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The Orphanage of Miracles #1
The Orphanage of Miracles
Perhaps everyone could use a miracle, but very few will find the one they truly need.Amid a war torn land, hidden deep within an enchanted forest, hides an orphanage where miracles abound. It s a magical place built by a resolute king who is determined to defeat an evil sorcerer waging bitter war against his people. Victory just might take a miracle, and so the orphanage may very well hide the key to winning the war.A young girl named Kelsey also desperately needs a miracle. She embarks on a quest to find the mysterious and hidden orphanage. Along the way she s joined by several traveling companions, including an over-sized snow leopard and a boy who cannot speak. In a land enchanted, it's difficult to know the difference between what's real and what isn't ... and what a true friend looks like. Join Kelsey and her companions as they embark on an extraordinary adventure and a quest unlike any other.The Orphanage of Miracles is a work of fiction that examines the concept of miracles and what it takes to find or make the one you need.
333 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 23, 2013
About the author
Amy Neftzger
13 books181 followersAmy Neftzger (born June 23) is an American researcher and author who has published fiction books, non-fiction books, business articles, and peer review research. Her works have reached an international audience.
Amy was born in Illinois and graduated from Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. She received her bachelors degree from the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida and her Masters in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. She graduated from both Universities with honors.
She has written numerous business and journal articles, but her fiction works have been the most commercially successful. In 2003 she published Conversations with the Moon, which was also translated into Korean and published in South Korea. In 2005 she collaborated with her husband, guitarist Tyra Neftzger on a children's book called "All that the Dog Ever Wanted." The book was designed to introduce children to jazz music at an early age and included a CD sampler of jazz tunes. In 2007 she worked as an editor on a business fable called "The Damned Company."
Amy was born in Illinois and graduated from Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. She received her bachelors degree from the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida and her Masters in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. She graduated from both Universities with honors.
She has written numerous business and journal articles, but her fiction works have been the most commercially successful. In 2003 she published Conversations with the Moon, which was also translated into Korean and published in South Korea. In 2005 she collaborated with her husband, guitarist Tyra Neftzger on a children's book called "All that the Dog Ever Wanted." The book was designed to introduce children to jazz music at an early age and included a CD sampler of jazz tunes. In 2007 she worked as an editor on a business fable called "The Damned Company."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
December 22, 2013
I really wanted to enjoy this book. I like the story. The central idea that's there has a lot of promise. However, I think the book itself could benefit from a few things. First, another round of editing. There are some clunky bits that could be cleaned up--particularly, the overly expository style of the beginning of the book could use some work.
I was intrigued at the beginning because the author does a good job of setting up a mystery for the reader. I enjoyed that. However, as the book progresses, the pacing just makes the whole thing feel monotonous and as though it's too long.
What adds to this is that the author is very heavy in telling, versus showing. Also, I have a lot of difficulty figuring out the ages of the characters because their characterizations are sometimes inconsistent. There's a lot of repetition in the book. That may be for the benefit of its younger intended audience; however, I think some children might have difficulty finding the patience to read this all the way through to the end.
Then, you get to the end... and it's a little bit too preachy for my tastes. Great messages, mediocre finish. There will apparently be more books in the series. I'd like to see where the story goes, but I can't say I'll go out of my way to find the next book.
I was intrigued at the beginning because the author does a good job of setting up a mystery for the reader. I enjoyed that. However, as the book progresses, the pacing just makes the whole thing feel monotonous and as though it's too long.
What adds to this is that the author is very heavy in telling, versus showing. Also, I have a lot of difficulty figuring out the ages of the characters because their characterizations are sometimes inconsistent. There's a lot of repetition in the book. That may be for the benefit of its younger intended audience; however, I think some children might have difficulty finding the patience to read this all the way through to the end.
Then, you get to the end... and it's a little bit too preachy for my tastes. Great messages, mediocre finish. There will apparently be more books in the series. I'd like to see where the story goes, but I can't say I'll go out of my way to find the next book.
March 12, 2013
Myth-like fairy tale for preteen set
Written as a myth-like fairy tale and aimed at preteen readers, Orphanage of Miracles has a nice stereotype flip--the main girl character is strong and fearless while the main boy character is compassionate and level-headed. A faraway war is making life difficult for everyone and the king is missing, so children living at an orphanage hidden within an enchanted forest are given the job of tying to create a miracle to set things right. In another part of the kingdom a young girl named Kelsey leaves her home also in search of a miracle to end the war. Until the storylines come together at the end, chapters alternate between the quest like adventures of Kelsey as she travels and the struggles of three orphan friends as they try to create a miracle using library books and laboratory equipment. There are some wonderful magical elements in the book, like bottled memories that can be bought and sold. Orphanage of Miracles should appeal to children who enjoy magic-filled stories set in distant lands.
Written as a myth-like fairy tale and aimed at preteen readers, Orphanage of Miracles has a nice stereotype flip--the main girl character is strong and fearless while the main boy character is compassionate and level-headed. A faraway war is making life difficult for everyone and the king is missing, so children living at an orphanage hidden within an enchanted forest are given the job of tying to create a miracle to set things right. In another part of the kingdom a young girl named Kelsey leaves her home also in search of a miracle to end the war. Until the storylines come together at the end, chapters alternate between the quest like adventures of Kelsey as she travels and the struggles of three orphan friends as they try to create a miracle using library books and laboratory equipment. There are some wonderful magical elements in the book, like bottled memories that can be bought and sold. Orphanage of Miracles should appeal to children who enjoy magic-filled stories set in distant lands.
July 29, 2016
I won a copy from Goodreads First Reads.
The Orphanage of Miracles is a strange, but wonderful read. It's not confusing, but it is befuddling and mad, in a good way. Told from two POVs, The Orphanage of Miracles is full of delight for the Middle Grade Audience.
The plot was good. It's uniqueness and spunky craziness enchanted me from the beginning. With twist and turns and crazy lessons, the plot will be confusing and maddening, in a good way, of course. Full of mystery and strange sisters and snow leopard, The Orphanage of Miracles is a nice surprise. The setting is much more surprising. In a cursed world of a kingdom where right is wrong and wrong is right/ truths are lies and lies are truths, characters and readers will experience a maddening world of a conflict, directly caused by a battle between a king and an evil sorcerer.
The ending of the Orphanage of Miracles was so surprising. Major cliffhanger at the end.
Kelsey is on a quest for a miracle. She sets off with a funny and sweet snow leopard and a mute boy, who Kelsey calls Silence. She journeys off to find the legendary Orphanage of Miracles, hoping to save her village from all sorts of problems. Kelsey is a huntress with a beautiful, in Kelsey's mind, knife. She's broken inside, but she doesn't know it. She's grumpy and rude most of the time, but mostly because of Silence, the mute boy. The character change of Kelsey is amazing and huge.
Nicholas is at the Orphanage of Miracles. His Orphanage orders him and others to make a miracle, but they don't tell him how. With a heart of gold and a mind of selflessness, Nicholas makes the first miracle in a long time. He's determine to find out why the Orphanage of Miracles only has autumn, why the guardians are so odd, what do the words on the walls of the orphanage mean, and why are the guardians so obsessed with plants. As a naturally curious boy, Nicholas seeks answers from the insides of the Orphanage of Miracles.
The two POVs of Nicholas and Kelsey switches every chapter until their paths finally meet and intertwine.
Rating: Four out of Five
-Alice of Wonderland
The Orphanage of Miracles is a strange, but wonderful read. It's not confusing, but it is befuddling and mad, in a good way. Told from two POVs, The Orphanage of Miracles is full of delight for the Middle Grade Audience.
