Review: Miracle - Elizabeth Scott

Where I got it: Library
Rating: 3 stars  

Cover Rating: 4 stars (It's a bit strange, not exactly what I would have picked for the cover of this novel. I would have had a lot of red in it.)
Genre: Young Adult

Publication Date: June 5, 2012

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Page Count: 224 p.

Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

Megan survived a plane crash, so now everyone says she's a miracle. Megan doesn't feel like a miracle at all; she doesn't feel anything. She just wants things to go back to normal like everyone else is trying to do. It's hard though when visions from the crash start flooding back to her. She knows she's not the Megan who got on that plane, but she has to figure out how to cope with who she has become.

This was an interesting read. I always like Elizabeth Scott's more psychological books. I liked what was in this book, but I felt like there was a lot left out. I realize that Megan is kind of losing it, but it seems like there still could have just been more. The story line with her and her neighbor could have developed more, we could have seen her change and start dealing with what happened with her. I also wouldn't have minded more background on her brother's condition. What's wrong with him? Scott never really get's into the details of what is actually wrong with him, so it's a little odd. Also, why was Megan on such a tiny plane? Her family didn't seem that wealthy, maybe they were though since her brother was always sick apparently and was in the hospital a lot. This felt like a very brief glimpse into the victim of a plane crash who walks away virtually unscathed on the outside, but torn apart in her mind.

Like I said before though, I did enjoy what there was in the story. I liked how it was told with small flashbacks as she starts to remember. I loved her conversations with Margaret. Her and Joe seem to be the only characters who aren't praising Megan for something she made no decision to do. Megan didn't decide to survive the plane crash, she simply did. Margaret was in Vietnam, so she very much understands what Megan is going through. People who see horrible things have a bond that other people couldn't even begin to fathom. Joe's nearly in the same boat as them. Terrible things have definitely happened to him and are still kind of happening. I wish there were a lot more about these to characters.

I sort of hated Megan's parents. They were the ones who thought that if they pretend everything was fine then it would be. They also started completely neglecting Megan's brother as soon as they brought her home from the crash. If he's such a sick kid then they should definitely have been better parents. It was selfish of them to not get Megan any help. They seemed quick to dismiss any offer that made it seem like something was amiss. I really just did not care for her parents one bit.

This was definitely an interesting story worth the read. If you have any interest in shock or plane crashes or any kind of trauma check this one out.

First Line:
“When I woke up the sky was burning.”

Favorite Line:
“I knew that past the blue was smoke and flames and the burning sky; the hidden one, real one, would crackle red and wrap itself around me.”