Review: The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder

"Dry, sarcastic, sixteen-year-old Cam Cooper has spent the last seven years in and out hospitals. The last thing she wants to do in the short life she has left is move 1,500 miles away to Promise, Maine - a place known for the miraculous events that occur there. But it's undeniable that strange things happen in Promise: everlasting sunsets; purple dandelions; flamingoes in the frigid Atlantic; an elusive boy named Asher; and finally, a mysterious envelope containing a list of things for Cam to do before she dies. As Cam checks each item off the list, she finally learns to believe - in love, in herself, and even in miracles.

A debut novel from an immensely talented new writer, The Probability of Miracles crackles with wit, romance and humor and will leave readers laughing and crying with each turn of the page."

Title: The Probability of Miracles

Author: Wendy Wunder

Release Date: December 8, 2011

Publisher: Razorbill

Pages: 360, Hardcover (Read: library hardcover)

"Because thoughts are energy, energy is matter, and matter never disappears."-The Probability of Miracles, pg. 249

I didn't feel everything that I should have felt.

First off, I went into this book, getting ready for all of the AWESOME and preparing a box of tissues next to me while I read. Alas, it was never needed. I didn't even come close to crying, and the overall story was disappointing. Do not get me wrong, the plot was great, but it wasn't minutely near to living up to it's hype.

The plot kicks off with Cam and her mother, Alicia, and her younger sister, Perry, as they move from Florida, to a miracle town in Maine. More specifically, Promise, Maine. It's believed that miracles happen there. And once you leave the town, disaster will strike to whomever left. Cam and her family moved there because of the ongoing cancer that has plagued Cam when she was young. She wants to be cured, somehow. When they arrive in Promise, she meets new people who she never have thought would affect her life than ever before.

The characters in this novel were fantastic. Cam, especially. From the start, I was drawn in by her sarcastic humor and her nonchalance behavior. She is so chill for someone who has cancer and is on the brink of death. I loved her personality! And Asher was just the sweetest boy you could ask for. Their relationship wasn't too rushed, either. I thought it was pretty darn close to perfect. And for some reason, I really loved Perry, even if she is a young, bratty, and annoying teenager. And Lily! Lily, Cam's best friend who also was diagnosed with cancer at a young age, left the story so quickly I wished that I could have seen more of her.

There was also many outrageously creative aspects in this novel. The miracles, more specifically. The incorporation of flamingos, donkeys, lobsters, Disney-world, the Flamingo list, and more. It was a little on the silly side, but still completely enjoyable.

The ending was absolutely beautiful, but it wasn't enough to make me bawl my eyes out. For me, it was more of an "Aww, that's so sad!" moment for me. I think Wendy Wunder could have done a better job with the notion of death and leaving a loved one. However, I loved the interesting messages she threw in there. Such as, paying attention to coincidences. Or, staying in the present moments. Those were deep.

All in all, while the characters were brilliant, as was the idea and plot, it wasn't memorable for me, and with all of the other cancer-involved stories out there (My Sister's Keeper, The Fault In Our Stars), I have a feeling this one won't stand out for me, personally. It was more of a laugh-out-loud book than a cry-out-loud one for me, but do check the book out, many people cried heavily over it.

P.S. I LOVE the title. Once you read the book, it's so freaking absolutely perfect. <3

Grade: B

Source: Library