The plot was good. It's uniqueness and spunky craziness enchanted me from the beginning. With twist and turns and crazy lessons, the plot will be confusing and maddening, in a good way, of course. Full of mystery and strange sisters and snow leopard, The Orphanage of Miracles is a nice surprise. The setting is much more surprising. In a cursed world of a kingdom where right is wrong and wrong is right/ truths are lies and lies are truths, characters and readers will experience a maddening world of a conflict, directly caused by a battle between a king and an evil sorcerer.
The ending of the Orphanage of Miracles was so surprising. Major cliffhanger at the end.
Kelsey is on a quest for a miracle. She sets off with a funny and sweet snow leopard and a mute boy, who Kelsey calls Silence. She journeys off to find the legendary Orphanage of Miracles, hoping to save her village from all sorts of problems. Kelsey is a huntress with a beautiful, in Kelsey's mind, knife. She's broken inside, but she doesn't know it. She's grumpy and rude most of the time, but mostly because of Silence, the mute boy. The character change of Kelsey is amazing and huge.
Nicholas is at the Orphanage of Miracles. His Orphanage orders him and others to make a miracle, but they don't tell him how. With a heart of gold and a mind of selflessness, Nicholas makes the first miracle in a long time. He's determine to find out why the Orphanage of Miracles only has autumn, why the guardians are so odd, what do the words on the walls of the orphanage mean, and why are the guardians so obsessed with plants. As a naturally curious boy, Nicholas seeks answers from the insides of the Orphanage of Miracles.
The two POVs of Nicholas and Kelsey switches every chapter until their paths finally meet and intertwine.
Rating: Four out of Five
-Alice of Wonderland
October 26, 2013
Leopards and foxes and kings, oh my. This magical adventure in, to quote the author, “The Land of Make Believe,” is very well done. It is books like this that gave me my love of reading as a child. It engages the imagination from start to finish.
I loved the characters in this book. The girls are strong and brave and the boys are kind and compassionate. They are interesting, curious, and generally likeable. The lessons they learn during the story are clearly relevant to their lives.
The book is made up of two separate stories that merge in the end. It alternates between the two but the common thread is evident all the way through. The end sets up nicely for the sequel, which is not yet released.
I would definitely recommend this book to the targeted age group as well as to adults as a fun and engaging read. Kudos to Cory Basil for a fabulous cover and illustrations. Although I usually try not to compare authors, I have to say that Amy Neftzger’s writing reminds me a lot of Neil Gaiman, who happens to be one of my favorite authors. I am planning to read, not only the sequel to this book, but other works of this author.
I loved the characters in this book. The girls are strong and brave and the boys are kind and compassionate. They are interesting, curious, and generally likeable. The lessons they learn during the story are clearly relevant to their lives.
The book is made up of two separate stories that merge in the end. It alternates between the two but the common thread is evident all the way through. The end sets up nicely for the sequel, which is not yet released.
I would definitely recommend this book to the targeted age group as well as to adults as a fun and engaging read. Kudos to Cory Basil for a fabulous cover and illustrations. Although I usually try not to compare authors, I have to say that Amy Neftzger’s writing reminds me a lot of Neil Gaiman, who happens to be one of my favorite authors. I am planning to read, not only the sequel to this book, but other works of this author.
March 23, 2014
Read my full review: http://bit.ly/1hTnRbK
My opinion: I have had the pleasure of knowing Ms. Neftzger for several years. She has been a Sisterhood of the Traveling Book author member. Her books have always focused on adult literature and while good, her literature didn't really stand out to her competitors.
My opinion of this author changed when I read The Orphanage of Miracles. This book grasped me immediately. It is a wonderful, CLEAN read for middle school readers, which allows them to use their imaginations with the storyline. Although there were two stories "going on", the story wrapped up beautifully.
One criticism that I did find focuses on the editing of the book. I feel that it could have used some tighter editing. I found several mistakes which should have stood out to an editor. However, these errors didn't detract from my review rating.
As a result of her author member status, I have read numerous works by this author, but feel she has really found her niche in this series and in the juvenile book market.
My opinion: I have had the pleasure of knowing Ms. Neftzger for several years. She has been a Sisterhood of the Traveling Book author member. Her books have always focused on adult literature and while good, her literature didn't really stand out to her competitors.
My opinion of this author changed when I read The Orphanage of Miracles. This book grasped me immediately. It is a wonderful, CLEAN read for middle school readers, which allows them to use their imaginations with the storyline. Although there were two stories "going on", the story wrapped up beautifully.
One criticism that I did find focuses on the editing of the book. I feel that it could have used some tighter editing. I found several mistakes which should have stood out to an editor. However, these errors didn't detract from my review rating.
As a result of her author member status, I have read numerous works by this author, but feel she has really found her niche in this series and in the juvenile book market.
January 3, 2018
A refreshingly original story of young people who aren't afraid to think outside the box. It's hard not to relate to Nicholas and his friends, who are expected to come up with results without being given instructions. I was intrigued by the story from page one, waiting to find out how it was possible to manufacture a miracle. Kelsey's story took longer to pull me in, but as she learned to care for others, I too cared for her. I would definitely recommend it, and I intend to look out for the sequel!
September 9, 2013
This is a cute fantasy/pre teen book. I had fun reading this. Loved how the two stories came together. The characters were great.
March 25, 2018
I received a free copy from NetGalley. I'm glad to see there are now more, as this very much read as the first in a series. Some decent messages about choices. The magic isn't too crazy or unbelievable and it strangely fit in very well with people seeing/not seeing truth/fiction with the current political climate.
August 7, 2021
I highly enjoyed reading this book. Spiritual undertones.
September 4, 2014
A wholly believable new world
AmyNeftzger creates a totally believable new world. I was hooked right from the start. After all, who wouldn't want to create miracles, right?
“The Orphanage of Miracles” is divided into two points of view that you know will merge into one.
The first storyline involves the protagonist, Nicholas, Maggie and Jovan in the Orphanage. How they came to be there is a mystery to them. They are under the guidance of the kindly Taro, with the instructions to manufacture miracles to help the King to win the war against a sorcerer. The children are in puzzlement as they are given no rules or instructions on miracle-making, and are told that in fact no one has ever made a miracle. However, the garden they glimpse outside the Orphanage is crammed to the full with miracles, like singing fireflies and a fall that never turns into winter.
Hovering at the helm of the orphanage are the mysterious and rarely-seen Mr. and Mrs. Pontiff. The only semblance to the real pontiff that I could see is their belief in miracles, that they run an ancient institution and that they are almost never seen by the common person. (LOL). Otherwise, this is not a religious or Catholic book. The miracles are those that probably most children the world over believe are possible.
The second strand involves Kelsey, an irrepressible young lady, who leaves her parents to cure her village of its dire poverty. In search of a miracle and sources of food, Kelsey leaves the security of home alone with only a few dollars and nothing she can protect herself with if the wolves happen to spy her. This thread is a traditional quest story and we follow Kelsey along a variety of landscapes: a desert, the sea, and so on.
There is an amusing and perceptive scene early in Kelsey’s adventures where she enters a Memory shop. Instead of buying a happy memory as most people would, Kelsey happens upon jars with bad memories. The shopkeeper tells her, “People who want to be better and do great things” would want to buy these. This spurs Kelsey into thinking that bad memories would help her to accomplish something miraculous. So she spends a large proportion of her meagre funds to buy the largest jar of bad memories she can, and immediately comes under their spell in an unexpected fashion. It is humorous how she is ridded of their dire shadow.
Similar in style to the Narnia chronicles, Kelsey is helped along by a magnificent, huge snow leopard called Megan and a mute orphan boy she calls Silence. They meet with another fellow traveller called Roland, but who or what he is, I will leave a mystery in order to encourage you to read it.
