Marley is a ten-year-old girl whose father has just returned from the war. Unfortunately this is not a joyous occasion because her father has suffered tremendously during his time at war and he is now suffering from depression, mood swings, and fatigue. Marly and her brother, Joe, worry that their father will never return to his old self an...more Main Character/s: Marly, Dale (father), Lee (mother), Joe
Setting: countryside home on Maple Hill
POV: Marly

Summary: This novel is about Marly and her family. Marley is a ten-year-old girl whose father has just returned from the war. Unfortunately this is not a joyous occasion because her father has suffered tremendously during his time at war and he is now suffering from depression, mood swings, and fatigue. Marly and her brother, Joe, worry that their father will never return to his old self and Lee, their mother, shares that same concern. In an effort to change the course in which they are on, Lee makes a conscious decision to have a summer retreat. This summer retreat will take place at her countryside home on Maple Hill. With the help of her trusted neighbors, the Chris family, Lee begins to restore the home for Dale and her family. The story continues with Marly and her family’s effort to restore hope and love into their father. During their stay at Maple Hill they learn a lot from the neighbors, who show them the outs and ins of the town, and they learn from each other. Marly and her family decide to stay at Maple Hill permanently because of the tremendous growth they have seen in themselves and their father. By the end of their first year at Maple Hill they are given the opportunity to repay their neighbors for all of their help and as a strong and loving family they rise to the challenge.
Classroom uses/theme: I would not use this in my classroom because this book is best suited for independent reading. As a whole the book is great because it shows a family’s determination to restore the relationship and their father. The family goes to great lengths to help Dale and their relationship grow. The characters of the book are also amazing because they all come together to aid this special family in their time of need and in the end the family was able to thank them by repaying the favor. Even though this is a great story I believe it is at its best when read independently just for the joy of reading not as a requirement.(less)

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Mar 27, 2012 Wayne S. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ten-year-old Marley lives in Pittsburgh, PA, with her father Dale, mother Lee, and twelve-year-old brother Joe. Her dad has come home from having been a prisoner during the war, but he’s not the same. He’s moody and tired and seems as cold and dead as the winter outside. So the family decides to spend the spring and summer at Maple Hill Farm, the old place where Marley’s great-grandmother had lived and where Marley’s mother used to visit as a child, up in the corner of Pennsylvania’s countryside...more Ten-year-old Marley lives in Pittsburgh, PA, with her father Dale, mother Lee, and twelve-year-old brother Joe. Her dad has come home from having been a prisoner during the war, but he’s not the same. He’s moody and tired and seems as cold and dead as the winter outside. So the family decides to spend the spring and summer at Maple Hill Farm, the old place where Marley’s great-grandmother had lived and where Marley’s mother used to visit as a child, up in the corner of Pennsylvania’s countryside. There they meet Mr. and Mrs. Chris, Grandma’s neighbors whom Marley’s mother remembers from her childhood visits. At first, Marley and Joe are afraid that they will miss their life in the city. Joe had wanted to join the bad at his city school, but the little school at Maple Hill doesn’t have a band. But they begin to have many adventures sugaring with the Chrises, fixing up the old house, and experiencing other “miracles.” Will Daddy get any better? Will Marley’s family return to Pittsburgh or will they decide to stay at Maple Hill? And when Mr. Chris gets very sick and has to go to the hospital, what will happen to him?
This 1957 Newbery Medal winner is a delightful story that is deserving of the award. There are a couple of common euphemisms—gee and golly, one reference to chewing tobacco, and a mention of glaciers “millions of years ago.” I especially enjoyed the way the truant officer ended up handling the time when Marley and Joe were kept home from school to help the Chrises with their maple sugaring. A couple of reviewers said that the role model for girls is horrific because the girl is weak, cries, moans, etc., and that the sexist stereotypes made it difficult to stay with the story because Marly and her mother do ‘woman things’ at the house together.
I can see how a femi-nazi or someone raised on femi-nazi propaganda would reach this kind of conclusion, but honestly it gets old hearing those who may disagree with traditional roles for boys and girls yell “sexism” every time they don’t like the way girls are portrayed. Not every family is raising their daughters to be “I am woman, hear me roar.” And recent studies have suggested an actual biological basis for some of the emotional differences between males and females. Most of the reader reviewers liked the book, except the one mentioned previously and a couple of “kid reviews” which said that the book was too boring and not exciting enough. Of course, every book, even a good one, may not appeal to all people. However, my experience is that a lot of kids whose minds have been numbed by the helter-skelter, hooey-phooey, hocus-pocus, harum-scarum, hokey-fenokee type of stories like Harry Potter and Goosebumps often don’t have enough attention span left to enjoy a real story. I would recommend Miracles on Maple Hill as a book which chronicles the joys of simple living.(less)

