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    The Probability of Miracles
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    The Probability of Miracles
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    The Probability of Miracles
    Audiobook8 hours

    The Probability of Miracles

    Written by Wendy Wunder

    Narrated by Emma Galvin

    4.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    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.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateDec 8, 2011
    ISBN9781101538395
    Unavailable
    The Probability of Miracles
    Author

    Wendy Wunder

    Wendy Wunder is the author of The Probability of Miracles, which was called “beautiful” in a starred review from Kirkus and a “graceful balance of comedy and tragedy” by Publishers Weekly. When she’s not writing or spending time with her family, she teaches yoga in Boston. Like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/wendywunder.

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    Reviews for The Probability of Miracles

    4.5/5

    38 ratings36 reviews

    What did you think?

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    • 3/5
      In some ways, I feel like I'm not an ideal person to write a review for this text. I tend to have a very negative reaction to bright pink books and books about teens with terminal illnesses. However, that said, I actually enjoyed this text more than I would have expected given the two strikes it already had against it and, while it isn't something I would read again, there is a certain segment of teens who will eat it up. In general, the writing was strong, though there were spots of cliche. I had the hardest time with the ending. While I think it reflected the narrator's state of mind fairly well, it still felt a little forced and too rosy for my tastes. I would recommend it to girls and readers who like a tear-jerker and don't have too strong an attachment to realism.
    • 3/5
      The Probability of Miracles is not a light read (as I'm sure you derived from the synopsis). However, for fans of contemp. it is a very good read I'm sure. Unfortunately, I'm coming to terms with the fact that contemp YA lit is not my cup of tea. This book has solid writing & great characterization, I just couldn't ever get into it. I didn't connect with any of the characters & never had that can't-put-it-down feeling. I attribute this to my own personal preference rather than the book itself. If you do enjoy contemps, be sure to check this one out.
    • 4/5
      I've wanted to read Probability of Miracles for quite some time now, and am pleased to finally get that chance. Ever since falling in love with Lurlene McDaniel's books when I was younger, I have been attracted to any stories with cancer or illnesses, so of course the synopsis caught my attention. This is more than a story about cancer though, it is a journey of family, accepting that sometimes life deals crappy hands and deciding how to live the life that you have. It is also a different kind of protag. Cam is a Samoan, which is a culture that I don't know much about, and glad to read about. She grew up at Disney, the Polynesian resort, and as a Disney lover myself and member of vacation club, I loved the backdrop of the setting before they head off to Maine looking for their miracle. Cam is also fiery and sarcastic, and I love her brand of humor. She is pessimistic but then learns to hope and wants to help her family who believes in miracles while she doesn't. Her mom is a non-traditional but she is involved in Cam's life, and supports and loves her and Perry, Cam's little sister. I loved Cam and Perry's banter, light hearted for the most part but they have some real conversations. As for Asher and the romance. I very much enjoyed it, and that it didn't revolve around her illness. He saw her whole person and they helped each other to live more than they thought they would or fuller than thought possible. There are some hot and also fade to black scenes. The ending was fitting but sad. I wasn't completely satisfied right as I put it down, but looking back I think that the real miracle was the closeness she got with her family, the time that she wasn't thinking about dying and being sick and finding love with Asher. Bottom Line: Sarcastic main character going through a hard time with her illness goes on a journey that brings her closer than ever to her family.
    • 5/5
      Campbell has grown up at Disney World in Florida, as part of the Polynesian show. Now seriously ill with cancer, her mother moves her and her younger sister to Promise, Maine where miracles are supposed to happen. Cam learns to believe in herself, in others, in love and in miracles.
    • 5/5
      Campbell has grown up at Disney World in Florida, as part of the Polynesian show. Now seriously ill with cancer, her mother moves her and her younger sister to Promise, Maine where miracles are supposed to happen. Cam learns to believe in herself, in others, in love and in miracles.
    • 4/5
      In a sea of dystopian, vampire, zombie, and awkward teenage romance novels, The Probability of Miracles is a fresh new novel from Wendy Wunder. While the idea of a teenager with cancer isn’t new, the whole take on it is. We’re used to the “survivor” types who have the will and urge to live, and those who have come to accept it, but Cam is a whole new type of cancer kid. Cam grew up around Disney, and as a result works there and has seen all the magic it holds. Her mom and late father work at the Polynesian resort as dancers, and much to Cam’s mom’s dismay, Cam herself does not dance on stage anymore after cutting her hair short for treatment. After finding out that her cancer is back, Cam has decided to just let things take their course and live as normal a life as possible. Her mom however has very different ideas and has heard of a magical place called Miracle, Maine. So off they go with Perry, Cam’s little sister, for a summer in Maine in the search of miracles.