In true fable fashion, there are many nuggets in the writing, which never comes across as being didactic or dull. “The worst kind of brokenness is the kind that you don’t know you have.” There is also humour, and sometimes wisdom is found in the humour, e.g. Megan says, “There are many things I wish I couldn’t smell, but very few things that I am physically unable to smell.”
So to the question of what is a miracle and how to discover one: is it something to be mined or discovered or manufactured in a lab? What does it look like? It is possibly something like a shooting star or an element made up of a flash of light and colour. We do learn that miracles are individual to the receiver. So while no gospel is expounded, miracles are left largely undefined.
This is an amazing story – a fable, a quest tale, an orphanage story, a fairy tale – you name it, and it is stupendous. Well-written, interesting and miraculous – a great package. The ending leaves room for a sequel.
AmyNeftzger creates a totally believable new world. I was hooked right from the start. After all, who wouldn't want to create miracles, right?
“The Orphanage of Miracles” is divided into two points of view that you know will merge into one.
The first storyline involves the protagonist, Nicholas, Maggie and Jovan in the Orphanage. How they came to be there is a mystery to them. They are under the guidance of the kindly Taro, with the instructions to manufacture miracles to help the King to win the war against a sorcerer. The children are in puzzlement as they are given no rules or instructions on miracle-making, and are told that in fact no one has ever made a miracle. However, the garden they glimpse outside the Orphanage is crammed to the full with miracles, like singing fireflies and a fall that never turns into winter.
Hovering at the helm of the orphanage are the mysterious and rarely-seen Mr. and Mrs. Pontiff. The only semblance to the real pontiff that I could see is their belief in miracles, that they run an ancient institution and that they are almost never seen by the common person. (LOL). Otherwise, this is not a religious or Catholic book. The miracles are those that probably most children the world over believe are possible.
The second strand involves Kelsey, an irrepressible young lady, who leaves her parents to cure her village of its dire poverty. In search of a miracle and sources of food, Kelsey leaves the security of home alone with only a few dollars and nothing she can protect herself with if the wolves happen to spy her. This thread is a traditional quest story and we follow Kelsey along a variety of landscapes: a desert, the sea, and so on.
There is an amusing and perceptive scene early in Kelsey’s adventures where she enters a Memory shop. Instead of buying a happy memory as most people would, Kelsey happens upon jars with bad memories. The shopkeeper tells her, “People who want to be better and do great things” would want to buy these. This spurs Kelsey into thinking that bad memories would help her to accomplish something miraculous. So she spends a large proportion of her meagre funds to buy the largest jar of bad memories she can, and immediately comes under their spell in an unexpected fashion. It is humorous how she is ridded of their dire shadow.
Similar in style to the Narnia chronicles, Kelsey is helped along by a magnificent, huge snow leopard called Megan and a mute orphan boy she calls Silence. They meet with another fellow traveller called Roland, but who or what he is, I will leave a mystery in order to encourage you to read it.
In true fable fashion, there are many nuggets in the writing, which never comes across as being didactic or dull. “The worst kind of brokenness is the kind that you don’t know you have.” There is also humour, and sometimes wisdom is found in the humour, e.g. Megan says, “There are many things I wish I couldn’t smell, but very few things that I am physically unable to smell.”
So to the question of what is a miracle and how to discover one: is it something to be mined or discovered or manufactured in a lab? What does it look like? It is possibly something like a shooting star or an element made up of a flash of light and colour. We do learn that miracles are individual to the receiver. So while no gospel is expounded, miracles are left largely undefined.
This is an amazing story – a fable, a quest tale, an orphanage story, a fairy tale – you name it, and it is stupendous. Well-written, interesting and miraculous – a great package. The ending leaves room for a sequel.
June 9, 2014
Even though the high level premise felt similar to other books, The Orphanage of Miracles caught my attention with the subtle variety in the plot. The story takes place in an unknown medieval land where magic is real and an evil sorcerer has waged war against the people and king. Seems like a pretty mundane synopsis. The difference comes with the idea of the Orphanage of Miracles. Not much is told about this Orphanage other than that it exists as a mystical place somewhere in the land where miracles are somehow manufactured. I immediately thought of Miracle Max from The Princess Bride, but after that imagery died down, I gave the book a chance. The book has two main stories working to meet one another.
A girl named Kelsey has left her home on a quest to find the Orphanage of Miracles. There’s a disaster in her home town and she’s determined to help if she can. She’s not thinking about the bigger picture of getting a miracle for the entire land as a way of ending the war. As she travels, Kelsey meets some interesting characters who both help and hinder her journey.
Meanwhile, a parallel story is presented. The reader finds out that the Orphanage DOES exist but something isn’t quite right. We follow the life of Nicholas, a young orphan inside the Orphanage. We learn that the orphans each assigned a different specific job or calling to perform. Nicholas and his friends have had bad luck trying to find their perfect calling but they are excited because their new prospect involves working directly with the creation and cultivation of Miracles. As Nicholas’s story progresses, it becomes very clear that there are major problems at the Orphanage. The entire Orphanage is shrouded in mystery both from the outside world and even to those living and working inside its walls.
As the story progressed, I saw a number of moral allegories presented. Some were more veiled than others. I think for the intended age range (grade schoolers, probably maxing out at middle school), the symbolism and suggestions may be subtle enough to be interesting ideas without being overt commentary on ethics or other moral issues. I personally found the messages to be refreshing in their veiled subtlety as a way of helping present some thoughtful ideals for children to digest.
There were a few times where I felt like the editing could have been tightened up again. The biggest problem I felt was that the mystery was perhaps a bit too obtuse which could lead to unnecessary confusion. There were a lot of elements that were left very vague or completely undefined. I saw this as a core plot device to keep even the nature of the mystery intentionally ambiguous. This became problematic during the last few chapters of the book when the revelations came flowing out with such rapidity as to be a little disorienting. Still, this imbalance was acceptable in light of the length and nature of the story.
I really enjoyed the light tone and writing of this book. The presentation of the story and the mystery were both compelling and easily accessible for young readers. I didn’t initially know that this was the first book in a series. The book ends with a nice conclusion that wraps up a lot of the core mysteries and issues with the story but it also opens up a compelling new plot that I’m genuinely interested in following up in the next book. Overall, this is a nice, light read with slightly deeper themes and ideas lingering just below the surface.
***
3 out of 5 stars
A girl named Kelsey has left her home on a quest to find the Orphanage of Miracles. There’s a disaster in her home town and she’s determined to help if she can. She’s not thinking about the bigger picture of getting a miracle for the entire land as a way of ending the war. As she travels, Kelsey meets some interesting characters who both help and hinder her journey.
Meanwhile, a parallel story is presented. The reader finds out that the Orphanage DOES exist but something isn’t quite right. We follow the life of Nicholas, a young orphan inside the Orphanage. We learn that the orphans each assigned a different specific job or calling to perform. Nicholas and his friends have had bad luck trying to find their perfect calling but they are excited because their new prospect involves working directly with the creation and cultivation of Miracles. As Nicholas’s story progresses, it becomes very clear that there are major problems at the Orphanage. The entire Orphanage is shrouded in mystery both from the outside world and even to those living and working inside its walls.
As the story progressed, I saw a number of moral allegories presented. Some were more veiled than others. I think for the intended age range (grade schoolers, probably maxing out at middle school), the symbolism and suggestions may be subtle enough to be interesting ideas without being overt commentary on ethics or other moral issues. I personally found the messages to be refreshing in their veiled subtlety as a way of helping present some thoughtful ideals for children to digest.