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Mar 21, 2011 Toni Pilcher added it

I am not at all surprised that this book won the Newbery Medal in 1957: besides having a pleasant pastoral narrative and lyrical dialogue, Miracles has an engaging, young, at times naive main character. Marly is most admirable in her search for miracles and especially in her discovery that she can create her own miracles. I rejoiced along with her when the sap first rose in the trees and when "the twigs turned to lace" and when her daddy started feeling better after everything that had happened...more

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Dec 26, 2010 Linda Lipko rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: newbery-winner

This 1957 Newbery medal winner is a delightful, slow walk into a time when old fashioned values were the norm -- a time when children were polite; a time when children respected parents; a time when neighbors helped one another; a time when there was less focus on "me" and more focus on "us".

Yet, the book is timeless in addressing issues that are still with us today. Marly's father returns from the war, while the specific war isn't mentioned, one can assume WWII. Marly's father was a POW and is...more

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Sep 13, 2010 Judy rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: chilren 8-12, read aloud parents

Shelves: books-from-1957, children-s-lit, newbery-winners

Miracles on Maple Hill won the Newbery Award in 1957. It is a lovely story with a fast pace, believable characters and conveys much truth. I found it unique among the Newbery winners I have read so far because the loveliness is not cloying and the truths are nicely incorporated into the story, never coming across as "lessons." Virginia Sorenson is an extremely fine writer. Best of all, I was not bored once while reading it.

Marly is an exuberant and perceptive young girl with an annoying older b...more

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Jul 24, 2009 Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: newbery, children

This is the kind of book I was afraid I was in for when I decided to read the Newbery books. The truth is that it was and it wasn’t. A white family, looking at the world, saying, “Oh gosh,” and “Oh golly,” facing issues like the son staying out too late and wondering where he is, facing how to get the big maple sugar crop in before it ruins, and lots and lots of “You can’t do that; you’re a girl.”

But it was also more. Dad was thought killed after time in a war camp, but he returns home, safe but...more

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Apr 14, 2012 Maria rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: realistic-fiction, elementary-lit, newbery, nerdbery

Sweet book, though it had some odd parts. It's funny how easily a realistic fiction can feel "dated".

The gender roles were so firmly fixed (though Marley does make some attempts to stand up for girls and their rights to get out there and do a few things boys do, it doesn't feel like the point of the story like it would if it were written today as historical fiction).

The other thing that stood out was the author's consistent use of the adjective "queer". So often, so very often. Yes, I know it...more

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Apr 02, 2011 Susann rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: re-read

I chose this for our most recent NY VSC discussion because I read it as a child and wanted to figure out why I never re-visited it. Elements of the book appeal to me, especially the theme around the healing quality of nature. I also appreciate the Dad struggling with his shell-shock/PTSD, especially because that storyline continues to be relevant these days. Truant officer Annie and Harry the Hermit are a pleasure to meet and are so vividly drawn that I wasn't surprised to learn that Sorensen ba...more

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Feb 14, 2011 Jill rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: newbery-medal

1957 Newbery winner. I liked it.

My parents make their own maple syrup. The details of the maple sugaring process is interesting to me and I thought the science of the process was included in an understandable way.

"How so many things could be in a few words was something else Marly didn't know. But it was the same way the whole feel of school can be in the sound of a bell ringing. Or the way the whole feeling of spring can be in one robin on a fence post."