      I know that sounds super idealistic and typical of a cancer kid YA book, but believe me it’s not. This book is so sarcastic and dry there were points at which I thought Wunder had taken lines from my own life. The awkwardness of Cam is not over done in the cutesy way we see so often, but in the way we all feel from time to time. Wunder also has that wonderful ability to make it seem as if you are really there and experiencing everything with Cam, from the ocean to the long drive. It is a brilliant debut novel that should not be overlooked.

      With all that said, there were a few misses with it. A couple of the characters felt one dimensional and flat, but that could very well just be because in Cam’s mind, that’s all they were. There were a few unrealistic things with the Disney portion, like how her friend just stuffed his Tigger costume in the car and drove her home, or how he took off his head. Granted most people reading this will be of the age we know Tigger isn’t really Tigger, but how many theme parks do you know that don’t require an employee to check in and out their costume? I know, I know, creative liberties, but a little more care should have been taken with the whole being an employee of Disney thing. There’s also the best friend situation with a fight and make up that was just a little too convenient as a plot point to push Cam on, but I’ll let you read that part.

      Over all, this is a must read book. Truly one of the best ones I’ve read this year and I’m pretty stoked to have it living on my shelf now. Granted, part of that is because it is just so dang pretty to look at. Wunder’s writing, imagery, cadence, and snark are beautiful things that make this novel one that you won’t want to put down, or stop reading. Cam, Perry, Alicia, Lily and the entire crew will not be ones you forget any time soon. This is one of those books that sticks with you for a bit after reading.

      Final Thoughts:

      This book took me to places that other novels haven’t lately. The culture that Cam grew up in , the Samoan one, not Disney, reminded me of the time I had spent living in Hawaii and the culture and hula classes I had taken while there. Being able to draw up my past experiences and knowledge of the dances, smells, and history added an extra depth that wasn’t expected and caused an emotional bond with these characters. I loved most everything about it. From Cam’s dry humor to Perry’s naive outlook on life to the stark contrasts between Florida and Maine, this book was moving and endearing. Wunder’s realistic writing makes it feel as if you’ve known this cast your entire life, which only makes it all the harder at the ending of the book. This is the first book that has moved me to tears in a long time, and I don’t regret one single second of crying over it. So do yourself a favor, go pick up this book, and start paying attention to the coincidences in your life that make up the tiny miracles.
    • 5/5
      I adored this! It left me speechless. There is a sadness throughout but it's not a book that leaves you feeling depressed. It was really beautiful.

      Favourite quotes:

      “If Cam finally learned one lesson before she died, it would be that being kind was sometimes more important than being right.”

      “Kind of like people. We're too lazy to change, so we'll just keep doing what we're doing until it's too late.”