There were a few times where I felt like the editing could have been tightened up again. The biggest problem I felt was that the mystery was perhaps a bit too obtuse which could lead to unnecessary confusion. There were a lot of elements that were left very vague or completely undefined. I saw this as a core plot device to keep even the nature of the mystery intentionally ambiguous. This became problematic during the last few chapters of the book when the revelations came flowing out with such rapidity as to be a little disorienting. Still, this imbalance was acceptable in light of the length and nature of the story.
I really enjoyed the light tone and writing of this book. The presentation of the story and the mystery were both compelling and easily accessible for young readers. I didn’t initially know that this was the first book in a series. The book ends with a nice conclusion that wraps up a lot of the core mysteries and issues with the story but it also opens up a compelling new plot that I’m genuinely interested in following up in the next book. Overall, this is a nice, light read with slightly deeper themes and ideas lingering just below the surface.
***
3 out of 5 stars
July 10, 2013
Originally posted on LibraryThing
Rating: 2.5 of 5
Perhaps everyone could use a miracle,
but very few will find the one they truly need.
Amid a war torn land, hidden deep within an enchanted forest, hides an orphanage where miracles abound...Join Kelsey and her companions as they embark on an extraordinary adventure and a quest unlike any other.
Definitely intended for a middle grade audience, The Orphanage of Miracles fell short of an enjoyable experience for me; thus, the below three stars rating which I don't give out willy nilly. So let me explain why I did this time:
The strongest elements of the story were overpowered by the heavy-handed allegory. What do I mean by "heavy-handed," you ask? The author chose to tell, rather than show, 95% of the story. And she didn't just tell one time; the same character would think it then speak it, and then repeat it. Sometimes different characters would repeat the same questions and conclusions. At one point I thought maybe this was for the benefit of the book's audience (kids aged 8-10), you know, to make sure they knew exactly what was meant. But then, in a later chapter, Kelsey basically said one should never talk down to children because you don't know how old they really are on the inside. So I have to conclude the rampant "telling" and repetition was intentional.
Perhaps all that telling would've worked much better had the page count been reduced by a couple hundred pages? In its current form, though, it felt like a sermon, not a story.
And from the book's blurb (see above in italics) "miracles abound" was misleading. I quickly discovered that miracles were rare at the orphanage and the kids (as well as their mentors) didn't even really know what miracles were or how to create them.
Here's what I liked about The Orphanage of Miracles:
* The title.
* The cover jacket design.
* The illustrations.
* The Memory Shoppe. Though memories as a tangible object wasn't new to me, I enjoyed how the author played with that concept.
* The overall tone of the book was an uplifting one.
* The themes. Constructive lessons and morality abound.
Overall, I closed the book and felt the story just flat out missed its mark. So much potential, solid writing skills, fresh idea...lost in all that darn telling!
I'll be donating this one to my local library.
Rating: 2.5 of 5
Perhaps everyone could use a miracle,
but very few will find the one they truly need.
Amid a war torn land, hidden deep within an enchanted forest, hides an orphanage where miracles abound...Join Kelsey and her companions as they embark on an extraordinary adventure and a quest unlike any other.
Definitely intended for a middle grade audience, The Orphanage of Miracles fell short of an enjoyable experience for me; thus, the below three stars rating which I don't give out willy nilly. So let me explain why I did this time:
The strongest elements of the story were overpowered by the heavy-handed allegory. What do I mean by "heavy-handed," you ask? The author chose to tell, rather than show, 95% of the story. And she didn't just tell one time; the same character would think it then speak it, and then repeat it. Sometimes different characters would repeat the same questions and conclusions. At one point I thought maybe this was for the benefit of the book's audience (kids aged 8-10), you know, to make sure they knew exactly what was meant. But then, in a later chapter, Kelsey basically said one should never talk down to children because you don't know how old they really are on the inside. So I have to conclude the rampant "telling" and repetition was intentional.
Perhaps all that telling would've worked much better had the page count been reduced by a couple hundred pages? In its current form, though, it felt like a sermon, not a story.
And from the book's blurb (see above in italics) "miracles abound" was misleading. I quickly discovered that miracles were rare at the orphanage and the kids (as well as their mentors) didn't even really know what miracles were or how to create them.
Here's what I liked about The Orphanage of Miracles:
* The title.
* The cover jacket design.
* The illustrations.
* The Memory Shoppe. Though memories as a tangible object wasn't new to me, I enjoyed how the author played with that concept.
* The overall tone of the book was an uplifting one.
* The themes. Constructive lessons and morality abound.
Overall, I closed the book and felt the story just flat out missed its mark. So much potential, solid writing skills, fresh idea...lost in all that darn telling!
I'll be donating this one to my local library.
January 21, 2014
I won this Middle Grade book from Librarything Early Reviewers program, but I heard about it while I was at BEA in May and I was not really sure what to expect of it. I have seen that is has gotten some lower (3 star) reviews online and the back of the book did not have a synopsis, only this:
“Perhaps everyone could use a miracle,
but very few will find the one they truly need.”
I happily grabbed this book off my shelf on a day I knew I would be spending in Panera to get some reading and blogging done and in front of the fireplace with a cup of coffee I dove in. I was whisked away by two enchanting and adorable stories of children: the first of an Orphanage and three orphans whose goal it is to make or catch a miracle, because that is what the orphanage does, it is in charge of miracles for the king; and the second or a girl on a journey to find a miracle for her starving village and family during wartime.
As the story progresses you learn many things, like to question how things are and why, how to have courage and take ownership of your misfortunes and misdeeds, to not fear death but embrace it, and that sometimes you need healing even when you do not realize it. The story is jam-packed with little messages to the reader about self-worth and loving others and how miracles can and do happen but only to those who allow themselves to share experiences with others.
Nicolas, Maggie, and Joven are the orphans that we follow at the Orphanage of Miracles. Nicolas is the soft-spoken, good with instructions (when he gets them), thoughtful one; Maggie, the aggressive, out-spoken, brass one; and Joven the intellectual one, who questions a lot. They are moved from ‘job’ to ‘job’ at the orphanage in the attempt to have miracles appear, however the staff never tell them how to do anything, just send them off.
Kelsey’s story is that of adventure, she is traveling to find a miracle and has various companions join her trip, including a mute child that she dubs ‘Silence’, a talking leopard, a fox, and a king. As she travels she learns more and more about herself and the real journey she is on and it is a lot of fun.
I found myself loving the Orphanage storyline most at first but then wanted more of Kelsey’s story, it was a very good balance, I think.
I recommend this book to young readers; I think they will love it. However I also think it is a great read for anyone, there are a lot of hidden and not-so-hidden messages throughout it and I really enjoyed the depth behind those messages.
“Perhaps everyone could use a miracle,
but very few will find the one they truly need.”
I happily grabbed this book off my shelf on a day I knew I would be spending in Panera to get some reading and blogging done and in front of the fireplace with a cup of coffee I dove in. I was whisked away by two enchanting and adorable stories of children: the first of an Orphanage and three orphans whose goal it is to make or catch a miracle, because that is what the orphanage does, it is in charge of miracles for the king; and the second or a girl on a journey to find a miracle for her starving village and family during wartime.
As the story progresses you learn many things, like to question how things are and why, how to have courage and take ownership of your misfortunes and misdeeds, to not fear death but embrace it, and that sometimes you need healing even when you do not realize it. The story is jam-packed with little messages to the reader about self-worth and loving others and how miracles can and do happen but only to those who allow themselves to share experiences with others.
Nicolas, Maggie, and Joven are the orphans that we follow at the Orphanage of Miracles. Nicolas is the soft-spoken, good with instructions (when he gets them), thoughtful one; Maggie, the aggressive, out-spoken, brass one; and Joven the intellectual one, who questions a lot. They are moved from ‘job’ to ‘job’ at the orphanage in the attempt to have miracles appear, however the staff never tell them how to do anything, just send them off.
