Chinese American Amie shares a love of music with her father, Ba-ba. Amie’s mother provides the structure to their home routine, with scheduled time for homework, violin practice, evening walk, and health regimens for Ba-ba’s cancer treatments. Sixth grader Amie’s best friends are Bella (white) and Rio (Latino); they see themselves as a Harry-Ron-Hermione trio. When Ba-ba dies, this close network provides support for Amie, but also creates tension. She feels like Harry Potter—famous for family tragedy, with everyone looking at her and wanting to know if she’s okay. Meanwhile, her mother channels her grief into action by taking on more activities, much to Amie’s frustration. Overwhelmed by her feelings, Amie is unable to play violin, which has been an important means of expression as well as a connection to her father. The loss of that connection, along with her guilt at not visiting Ba-ba in the hospital on his last day alive, eats away at Amie in a moving middle grade novel that explores the rawness and pain of grief with tremendous honesty. Each chapter begins with a musical vocabulary word and a black and white line drawing, and Amie’s family’s blend of Chinese and American traditions feels both fresh and authentic in a story that sees Amie turn the corner toward healing. (Ages 9-12)

A CCBC BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR 

"A moving, musical interlude on grief ... a great pick for anyone with a love of music or with a cloud of grief lingering over them. Hand to fans of Lynne Kelly, Christine Day, and Paul Acampora." —Booklist

"Bolstered by an undercurrent of hope, Chow honors the tween protagonist’s complexities and priorities as explored via Amie’s candid voice.” —Publishers Weekly

"This lyrical narrative weaves in musical elements to effectively describe the complexity of Amie’s grief and its effects on her love for music." —BCCB

"Perfect for middle school music nerds, especially those undergoing personal turmoil." —School Library Journal

A glittering debut about life and loss that follows Amie as she learns to heal and move forward over the course of a life-changing year, for fans of When You Trap a Tiger and The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise.

Amie has spent her life perfectly in tune with Ba-ba, her father—she plays the violin, his favorite instrument; she loves all his favorite foods, even if he can’t eat them during his cancer treatments; and they talk about books, including Amie’s favorite series, Harry Potter. But after Ba-ba dies, Amie feels distanced from everyone close to her, like her mother and her best friends, Rio and Bella. More devastating still, she loses her ability to play the violin—the notes that used to flow freely are now stilted and sharp. Will Amie ever find her way back to the music she once loved? 

With hope and harmony lighting the way—and with help from the people who care about her most—Amie must find the strength to carry on. In the end, she’ll learn that healing, while painful, can be its own miraculous song. 

Advance Praise for Miracle:
"A beautifully written debut about family, friendship, and life after loss. Miracle will be a miracle for the readers who need it." —Dusti Bowling, bestselling author of Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus and The Canyon's Edge

"A symphony of loss and healing that's certain to tug at your heartstrings." —Cindy Baldwin, author of Where the Watermelons Grow

"Genuine, sincere, authentic—this book is a gift to readers." —Mary E. Lambert, author of Family Game Night and Other Catastrophes

"A touching book about a difficult subject. It brings a quiet hope to young readers who may be dealing with their own loss, showing that they can find a path forward even after the hardest events." —Melissa Dassori, author of J.R. Silver Writes Her World