      “. . . Mind if I take the flamingo?"
      "It's $2.89."
      "Whoa, Darren, you drive a hard bargain. How about I'm just going to take it?”
    • 5/5
      Flavia FreitasEnglish Language Arts 9Block: AMarch 8, 2013 The Probability Of Miracles The book is called The Probability Of Miracles by Wendy Wunder. Right from the start I knew that this book was going to be different than the other books that I was used to reading. At first glance through the the side description on the side cover of the book I discovered that the main character Cam Cooper had cancer. In my head I immediately thought that the book was going to be depressing, but that thought was diminished when I actually started reading the book. The wonderful Wendy Wunder takes you to the live of a 17 year old Cam Cooper and changes your views on probabilities and miracles. From Cam’s life story of when she was a little girl having to deal with cancer to the life changing trip to Promise, Maine, the author beautifully unfolds a story about hope, courage, and even miracles that might exist in this world if you believe in yourself. The book itself is both hilarious and heartwarming in a very captivating way that makes the readers not want to stop reading at all! At times this book made me want to cry, but just quickly made me want to smile my face off. Trust me readers when I say this, the only “negative” thing about this book is that it has to come to an ending eventually. I would honestly recommend this book to any teen and even adults because it’s just simply amazing from the start to the end. It’s both inspiring and informative. Perhaps it might teach you a valuable lesson of how sometimes good things can come out of bad things.
    • 3/5
      Maybe it was just the mood I was in, but this book didn't do it for me. I liked it, but I felt like it dragged on. Also, I have grown to despise books written in third-person. I can't connect with them.It really had everything to do with Cam. In the beginning, she annoyed the piss out of me. I couldn't stand how she would throw her environment activist, save the trees jargon at me every other paragraph. Yeah, we get it, the environment is in danger. She redeemed her selfish personality towards the middle, though.Also, I really need to stop reading books with a cancer premise. It hits to close to home with me, and just makes me cry the entire time. Yes, Cam and Asher made me cry. Their relationship was the only solid thing in the book that really kept me going. And Cam's realization towards the end is quite sweet, too. And sometimes, the dialog would make me laugh, but most of it just felt dry.I'm sure there is more I can say about it, but I cant find the words at the time. I finished this book late last night, and am still recovering form crying myself to sleep.And if anything sticks with me from this book, it is this:“The magic thing about home is that it feels good to leave, and it feels even better to come back.”
    • 3/5
      The writing was decent, the premise interesting, but something just felt...lacking. Heart, perhaps? Whatever it was, while I sympathized with Campbell's situation, I never really emphasized with her, with the result that my eyes glazed over as I skimmed through her theoretically cool journey, until I realized that I'd be pleasantly happy if Campbell got a happy ending, but didn't feel close enough to go out of my way to find out what happens.
    • 4/5
      Your mother has tried everything, nothing has worked. The cancer just won't stop. Your last chance is to go to a town called Promise that supposedly grants miracles. You have to up and leave your home for something that may not even work. You've given up all hope.This is Cam's life. She has struggled with cancer the past couple of years. The cancer has moved all over her body. The doctors say there really isn't much more that they can do.Cam's mother finds out about a secret town in Maine that grants miracles. Cam, her sister, and her mother pack up from their house in Florida and plan on staying in this small town for the summer, hoping it will help Cam.While in Promise, the name of the miracle town, Cam experience “Miracles”. Cam refuses to call the things that happen miracles. Cam get's to stay in a house and she doesn't have to pay for it, she sees Flamingos in Maine, Cam find love, but the biggest miracle is that Cam makes friends, and almost forgets about the cancer.I give The Probability of Miracles three and a half stars. The book had a good concept and the miracles were captivating but there were things I didn't like about the book.The author really had a good idea for the book. I loved the whole idea and the plot of the story but things were repetitive. Cam would have things happen to her and they were the same kind of things over and over gain. After about the third “Miracle” I got bored. Something god would happen to Cam and then something bad, it was the same thing over and over again.The author made the characters very realistic. The characters acted like annoying tween sisters, and trying not to be charming but is anyways guys. The characters were spot on. The one thing I did and didn't like about the characters was Cam. I got that she acted like she had given up hope and she was a “Debby Downer”, but after a while her character got really annoying and I didn't like her very much.The main thing I liked about this book was the romance. There was a little bit of it, as there is with any novel that has a teenage girl in it. I liked how the relationship between Cam and the boy she liked. I really liked how their relationship tied in with the women that have stayed in the house that Cam did before her.Overall The Probability of Miracles was a good book with a few flaws. It was Adventurous, fun, and cute. But in the end it was like eating the same thing for dinner every night, after a while you get bored.