Kelsey’s story is that of adventure, she is traveling to find a miracle and has various companions join her trip, including a mute child that she dubs ‘Silence’, a talking leopard, a fox, and a king. As she travels she learns more and more about herself and the real journey she is on and it is a lot of fun.
I found myself loving the Orphanage storyline most at first but then wanted more of Kelsey’s story, it was a very good balance, I think.
I recommend this book to young readers; I think they will love it. However I also think it is a great read for anyone, there are a lot of hidden and not-so-hidden messages throughout it and I really enjoyed the depth behind those messages.
July 5, 2013
The Orphanage of Miracles is a middle grade novel that can best be described as an allegory. A magical alternate world is used to create metaphors and impart many lessons: doing what is right, the importance of cooperation, working hard, thinking for yourself, and not believing stereotypes. All of these messages are wonderful, especially for a middle grade audience, it is the way the messages are imparted that I take issue with.
We follow two main characters: Kelsey, on a journey to the Orphanage to gain the means to save her village from economic ruin; and Nicholas, a resident of the Orphanage who struggles to create the miracles the place is known for. Of the two narratives Nicholas has by far the more compelling one. His experiments and observations, along with those of his friends Maggie and Jovan, have a wry humor that makes for a great reading experience. The three children have distinct characteristics and ways of viewing the world, and their friendship holds the narrative together even though all other characters are underdeveloped.
Kelsey's quest narrative on the other hand is burdened with too much talk and not enough action. It primarily consists of Kelsey receiving lectures by a series of people as she goes on her way. There are a set of three sisters whose only purpose is to stand at various locations and deliver unsolicited criticism to our heroine. The bulk of the middle of the novel is given over to a talking leopard named Megan literally delivering moral lessons interspersed with cryptic statements. Kelsey is told not to do something, does it anyway, is punished, as as she learns form it Megan is there to tell her what she should do and point out where she went wrong. Maybe it's me, but I found this entire section of the story extremely tedious. Maybe I'm too far outside the intended audience to appreciate it, maybe it's because I like my character growth to be better integrated into the story and not so by the numbers.
The novel has some interesting imagery and ideas, the lessons it imparts are valuable, but ultimately I felt that it was bogged down by a need to explicitly sermonize. The deus ex machina does't help either.
Recommended for: children age 9-12 who enjoy fantasy and don't mind a slower story.
We follow two main characters: Kelsey, on a journey to the Orphanage to gain the means to save her village from economic ruin; and Nicholas, a resident of the Orphanage who struggles to create the miracles the place is known for. Of the two narratives Nicholas has by far the more compelling one. His experiments and observations, along with those of his friends Maggie and Jovan, have a wry humor that makes for a great reading experience. The three children have distinct characteristics and ways of viewing the world, and their friendship holds the narrative together even though all other characters are underdeveloped.
Kelsey's quest narrative on the other hand is burdened with too much talk and not enough action. It primarily consists of Kelsey receiving lectures by a series of people as she goes on her way. There are a set of three sisters whose only purpose is to stand at various locations and deliver unsolicited criticism to our heroine. The bulk of the middle of the novel is given over to a talking leopard named Megan literally delivering moral lessons interspersed with cryptic statements. Kelsey is told not to do something, does it anyway, is punished, as as she learns form it Megan is there to tell her what she should do and point out where she went wrong. Maybe it's me, but I found this entire section of the story extremely tedious. Maybe I'm too far outside the intended audience to appreciate it, maybe it's because I like my character growth to be better integrated into the story and not so by the numbers.
The novel has some interesting imagery and ideas, the lessons it imparts are valuable, but ultimately I felt that it was bogged down by a need to explicitly sermonize. The deus ex machina does't help either.
Recommended for: children age 9-12 who enjoy fantasy and don't mind a slower story.
June 18, 2013
The Orphanage of Miracles by Amy Neftzger is a unique middle grade novel about two very different journeys that come together to help the land. A sorcerer has tried to conquer the land cast a spell that makes it difficult for people to see things as they really are, and many are coming to believe that the war between their king and the sorcerer is not real. There is an orphanage within an enchanted forest in which miracles are protected while its residents strive to create more. Nicholas, Jovan, and Maggie are three orphans striving to find answers while not getting into trouble for their efforts, and struggling to figure out the process of miracle creation. Kelsey has left her family in search for a miracle, the orphanage might just be her answer. An her journey she is joined by a silent boy and a snow leopard. As the story toggles between Nicholas and Kelsey readers get a look at the interior of the orphanage and Kelsey's journey there. Will anyone find the answers they are looking for, or will they discover that they have not been asking the correct questions?
I was in a reading slump, where everything seemed to just seem blah or the same as everything else in its genre. However, The Orphanage of Miracles and one other book I recently finished broke through that feeling. This story might seem like the basic fantasy quest story, a young girl leaves home to seek help for her village only to discover that the larger world is not what she expects, and the companions she gathers on her way are equally as unexpected. I greatly enjoyed the characters, and the repeated tableaus that helped Kelsey grow and become more aware of the bigger picture. I also loved the juxtaposition between Kelsey's journey and the interior quest of Nicholas, Jovan, and Maggie as they seek answers in an environment that seems to prefer ignorance. Their answer seeking is just as challenging in some ways as the physical search by Kelsey.
I highly recommend The Orphanage of Miracles to readers that enjoy epic fantasy, coming of age stories, and novels that are simply well done and far from a cookie cutter tale. Readers of the middle grade set and older will enjoy this book, particularly if they enjoy fantasy or action adventure stories.
I was in a reading slump, where everything seemed to just seem blah or the same as everything else in its genre. However, The Orphanage of Miracles and one other book I recently finished broke through that feeling. This story might seem like the basic fantasy quest story, a young girl leaves home to seek help for her village only to discover that the larger world is not what she expects, and the companions she gathers on her way are equally as unexpected. I greatly enjoyed the characters, and the repeated tableaus that helped Kelsey grow and become more aware of the bigger picture. I also loved the juxtaposition between Kelsey's journey and the interior quest of Nicholas, Jovan, and Maggie as they seek answers in an environment that seems to prefer ignorance. Their answer seeking is just as challenging in some ways as the physical search by Kelsey.
I highly recommend The Orphanage of Miracles to readers that enjoy epic fantasy, coming of age stories, and novels that are simply well done and far from a cookie cutter tale. Readers of the middle grade set and older will enjoy this book, particularly if they enjoy fantasy or action adventure stories.
April 25, 2013
The Orphanage of Miracles is a Middle Grade fantasy book, and I'm okay with that. I love a good fantasy tale. The orphanage is unique, here magic has frozen them in a protective bubble. One that keeps the seasons from changing and strangers from finding their way to their doors - except needy children of course. They no longer have school, instead they spend their time trying to find a way to make miracles. Yes, they are physical things that look somewhat like a brilliant glistening rock. They have thousands locked up in a garden for protection, storing them for the King when he returns. Those in charge see it as their duty to protect and hoard the miracles for the King, but is that really what the King's orders were? Or have they misconstrued them and 'hidden their light beneath a bushel' so to speak. The problem has become that few new miracles are created because no knows HOW to make one. They've lost their purpose, so they've lost their knowledge. When a trio of orphan friends do create a miracle seed, everything turns upside down.
Meanwhile, Kelsey has left her home in search of a miracle to save her village. Her journey is rough and she meets some amazing friends and foes along the way. Including a small mute boy she feels honor bound to protect, only he's doing more for her and she can't really explain how. When their journey finally meets up with the orphans, amazing things are discovered. There's more to her travel companions than met her eye.