"You can pump oil out of the ground, and...more

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Jun 08, 2010 Megan rated it 5 of 5 stars

I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but the cover of this book lured me to pick it up since it seemed like a heartwarming book. Miracles on Maple Hill by Virgina Sorensen turned out to be one of my all-time favorite books because it really reflected on love and family. The main character Marly and her family move to her grandma's old house located on Maple Hill after Marly's father comes back cold and bitter from a war. I really enjoyed this book, and it showed how nature could bri...more

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Mar 11, 2012 Cheryl in CC NV rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A lovely paen to the power of nature, neighbors, and hard work. Probably boring to today's children. Also, unfortunately, irrelevant to most of us who don't get a chance to go sugaring or to learn the different names of so many wildflowers. And the mom's character is unappealing - she works too hard in the kitchen, and wants Marly to do the same, but doesn't seem happy or even smart. I do recommend the book, though, if only for bits like this:

"... the whole feel of school can be in the sound of...more

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Mar 21, 2010 Mary rated it 5 of 5 stars

I can't describe my happiness at finding another (Newbery Award) book that creates the same feelings in me as the Little House series. Told from the young girl Marly's point of view, it's a sweet story about a 1950s family who go to live on a family farm to help her dad get over harrowing war experiences. The details of nature: all the flowers, Maple Hill throughout the seasons, and the sugar sap season were a pure delight to read. I felt the author had a perfect handle on the true feelings of a...more

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Feb 03, 2013 Emma added it · review of another edition

Shelves: children-s, fiction, biophilia, seasonal

I want to say something about this book, because in a lot of ways it was beautiful. The story is rooted in the love of nature and true wonder at the things each season brings. *For that, it gets a 5-star rating!*

It also brings forward the story of a man who returns from war with (what we would call) PTSD and how that affects his family.

The cautions I'd give before handing this book to a child are: an incident of killing baby mice near the beginning and the gender role aspect of the book.

For an a...more

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Feb 27, 2010 Lacy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-s-lit

I listened to the audio version of this book. It was quaint, but highly gender stereotypical. Sorensen also uses the words "queer and cocky" in there original sense, which takes the modern reader a bit of guard. The little girl in the book, Marley, is what her mom calls a "tom boy", but really she just seems to be having fun. I wouldn't want a young child to read this because of how strict the gender roles are adhered to - "female work" in the house, while the men are working outdoors. Although...more

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Sep 21, 2011 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, picture-books

Henry David Thoreau is quoted in this book as saying, "Why should I explore the world when there is so much to explore between that road and my own doorstep?" That small journey of discovery is manifest cover to cover with the slow and simple, home-grown magic of ideal country living experienced through the tender eyes of an awed childhood. Understated and reminiscent of the Little House lessons of close family ties, true friends, mother nature and good old fashioned hard work. And when Harry te...more

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Oct 30, 2010 Joan Innes added it

I could almost hear the crunch of the snow under foot and see the steam of breath in the chill morning air as I listened to this story on CD. As cozy as a fuzzy pair of slippers was the atmosphere at Grandma's country house as they made breakfast and discussed life. I enjoyed the comfortable slow cadence of the country setting and family as they went about their day to day activities. Young Marly discovers the joy and wonder of the world of nature around her in rural New England together with he...more

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Dec 12, 2011 Sadie Sprague-Lott rated it 3 of 5 stars

The book Miracles on Maple Hill was a well written book with a interesting plot. It is a very climactic book story, portraying the life of a young family. The transition from a father who had post traumatic stress disorder, to a person who was living a normal life was rushed. Perhaps writing this as a high school student has something to do with this. The sophistication level of this book was not up to par; maybe for a seventh grader the book would have been a little more enjoyable. Marly’s brav...more

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Nov 09, 2008 Jeff rated it 5 of 5 stars

A wonderful piece of nostalgia about a girl seeking a few miracles from living in the country. Interesting story.