    • 5/5
      When the bad news comes down that there is nothing more the doctors can do for Cam's cancer, her mom insists its not over and drags her daughter up to Promise, Maine, a mysterious town that is supposed to be capable of granting miracles. Though Cam is an avid disbeliever, certain that everything has a scientific explanation, she can't help but admit that strange things -- a field of purple daisies, flamingos well outside their natural ecosystem, a boy who seems to magically appear to help at the exact perfect moment -- do happen in Promise. I love Cam. She has a snarky tone and always throws out random science facts, which was fun. She was sympathetic and had her down moment, but she's not a complainer or much of a moper. She's simply matter of fact about her situation and her reality. I also really loved the mom, who was presented as a mom should be, very loving of her daughter and practical where practicality is needed. It's refreshing to see a parent in a YA novel not be absent or a complete idiot. She's a part of the story and a part of Cam. So is Cam's sister, who is cheerful and girly and wonderfully surprising at times. I loved the mixture of miraculous and scientific in this book, which allows you to choose for yourself whether you believe the events can all be explained or if there is some mystical influence taking place. It's a wonderful, joyful, heartbreaking story, that will definitely go on my list of favorites.
    • 5/5
      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.Reactions in 3 steps.1. By page 48 fighting tears2. By page 78 teared up twice3. By the end of the novel, I couldn’t stop crying, but I also couldn’t stop smilingReview: This is one of those rare books that makes your life better by reading. I promise you, there is a probable chance that you will cry. Booth happy tears and sad tears. This story is about Campbell, a realist teen, a maybe a little jaded, as a result of her diagnosis of a terminal cancer. She realizes that she’ll die sooner rather than later. While Campbell doesn’t believe in miracle, there has to be a reasonable explanation for everything, she goes along with her mother’s crazy shenanigans because she realizes that it’s what her mother needs, her mother needs hope…even if that means trekking their family (Campbell, Campbell’s mother Alicia, and Campbell’s younger sister Perry) to Promise, Maine, where miracles happen. In Promise, Campbell attempts to complete her “Flamingo List” that her best friend Lily made her create. The last thing Campbell expects is Asher. In the course of that summer Campbell and Asher help each other truly live.Wender Wunder did an amazing job with her debut novel. Being from Osceola County, Fl where this novel begins, reading this novel was like being taken on a tour of my hometown without having to leave my bedroom. This is one of those novels that you can truly envision, while reading it, you can almost close your eyes and just be transported on Campbell’s journey alongside her. Wunder also does a wonderful job really getting into the mindset of not only a teenager, but a teenage battling this disease, and in return the reader can understand how this disease effects Campbell’s view of the world and you understand why she does the things that she does and says the things that she says. Somehow while reading this novel, Campbell stops being a character, she becomes a friend that you root for, the brutally honest friend that you need in your life.
    • 4/5
      THE PROBABILITY OF MIRACLES arrived mysteriously at my door one December day. Cancer is a sticky situation in my family right now. I went to the ER last night with my grandfather and grabbed this book on my way out the door. My grandfather has Stage IV colorectal cancer and has gotten progressively weaker the past few weeks. While I finished this book in one sitting while waiting for 12 hours in the ER, my parents were told that all that science can do has been exhausted and that they were calling in hospice (for a second time). Somehow, reading the story of Campbell Cooper and her ordeals with being told this by her oncologist that there is nothing else to be done, made things a little easier on me.The story revolves around Cam, a rebellious teenager who has had cancer for several years and gone through every treatment known to man. When the doctor tells her they’ve exhausted their options and that the end is near, her mother takes one last step – packs Cam and her sister Perry up and moves them from the shadow of Disney World to the tiny, hidden town of Promise, Maine, known for its miracles. And things in Promise are strange – flamingoes randomly appearing, sunsets that last forever, and a boy that sweeps Cam off her feet when she thinks that she’s never going to be able to love.There are many “miracles” in Cam’s life, and exploring how letting go, accepting fate, and living her life to the fullest is touching. Her family and friends are for the most part fully fleshed out, with a few exceptions. I loved Cam and her spunk, even though her constant dirges about death got annoying after awhile. While this book could have dealt with the topic in so many different ways (the topic being death), the path it took was wonderful, heartbreaking, and heartwarming at all the same time. If I hadn’t been in a hospital faced with some really hot doctors, I might