One of the things I loved about this book is it's allegorical style. It's not a Christian market book and yet there are so many things within the story that I couldn't help but see as an allegory of the Christian life. It's not heavy on the allegory, but once you see it, you'll understand what I mean. I also appreciated how the author represented miracles as something real and tangible, things that live and breathe and need to be shared in order to flourish. That by love and giving, miracles spread and change lives, turning evil to good. It's a good way for young readers to see them as tangible reality and not vague ideas or myths. Again, allegory, but really well done in my opinion.
Meanwhile, Kelsey has left her home in search of a miracle to save her village. Her journey is rough and she meets some amazing friends and foes along the way. Including a small mute boy she feels honor bound to protect, only he's doing more for her and she can't really explain how. When their journey finally meets up with the orphans, amazing things are discovered. There's more to her travel companions than met her eye.
One of the things I loved about this book is it's allegorical style. It's not a Christian market book and yet there are so many things within the story that I couldn't help but see as an allegory of the Christian life. It's not heavy on the allegory, but once you see it, you'll understand what I mean. I also appreciated how the author represented miracles as something real and tangible, things that live and breathe and need to be shared in order to flourish. That by love and giving, miracles spread and change lives, turning evil to good. It's a good way for young readers to see them as tangible reality and not vague ideas or myths. Again, allegory, but really well done in my opinion.
February 28, 2013
"The Orphanage of Miracles" was given to me as an ARC, and I was very glad to read this beautiful fantasy novel for children aged 7-12(??). But then again I'm 24, read it, and loved it. The age thing is overrated. I don't want to give a synopsis, because I feel with too much information I may give something away. So in short, there is a journey, a struggle, friendships, and above all else MIRACLES!!!! I really enjoyed all the magic, and fantastical elements added in, and it made me want to join the world that these children lived in.
But of course I feel I need to give the downfalls (UGH):
2 POV"S: The author chose to switch the POV each chapter which I normally like, and I did start to like, but gradually would wish to hear from one POV, and would quickly try to skim past others. I was favoring one character over another, but the novel wouldn't have worked without the switching of POV's so I understand why she did it. Only a small downfall.
Relating to characters: I had a really had time connecting to the characters. Normally I feel for the characters. I get sad, when they are sad, I'm happy when they are happy. I didn't grasp this in "The Orphanage of Miracles". I really wanted to know them more, and to become more of a friend to them. This was probably the biggest downfall, but it wasn't bad enough for me to not enjoy the story.
What happens next: So many things were left unanswered. I started questioning things as I was reading and would make a note of it, but when the last page was turned I still was left questioning. The final chapter summed up many things, but left so many more unanswered. Why? Maybe the author felt that as the reader, you were to create your own answer. I have trouble doing this.
All in all I really liked this book, and I may check some of her other stories out. I think upper elementary school kids will really enjoy, and appreciate this story.
But of course I feel I need to give the downfalls (UGH):
2 POV"S: The author chose to switch the POV each chapter which I normally like, and I did start to like, but gradually would wish to hear from one POV, and would quickly try to skim past others. I was favoring one character over another, but the novel wouldn't have worked without the switching of POV's so I understand why she did it. Only a small downfall.
Relating to characters: I had a really had time connecting to the characters. Normally I feel for the characters. I get sad, when they are sad, I'm happy when they are happy. I didn't grasp this in "The Orphanage of Miracles". I really wanted to know them more, and to become more of a friend to them. This was probably the biggest downfall, but it wasn't bad enough for me to not enjoy the story.
What happens next: So many things were left unanswered. I started questioning things as I was reading and would make a note of it, but when the last page was turned I still was left questioning. The final chapter summed up many things, but left so many more unanswered. Why? Maybe the author felt that as the reader, you were to create your own answer. I have trouble doing this.
All in all I really liked this book, and I may check some of her other stories out. I think upper elementary school kids will really enjoy, and appreciate this story.
December 30, 2013
Nicholas, Jovan, and Maggie are three orphans that have been assigned to the lab in the Orphanage of Miracles to make just that a miracle. They however are left to their own devices with no instruction on how to accomplish this feat. No one has made a miracle in a very long time and all the miracles in the orphanage are under lock and key in the garden. They do make the beginnings of a miracle but it is quickly taken away to be investigated and they are left more bewildered by this turn of events. Kelsey is on a quest to find the Orphanage of Miracles to find a miracle to save her village and put things back to how they were before the war devastated everything she knew. Along her journey she meets different characters that help her succeed on her quest and discover who she truly is.
I found the story to be unbelievable and did not understand the idea of the miracles. There is more magic than miracle in this book and even that is lacking. A miracle is not made nor is it beautiful colors that linger to make everyone feel happy and content. A miracle is a specific event that is fashioned by God. The characters in the book could have been built up more. There wasn’t much said about them and what set them apart from anyone else. Kelsey perhaps had more bravery than some but the three orphans were nothing but ordinary. The growing of the plants in the orphanage was pointless. Each child is given a plant upon arrival and if it dies they disappear never to be seen again. The plant is found to be the essence of who the children once were and if they let their plant die they have forgotten who they were. All this effort is put into Maggie’s plant almost dying and switching of plants and walking of plants to have nothing more said about them once it begins to thrive again. They were put on the shelf and forgotten just as this story should be.
I found the story to be unbelievable and did not understand the idea of the miracles. There is more magic than miracle in this book and even that is lacking. A miracle is not made nor is it beautiful colors that linger to make everyone feel happy and content. A miracle is a specific event that is fashioned by God. The characters in the book could have been built up more. There wasn’t much said about them and what set them apart from anyone else. Kelsey perhaps had more bravery than some but the three orphans were nothing but ordinary. The growing of the plants in the orphanage was pointless. Each child is given a plant upon arrival and if it dies they disappear never to be seen again. The plant is found to be the essence of who the children once were and if they let their plant die they have forgotten who they were. All this effort is put into Maggie’s plant almost dying and switching of plants and walking of plants to have nothing more said about them once it begins to thrive again. They were put on the shelf and forgotten just as this story should be.
August 23, 2015
Nicholas, Maggie, & Jovan are assigned to work together. They are told to make miracles but no one knows exactly how one is made. The only thing they know for certain is that they are to supply the miracles for the King.
Kelsey left the place she was born in in search of a miracle. Whether or not she will find one, she doesn't know. If she doesn't lose hope, anything is possible. But hope is hard to keep when you travel alone to strange lands in search of something precious yet rare.
This was more of a 2.5, but I bumped it up because I liked the drawings that were sprinkled here and there.
Once I got into The Orphanage of Miracles, it was an easy read.
The Orphanage of Miracles is told from two point of views. One depicts what is going on in the orphanage while the other takes us on a journey with Kelsey.
Kelsey's journey was a bit more interesting, in my opinion. I found myself hurrying through Nicholas' parts to get back to her story.
Overall, I found the story to be moderately entertaining. There were a few things here and there that I found cool like the blood-thirty rocks and the idea behind the plants at the orphanage. It's nice to see some authors still strive for originality. I thought the messages behind the story were excellent for young children, which brings me to my next point.
I liked the story, but it is aimed towards a audience younger than I, who I assume will rally enjoy this. Children should be able to relate to the characters struggles and will generally be entertained by the cast.
My only real problem was the dialogue. I found it to be choppy and forced, at times.
But the drawings within the book were a breath of fresh air. They had a Coraline-ish vibe and I loved them. They were relevant to the story and I felt it added a certain something to the overall reading experience.
Kelsey left the place she was born in in search of a miracle. Whether or not she will find one, she doesn't know. If she doesn't lose hope, anything is possible. But hope is hard to keep when you travel alone to strange lands in search of something precious yet rare.
This was more of a 2.5, but I bumped it up because I liked the drawings that were sprinkled here and there.