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Feb 18, 2010 Skedatt rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: childrens

I really enjoyed the soft style of the story. Though soft isn't perhaps the adjective that I am looking for. Cozy might be more like it. It deals with issues (post-traumatic stress disorder) that rather surprised me for the book that it was and the time that it was written (1957 Newbury).

Dad returns from being a POW and is not the same as he left, go figure. Told from the perspective of a ten year old girl that is dealing with the changes in her father and is desperately hoping that the move to...more

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Nov 20, 2010 Kara rated it 2 of 5 stars

newberry award. I first got this on audio book which was WAY to painful to listen to. But i was intrigued. so I got the hard copy. it is just like the audiobook! I know that sounds..uh..moronic, but sometimes i can't take one but the other is fine.

so, this book is sickeningly sweet and semi-sexist, which just cracked me up. I had to stop reading it though because it was so boring.

it's one of the first newberry books that i've read that can't carry over from when it was one- 50s- to now. normal...more

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Jan 27, 2010 Marie rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Children and adults alike

A Newbery Award winner from 1956. The art took me right back to the Bobsey Twins, a sweet nostalgia. The writing is softly delicious, very worthy of its Newbery status. Many of the "miracles" are the miracles of nature, that we must sometimes pause to appreciate in their wonder. Perhaps the timing was right in my life for this book, as we are just completing a year of the cycles of the seasons in a new place, but it left me with, not only renewed joy in the things I see each day, but also a desi...more

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Dec 05, 2009 Leslie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: juvenile-ya-fiction, newbery-award-winner

What a sweet book! It was written in 1956 and tells of a family who has been scarred because the father was lost for a time in the war. They slowly heal together by spending time in the country and working together for the good of the family and their neighbors. I could relate to so many things in this book because of going to my grandparents cabin, being out in the woods exploring and discovering how the world changes with each season. After I read it, I learned the author is Mormon which added...more

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May 12, 2012 Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

What wonderful miracles happen on Maple Hill! I loved this story. It made me want to live on Maple Hill. Written in 1956, this story exemplifies the simplicity of life back then, especially high on a mountain where neighbors were scarce. Marly wants so much for miracles to happen when they arrive for the first time at Maple Hill. Thankfully her 10-year-old eyes see many miracles. Some miracles are ones we usually take for granted. This book is very deserving of the Newbery Medal. Now I can check...more

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Jul 16, 2010 Joann rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: childrens-chapter, newberry-winners

This was a sweet book with a simple, engaging style. I love these older Newberry award winners because they don't worry about gimicks and just focus on good writing and good story lines. This book made me homesick for Grandma's farm (even though we were just there two weeks ago). A beautiful story- perfect for those who want a feel of simpler times. Don't look for deeper meanings or intellectualized symbolism. This is just a simple story of hard work, healing, and finding miracles in all the sma...more

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Oct 21, 2009 Kristin rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved this story! I couldn't get it out of my mind for a couple of days after I finished reading it. This story won the Newberry Award and deserved it. It is a story about a family that moves to the country after the father comes home from being a prisoner of war to help him recover. As the family learns how to live off the land and help others, miracles start to happen. These small miracles pull the family together and change their lives forever. Very inspiring, especially during these tough...more

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Aug 17, 2009 Emily rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: j-fiction, newbery-winner, historical-fiction

This 1957 Newbery winner was probably contemporary fiction when it was written, but now makes a nice historical fiction look at a family that spends a year in the countryside of Pennsylvania. The main reason they go to the house on Maple Hill is to give some peace to ten-year-old Marly’s dad who has been on edge since returning from a prisoner-of-war camp. This is a cute and charming story and gives a nice glimpse into this family’s life. Readers will likely love Marly and identify with her very...more

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About Virginia Sorensen

VIRGINIA SORENSEN (1912-1991) was born in Utah, and it was her family's own stories that influenced her early novels of the American West.

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Where Nothing Is Long Ago: Memories of a Mormon Childhood

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“When you have done a great many good things, you forget to speak of them. It is those who do very little who must talk of it.
-Henry in Miracles on Maple Hill” — 5 people liked it

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