have cried a little at parts.Cam is an amazing character. Paired with writing that flows well without excessive flourishes, THE PROBABILITY OF MIRACLES becomes a solid debut novel from an author that will definitely be one to watch. But I did have a few issues with it. At times I felt detached from the characters, particularly during a strong moment where Cam has to come to grips with the reality of a friendship, and at the end I wasn’t hit as hard as I could have been. The end was also slightly ambiguous in my mind, which left a gaping hole of wonder as to what really happened. Then again, it was 1 AM and I’d been listening to beeping instruments all day. Not fun.Overall, THE PROBABILITY OF MIRACLES was a heartwarming novel. Dealing with cancer in the family right now, it gave me a look through a different set of eyes and filled my soul with hope. But even if you’re not in the same boat as me, it is definitely a novel full of charm and miracles. You will get lost in its pages and find hope at the end.VERDICT: Even though it deals with a very hard topic, THE PROBABILITY OF MIRACLES is heartwarming, enchanting, and full of life. If you like your hard hitting contemporary mixed with warm aspects, this book is for you.
    • 5/5
      I picked up this book because it has been getting a lot of attention lately. I have to say that when I first started reading it I was unsure if I would like this book but as I continued reading I found that I couldn't put this book down. I had read something similar recently about a dying teen and I wasn't sure if I could handle another one. That being said, I loved the character of Cam and her crazy entourage. The book picked up after Cam moves to Promise, Maine in her family's hopes that a miracle may change her terminal diagnosis. Cam is the ultimate teen who is broody and impulsive at times but she also has a kind of maturity most likely gained from cancer treatment and knowing that she has limited time on this earth. After moving to Maine, Cam meets Asher who is just about the sweetest guy a girl could meet. Throughout the novel you almost forget that Cam is sick and you can't help but laugh at the predicaments she gets herself into. This is another book that actually evoked some tears from me (which I swear doesn't usually happen when reading). I definitely recommend this book and I give it 4.5 stars out of 5.
    • 5/5
      A bright and poignant coming-of-age story for a young girl whose imminent death focuses her choices in life; she gains, she loses, but ultimately one is left with the impression that she had learned to die well and, as a result, her family will be left with - not pieces to pick up - but wonderful memories of a young woman who loved them and loved life.
    • 5/5
      I really haven’t heard much about this novel, so I had not formed any premeditated opinions and I didn’t really know what to expect. This book has left me speechless -really, really, really (I think you get the point) good. Just… wow Cam is dying. She knows it and she isn’t really fighting it, she’s kind of come to terms with the inevitable. She hasn’t given up on living, but she just doesn’t has as much hope, or believe in some “miracle” that her family members are waiting for. But then her mother, convinced she’d find some answer, some magic, moves the family to Promise, Maine. A little town hardly known, difficult to find, but said to be home to miracles. As much as Cam shrugs it off, maybe this town does hold a little magic after all…Okay, that description really didn’t give the book any justice at all, and I have a feeling nothing I say now will. I loved Cam. She is witty and equipped with a biting, dry humor. She has issues, clearly, but every teenager does in one-way or another. I especially liked her transformation towards the end; she went from a character I adore, to a character I respect.Also, this isn’t one of those “cancer” books. I’ll admit, I sometimes really enjoy those, but Cam is not wallowing in her misery (okay, maybe once) or searching for a cure. She is just trying to live in the time she has left, and to leave something good behind to be remembered for. This books is a love story, a story of friendship and family, of adventure, of miracles… in which the main character just happens to be dying… It is much lighter, with a foreboding touch because of the inescapable. As much as I wanted to see how Cam’s story ended up, I never wanted this story to end. But end it did, and the ending really couldn’t have been better in what it was able to accomplish. A Job done well, Ms. Wunder. Wendy Wunder is a definitely debut author to watch.
    • 5/5
      I knew before reading The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder, I would cry. But I just didn’t realize how much. The Probability of Miracles is seriously intense.Cam, the protagonist, is biting and sarcastic and witty and real. She’s got this terrible disease that is killing her, and she’s walling herself off from the world with sarcasm and anger. She doesn’t want to let this disease control her, and the struggle within herself is reflected beautifully in everything she does and says in this book.All of the characters, for that matter – her mother, her sister, Asher…I just loved each and every one of them and I hurt for them, having to watch Cam go through this.And oh my god, the story. It’s painful and heartbreaking and I just ached for all these characters. I literally cried and cried and cried.The Probability of Miracles is a beautiful debut full of real characters with real and terrible problems. But it’s almost a story of hope, a story about living, if that makes any sense.If you’re looking for a fantastic contemporary that’s sure to make you feel something, definitely check out The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder.