Once I got into The Orphanage of Miracles, it was an easy read.
The Orphanage of Miracles is told from two point of views. One depicts what is going on in the orphanage while the other takes us on a journey with Kelsey.
Kelsey's journey was a bit more interesting, in my opinion. I found myself hurrying through Nicholas' parts to get back to her story.
Overall, I found the story to be moderately entertaining. There were a few things here and there that I found cool like the blood-thirty rocks and the idea behind the plants at the orphanage. It's nice to see some authors still strive for originality. I thought the messages behind the story were excellent for young children, which brings me to my next point.
I liked the story, but it is aimed towards a audience younger than I, who I assume will rally enjoy this. Children should be able to relate to the characters struggles and will generally be entertained by the cast.
My only real problem was the dialogue. I found it to be choppy and forced, at times.
But the drawings within the book were a breath of fresh air. They had a Coraline-ish vibe and I loved them. They were relevant to the story and I felt it added a certain something to the overall reading experience.
September 26, 2013
The Orphanage of Miracles is located within an enchanted forest where the seasons never change and outsiders are not allowed in. The miracles are locked in a garden where they are protected and safe. Nicholas, Jovan, and Maggie are three orphans living at the orphanage and they are given the job of making miracles. The problem is they don't know how and it seems nobody there can tell them how to go about it. When Nicholas accidentally creates a potential miracle, everything changes.
Kelsey has left her family in search of a miracle and the orphanage might just be her answer. On her journey she is joined by a silent boy, a snow leopard and a fox. As the story alternates between Nicholas and Kelsey readers get a look at the struggles to make a miracle and Kelsey's journey to the orphanage. Will Kelsey find the miracle she is looking for?
This was a unique and interesting fantasy written for middle grade students. I really enjoyed reading the story and loved the lessons that were learned by some of the characters. Nicholas was my favorite. I loved his attitude and his willingness to share his success with his friends. Also he was a good friend--offering to nurse Maggie's sick plant back to life. The mute boy, the snow leopard and the fox were also interesting characters that offered good advice to Kelsey on their journey. The book reminded me of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at times.
I loved the cover and the illustrations that were scattered throughout the book added just the right touch. The only thing I didn't like is the story sets up for a sequel. I already have too many series that I need to finish.
Kelsey has left her family in search of a miracle and the orphanage might just be her answer. On her journey she is joined by a silent boy, a snow leopard and a fox. As the story alternates between Nicholas and Kelsey readers get a look at the struggles to make a miracle and Kelsey's journey to the orphanage. Will Kelsey find the miracle she is looking for?
This was a unique and interesting fantasy written for middle grade students. I really enjoyed reading the story and loved the lessons that were learned by some of the characters. Nicholas was my favorite. I loved his attitude and his willingness to share his success with his friends. Also he was a good friend--offering to nurse Maggie's sick plant back to life. The mute boy, the snow leopard and the fox were also interesting characters that offered good advice to Kelsey on their journey. The book reminded me of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at times.
I loved the cover and the illustrations that were scattered throughout the book added just the right touch. The only thing I didn't like is the story sets up for a sequel. I already have too many series that I need to finish.
January 11, 2014
The Orphanage of Miracles is an extraordinarily entertaining fantasy story which contains great wisdom. I think adults can get as much out of this story as the intended middle school audience. Kelsey joins with unusual companions on her quest to find a miracle while Nicholas and his friends live in an orphanage where miracles are housed. Their stories are told in alternating chapters for most of the book until the two storylines converge as at least some of the issues are resolved. The ending of the book provides some answers while offering many more questions to be dealt with in a future story.
I loved the whimsical characters who were so much more than they appeared to be on the surface. The conversations were often confused but with great understanding underneath. Neftzger plays perfectly with questions of great meaning and the image of authority which cannot be questioned.
The only aspect of this book that I struggled with was the two storylines being told in alternating chapters. I think this is something of a personal issue though as I seem to struggle to find my reading rhythm with any book that is written in this format. It seems that one chapter is barely long enough to get into the story of one character and then the story shifts quickly back to the other. However if multiple chapters are given to one story and then the other, it is easy to lose track of where a character is and what has happened up to that point.
Although I wasn't looking to begin another series when I received The Orphanage of Miracles from the LibraryThing Early Reviewer Program I am looking forward to reading more adventures of Kelsey and Nicholas.
I loved the whimsical characters who were so much more than they appeared to be on the surface. The conversations were often confused but with great understanding underneath. Neftzger plays perfectly with questions of great meaning and the image of authority which cannot be questioned.
The only aspect of this book that I struggled with was the two storylines being told in alternating chapters. I think this is something of a personal issue though as I seem to struggle to find my reading rhythm with any book that is written in this format. It seems that one chapter is barely long enough to get into the story of one character and then the story shifts quickly back to the other. However if multiple chapters are given to one story and then the other, it is easy to lose track of where a character is and what has happened up to that point.
Although I wasn't looking to begin another series when I received The Orphanage of Miracles from the LibraryThing Early Reviewer Program I am looking forward to reading more adventures of Kelsey and Nicholas.
May 29, 2013
The Orphanage Of Miracles
By
Amy Neftzger
My" in a nutshell" summary...
There seems to be an orphanage somewhere with the purpose of making miracles and Kelsey needs to find it.
My thoughts after reading this book...
Fantasy with a bit of humor is one of my favorite kinds of books ever...I simply love them!
Children who come to this "Orphanage Of Miracles" are tasked to find miracles. There are different ways to find miracles...and Maggie, Jovan and Nicholas are supposed to make some! So far...they have not been successful! They have tried to net miracles...without success...and now...they are armed with brand new lab coats...with pockets...and they are determined to find them some miracles!
The children also have to each care for their own plant...as long as the plant stays alive...they are ok...if the plant dies...they sort of disappear.
So...the book alternates with stories of the orphanage and Kelsey's quest to get to the orphanage. The journey and the orphanage are connected and we find out why at the end. Of course I will not tell you what happens...lol...just know that it is a lovely often funny heart warming tale. You will love it!
What I loved about this book...
I loved the little boy named Silence...and I loved the tiger and the fox! And the King...I loved him!
What I did not love...
Ooh...I did not love the tricky wind...nor was I overly fond of the the Pontiff's...they ran the Orphanage.
Final thoughts...
This was a heart warming fantasy...I loved it! It should be officially declared a must read!
By
Amy Neftzger
My" in a nutshell" summary...
There seems to be an orphanage somewhere with the purpose of making miracles and Kelsey needs to find it.
My thoughts after reading this book...
Fantasy with a bit of humor is one of my favorite kinds of books ever...I simply love them!
Children who come to this "Orphanage Of Miracles" are tasked to find miracles. There are different ways to find miracles...and Maggie, Jovan and Nicholas are supposed to make some! So far...they have not been successful! They have tried to net miracles...without success...and now...they are armed with brand new lab coats...with pockets...and they are determined to find them some miracles!
The children also have to each care for their own plant...as long as the plant stays alive...they are ok...if the plant dies...they sort of disappear.
So...the book alternates with stories of the orphanage and Kelsey's quest to get to the orphanage. The journey and the orphanage are connected and we find out why at the end. Of course I will not tell you what happens...lol...just know that it is a lovely often funny heart warming tale. You will love it!
What I loved about this book...
I loved the little boy named Silence...and I loved the tiger and the fox! And the King...I loved him!
What I did not love...
Ooh...I did not love the tricky wind...nor was I overly fond of the the Pontiff's...they ran the Orphanage.
Final thoughts...
This was a heart warming fantasy...I loved it! It should be officially declared a must read!