    • 4/5
      What I LikedGenreI usually don't read contemporary fiction, but I was pleasantly surprised with the book. I found myself enthralled with the humorous characters, the sad situation for our main character and the journey of personal growth.CharacterCam: I enjoyed Cam's attitude problems, she is witty, sarcastic and can come up with some interesting things. I also liked the progression of her character throughout the book.Supporting Characters: The rest of the characters, her mom, sister, Nana, Asher, friends and random people all added a humorous element that completely enhanced the story with their interesting interactions with Cam.LessonsEven though I felt sad and sorry for the Cam, the book isn't really about that. The story is about learning to appreciate your life and to not take things for granted. Life is too short to waste. The book puts life into perspective and makes you contemplate where you are going and what you are going to be doing. It also serves as good reminder to live in the present moment.I Didn't LikeI cried at the end, lets just leave it at that. Recommendation A great book for people who love YA contemporary, but if you are willing to step out of your comfort reads away for fantasy this would be a good book to try.
    • 4/5
      Not a feel good book, but worth reading. I love contemporary YA and think this one has a lot to entice readers.
    • 5/5
      Campbell is sarcastic, cynical, and dying.She has accepted it, she just wishes her mother and sister would. She has stage four cancer and there is no more chemo, no more trials, no hope, nothing. In a last ditch effort her mother takes advice from the family pot smoking hippie friend and heads to Promise, Maine. The land of hope lies in a town you couldn't find on a map with a magnifying glass. Promise is the home to everlasting sunsets, purple dandelions, and miracles. Cam doesn't believe in God and she certainly doesn't believe some tiny town is going to provide her with a cure. She believes in science. Everything boils down to a probability, and just maybe, Promise, Maine has a higher probability of miracles. She has a list to complete, a hot neighbor to deal with, and a family who will have to go on withou her. This is the summer Cam learned to live.This isn't normally the type of book I read. i like supernatural and paranormal stories where possibilities are endless. Every now and then we need a dose of real life, with real people, and real problems. The Probability of Miracles delivers just that. I laughed out loud, I got angry, and I cried right along with Cam. This is a story about finding hope and accepting and living life to the fullest. I can only hope that I will live as much in my lifetime as Cam did in this book.
    • 4/5
      Dandelions, flamingoes, and a town named Promise? Everything about The Probability Of Miracles sounds too good to be true. Improbably so. And yet… somehow Wendy Wunder pulls you into this story with main character whose doubts outnumber her dreams and leaves you wanting to believe that wishes can come true.THE GOOD BITS{Cam’s humor with the perfect dash of sarcasm.} Without a doubt, this story would be way different if there had been any less snark – or if there had been too much. Maybe more melancholy, maybe more tragic, but definitely a lot less enjoyable. Cam and I share the same sort of humor – the same reflex to crack a joke, even during the worst of times – the same need to guard ourselves from heartbreak and disappointment, even when happiness seems possible. Which made it a lot easier for me to sink into The Probability Of Miracles and follow Cam as her shields start to melt.{The bucket list.} What an ambitious to-do list! Delectably realistic that ranges from the simple to silly to emotionally-fragile. Life is all about risks, and living is all about taking them – or choosing not to. Cam makes a list of experiences that she considers “normal” for a teenager which involves breaking both hearts and rules. I loved how you never quite knew how certain items would play out.{Little sister Perry.} I loved this little cupcake of a girl! Not too young to fade into the background, not too old to make the drama into a catfight. She provided some comic relief when Cam turned into a regular Grumpy. I also have to admire Perry’s cheerful-but-tough exterior. She reminds me a little of Scrappy Doo: tiny, adorable, and wise beyond her years.THE BAD BITS{Almost too perfect?} I honestly cannot complain too much about The Probability Of Miracles being too perfect – because I wouldn’t want it any other way. Wendy Wunder dished out the right balance between good and bad news, and while sometimes the good news felt too good to be true, I think it reflects how life can sometimes hand you lemonade when hope seems like a big joke.THE OVERALLIf I learned anything from The Probability Of Miracles, it is that hope can be persistent, especially when you have loved ones. Quirky, unexpected, sarcastic, bittersweet, and altogether full of life, this story will steal your breath away – from laughing, from crying, and from sheer wonder when Promise, Maine, lives up to its name.
    • 5/5
      “The Probability of Miracles” isn’t an easy book to read, but it is an absolutely beautiful debut.The story is about Cam, a seventeen year old girl with cancer. She’s just been informed by her doctor that there’s nothing else they can do to help her, that the best she can hope for is a miracle. Her mother, Alicia, refuses to give up, however, and soon they head off to Promise, Maine – a place that is said to be magical. Along the way they visit her grandmother and her best friend, Lily, who is also battling cancer. Although Lily and Cam speak daily, Cam finds herself dumbfounded when Lily reveals she’s met a boy, Ryan. When Cam finds out Ryan has a girlfriend and he’s messing around with Lily on the side, she flat-out asks if he intends on breaking up with his girlfriend for Lily. When Cam tries to explain to Lily what Ryan told her, Lily decides she wants nothing to do with Cam anymore.When they finally do reach Maine, Cam finds herself unable to believe in hope, love, and miracles – everything her mother and Lily want her to believe in. But when she finally opens up, she begins to rethink everything.I absolutely loved Cam. She’s sarcastic. She’s funny. She seems real. Everything that she goes through: falling in love for the first time (Asher), dealing with the loss of a friend, and accepting that her family’s lives will continue without her – it all feels real. Same for the other characters. Each and every character in “The Probability of Miracles” is flawed, but that makes them more realistic. For example, Cam’s mother, Alicia, isn’t the perfect mother by any standards, but you can tell she loves her daughter and that she’s terrified of losing her. That final scene between the two of them – it’s a beautifully written moment.There are plenty of humorous moments through out “The Probability of Miracles”, mainly thanks to Nana and Cam, but this isn’t a happy story. It’s a story about a young girl trying to experience everything life has to offer before it’s too late. Expect tears when you finish. Lots of them.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book!! Granted, it was sad. We knew what was going to happen, but Cam's changes and adaptations throughout the book were inspiring. The characters were realistic and well-developed. Despite the heavy emotional aspects of the novel, I will definitely be recommending it to some of my readers.
    • 5/5
      The Probability of Miracles is a very special book. It made me cry which is always a good sign because it means I grew to love the characters. The story is about Cam, a seventeen year old with cancer. She’s been fighting and surviving for years until she receives the news that there isn’t anything more the doctors can do. Medically, they’ve reached the bottom of the barrel.Cam deals with the news in a typical Cam way. She acts tough and strong. Her mother decides to take Cam and her younger sister to a town in Maine that is known for it’s miracles. Cam doesn’t believe in Miracles but she is charmed by the odd little town and quickly sets about making miracles for other people. This story is really, very lovely. The characters are all fantastic and really feel authentic. Wendy Wunder created a little town that I’d like to visit. One where the sun rises and sets in the same place, dandelions are purple, and whales leap at the same time every night. This story will make you wish for a miracle too.
    • 5/5
      I was instantly enamored with Cam, the main character in Wendy Wunder's The Probability of Miracles. In the first pages, the pop culture references, Cam's keen eye for detail and subtle, biting humor reminded me of James Joyce's famous idea that "in the particular is contained the universal." Cam's situation may not be universal, but Wunder's skillful crafting of a teen voice that is at once jaded and fresh puts me squarely in her world. I adore books that make me laugh *and* cry--and The Probability of Miracles is one of those gems. My first laugh came with the line "...it could get you into a buttload of trouble if you admitted to anyone that you thought the Virgin Mary probably just got knocked p like 20 percent of the teenage girls in Florida. That was an idea you kept to yourself." Contrast that with the emotion on the next page as Cam notes that "a sick, bald-headed two-year-old in a pink dress slept on the shoulder of her father, who walked in a daze toward the family's SUV, probably wondering how this had possibly become his life." Cam is a relatable, yet one-of-a-kind character. She's sharp and soft--wise for her years, but I think pain and longing will do that to a girl for whom "details stuck inside her brain like spitballs to a chalkboard." This is a book that will stick with me and I look forward to sharing it with high school students in my class. The pop-culture references, surprising humor, and emotional intensity are sure to be a hit.
    • 4/5
      Cam is dying. Her mother is determined to find a cure and as a last resort moves Cam and her sister to Promise, Maine where miracles are said to occur.I had a hard time getting into this book. Other than Cam the other characters are not well developed and I was getting them confused. But once the family made it to Maine I found it easier to understand I didn't put it down until I finished it.Fans of Sarah Dessen will enjoy this story with Cam as a strong female character and her quest to live her life while she has it.There are some more adult scenes in sections of the book so it is geared more towards older high school teens, and adults that read YA.
    • 4/5