August 31, 2013
The Orphanage of Miracles is at its core two fairy tales that are then gradually intertwined into one story. I really liked how the author had you following two different story lines while they worked toward each other. I found myself more interested in the story about Nicholas, Jovan, and Maggie at the orphanage. They are told to create miracles from whatever ingredients or materials they want, but that is the extent of their instruction. I found myself relating well to their frustration and wanting them to succeed.
The other story follows Kelsey, who has left her family in order to bring back a miracle. I had a harder time with this story line, I wanted there to be more information on what made her believe she could just retrieve a miracle, and where she thought she could find one when she set out. Some of the characters she meets along the way could be straight out of a fairy tale, but there isn't much back story given about them, or whether it's common practice to run into talking animals in their world.
Personally I find myself more interested in science fiction fantasy stories, than I do in fairy tale types of fantasy. However anyone who likes the lion the witch and the wardrobe, will probably enjoy the story. I'd say my favorite part of the book was the occasional illustration depicting parts of the story. They're simple sketches but they definitely add to the fairy tale feel.
The other story follows Kelsey, who has left her family in order to bring back a miracle. I had a harder time with this story line, I wanted there to be more information on what made her believe she could just retrieve a miracle, and where she thought she could find one when she set out. Some of the characters she meets along the way could be straight out of a fairy tale, but there isn't much back story given about them, or whether it's common practice to run into talking animals in their world.
Personally I find myself more interested in science fiction fantasy stories, than I do in fairy tale types of fantasy. However anyone who likes the lion the witch and the wardrobe, will probably enjoy the story. I'd say my favorite part of the book was the occasional illustration depicting parts of the story. They're simple sketches but they definitely add to the fairy tale feel.
January 13, 2014
The Orphanage of Miracles is a middle school fantasy/fairy tale. The book is written in two point of views, where two journeys come together into one. The first is the actual orphanage where the children are tasked with creating miracles to save the kingdom for the King. They are given no instruction and are left to their own devices to make the miracles. They are given a plant to take care that is suppose to be part of them, and if they let it die they are removed from the orphanage never to me seen again. The other part of the story is of a child that is looking for a miracle to save her family and her town. Along the way to finding a miracle she collects an number of people who travel with her and help her along the way. The conclusion of the story has the Kelsey finding the orphanage with one of her companions who happens to be the King. Once everyone is at the orphanage the King tries to explain why the miracles are needed and how they are created. This was a entertaining and interesting story. At times the story dragged and you would get frustrated with some of the characters, especially since you are never sure of their age. There is room for character growth in what looks like is going to be a series of books. The book did get preachy at the end, and the author may want to look at finding a different way to get her points across. Hopefully the author will develop with this series which could be a wonderful middle school fantasy series.
April 2, 2013
Amy Neftzger has created a beautiful tale of fantasy for younger readers. While a group of orphans in a magically hidden orphanage try to create miracles, per the instructions of the mysterious patrons, they discover the truth of what a miracle is,an unhappy young girl, alone in the world undertakes a journey with a mute boy who enchants everyone he meets. The orphans struggle with no direction, relying only on each other, only to find all they have been taught may not be the truth. The young traveler learns to trust, open up to others and give of herself. When the world of the orphanage and the two young travelers come together, they all learn the truth of what a truly miracle is.
Definitely geared to the enjoyment and understanding of younger readers with vividly detailed backgrounds and colorful characters! I highly recommend this book!
An ARC edition of this book was provided by NetGalley and Fields of Gold Publishing. Publication Date: May 28 2013
Definitely geared to the enjoyment and understanding of younger readers with vividly detailed backgrounds and colorful characters! I highly recommend this book!
An ARC edition of this book was provided by NetGalley and Fields of Gold Publishing. Publication Date: May 28 2013
June 6, 2017
An enjoyable read that is geared towards a younger audience (9+). The Orphanage of Miracles is a fantasy about a missing king, far-off war, and an orphanage in an enchanted forest. The orphans are given the job of creating miracles (with no directions!) and meanwhile, another girl goes on a quest to search for a miracle in the hopes of ending the war. Along the way, the different children must learn to work together, trust each other, and do what is right, even when it is difficult.
The story itself has an allegorical tone which is very subtle but emphasizes the reality of good and evil, the truth about miracles, love, generosity, and forgiveness. While the story seems geared to an older audience, the writing style is extremely simple with likeable but underdeveloped characters. Many older readers will be left with questions as motivations and connections are often left unexplored. However, The Orphanage of Miracles does have a positive and easy to grasp message of learning to trust others, not to judge people by appearances, and to do what is right even if you are the only one.
Reviewed for www.goodreadingguide.com
The story itself has an allegorical tone which is very subtle but emphasizes the reality of good and evil, the truth about miracles, love, generosity, and forgiveness. While the story seems geared to an older audience, the writing style is extremely simple with likeable but underdeveloped characters. Many older readers will be left with questions as motivations and connections are often left unexplored. However, The Orphanage of Miracles does have a positive and easy to grasp message of learning to trust others, not to judge people by appearances, and to do what is right even if you are the only one.
Reviewed for www.goodreadingguide.com
February 12, 2017
This book was a good young adult book. I enjoyed reading it. Kelsey desperately needs a miracle and along the way she meets some interesting characters. I enjoyed the boy named "Silence" he seems very sweet. We go on a journey to find mysterious and hidden orphanage and it is quite a adventure. It was an interesting book.
March 30, 2013
There is a war going on and the country needs miracles. The purpose of the Orphanage of Miracles is to make them. The children spend every day in search of new ones, well, except Monday because everyone knows there are no miracles on Monday. But, although the garden is full of old miracles, it has been a very long time since any one has made another. In fact, no one at the orphanage can remember the last time a new miracle was made.
The Orphanage of Miracles is a charming tale with all the colour, magic and feel of a fairy tale. There are talking animals, a mute who converses with birds, and Death is (maybe) a fox named Roland. Aimed at middle graders, it isn't too scary for the younger reader but it has enough charm to appeal to the older ones.
The story ends with a hint at a sequel. I hope so because I really enjoyed this tale, its magic, and the characters and I would love to read more about them.
The Orphanage of Miracles is a charming tale with all the colour, magic and feel of a fairy tale. There are talking animals, a mute who converses with birds, and Death is (maybe) a fox named Roland. Aimed at middle graders, it isn't too scary for the younger reader but it has enough charm to appeal to the older ones.
The story ends with a hint at a sequel. I hope so because I really enjoyed this tale, its magic, and the characters and I would love to read more about them.
February 24, 2015
It rarely takes me so long to finish a book, but I had a really hard time getting into this one. There are two different story arcs told in alternate chapters and then they merge together toward the end. When a giant talking snow leopard named Megan was introduced, I kinda lost interest and by the time a talking fox named Roland was brought into the story, I had all but given up on this plotline. At the end when questions started getting answered and the lead character ended her quest, it felt as though the reader was getting a lecture--it just went on too long. The other thing I had a difficult time dealing with was the texture of the cover. I am seeing more and more covers made out of this material and it just feels yucky. It's got a very slick rubbery feel to it. Well yeah, there you have it. I'm not overly impressed with this book.
August 21, 2014
I won this book off of librarything! It is such a creative book chalked full of fantastic and magical imagination! It is geared toward younger kids, Id say ages 8-12 but at the age of even 33 I enjoyed it very much! It has a cursed land which is under a war between the king and a evil sorcerer. There are many great in depth characters that I think most kids can relate to! There is also the orphanage of miracles which in itself is as magical and mysterious as other magical places I have read about in other wonderful fairytales! I already looked up book 2 and see that it is at a fantastic price on nook so I will be getting it and seeing what happens next! After contacting the author on goodreads and asking it seems that there will be more books to follow this new and wonderful series!
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