      This was a beautifully written book that made me think about what it means to really live your life. I was not sure I even wanted to read this book because books about dying children or teens are usually too much for me. I find them unbearably sad and usually too heavy. I was pleasantly surprised that although the subject matter was sad the author still managed to inject some lightness in the book. I loved watching the relationship between Cam and Asher develop and watching Cam help Asher learn to live. I found Cam to be refreshingly real and I loved her sarcastic wit. I was glad to see Cam come out of her shell and do the things she really wanted to do without regard for her disease. Through her willingness to live her life no matter what she taught Asher and her family to not be afraid to try things. I would have loved to see more development of Cam's relationship with Lily but that was my only complaint about this very well written book. I still find the subject matter sad and heavy and I probably won't seek out more books about dying kids, but I will look for more books from Wendy Wunder in the future.
    • 5/5
      The description on the back of a book is usually a bit too intense or overdramatic, so I tend to disregard it. However, the description for The Probability of Miracles states that it "will leave readers laughing and crying with each turn of the page," and that is spot on. I laughed out loud, and sometimes I laughed through my tears. My poor husband was woken from a deep sleep twice because I was sobbing, hiccuping, and giggling as I finished the last 100 pages of this book.I loved The Probability of Miracles.At first, I didn't realize that Cam lived in Disney World, but I thought that was an interesting dynamic to add to the story once I understood - it took me a page or two, though. I liked feeling like I was getting a glimpse of Disney "behind the magic" or something, and it made me smile. Plus, the scariness of cancer set against the backdrop of such a magical locale was really interesting. Hooray juxtaposition!Cam made me laugh out loud, Perry was irritating in that "little sister" sort of way, Alicia was admirable, and Asher was pretty realistic. I liked the characters overall. I particularly liked that Cam was *not* all "sunshine and rainbows" about having cancer. There are a lot of kids with illnesses out there who are almost superhuman; Cam was not one of them, even when she shifted her outlook about halfway through. She wasn't out saving the world; she just wanted to be a typical teenager. I loved that.The use of third person narration sometimes threw me off, because I would have expected a novel like this to be in first person. In retrospect, however, I am glad it was third person. The point of view allowed for some distance and some glimpses into the minds of the other characters. Once I got used to it (and now that I'm reflecting back on my reading), I felt that it was the right choice for such a difficult topic as a teenager with cancer.Speaking of which... the ending of this book was beautifully written. In order to avoid spoiling it for anyone, that's all I will say.Frankly, this book took me by surprise with its awesome-ness. I had no idea when I requested it that I would adore it so much!
    • 5/5
      It was bittersweet, beautiful, and aspiring. It hits you so hard. (The book hasn’t even been released yet and I’m already hoping for books from Wendy Wunder.) The Probability of Miracles surprised just as I'll Be There by Holly Goldberg Sloan did last year. Both novels give the reader the chance to believe in coincidence and miracles and the need to live for what is perfect now.Snarky Cam is hard on the outside but soft on the inside. Cam has a rare cancer that's slowly destroying her body that is if the treatments and trials don't kill her first. On a last ditch effort to live her life, Cam and her mother and sister move to Promise, Maine where rumor has it the place is full of miracles. After living and working in Disney World Cam is far from being a full believer. But from purple dandelions to flocks of flamingos to a unicorn in her back yard*, Cam may have to reevaluate her opinion.With a mix of 13 Little Blue Envelopes and I'll Be There and something all its own, The Probability of Miracles will break your heart, glue it back together, and shatter it all over again. Cam was the perfect heroine for me. She was a genuine sister and daughter who fights with her younger sister and mother, but ultimately loves and cares deeply about them. Cam wasn't a romantic or a dreamer. She was sarcastic, she was real. Can breathed life with all of its ups and downs into the novel.Life isn't prefect, but it can be pretty darn good sometimes when you let people in and the negativity out. That was what Cam learned and we as readers learned with her. Promise was just one more hoax that Cam scoffed at, but the small town with its motley crew of people melted the ice around Cam. She became a softer version of herself and started to be the giver of miracles.The Probability of Miracles had an array of characters, which gave the book an explosion of voices and personalities. And yet it remained harmonious because at its center was Cam. She brought them in together from the perky sister, to the ever-fighting mother, to the sassy Nana, to the boy who taught Cam how to love, to the best friend who gave Cam a purpose when she felt like giving it all up. They were a perfect cast of supporters to the perfect heroine of an amazing and profound book.It was slow in the beginning, but worth it in the end. Oh, the end. The last line literally made me fall in love with the book all over again and again. There’s wickedness to the humor, but lightness to the romance.Savor this book.*The Probability of Miracles is a contemporary novel and not a fantasy one. So the unicorn was my attempt to throw a little curve ball to you, but it is in the novel, just no what you might expect.