Welcome to Miracle

Welcome to Miracle, written by Shara Curlett (Scholastic), PB RRP $18.99, ISBN 9781761524127

Reviewed by Sarah Tegerdine

Welcome to Miracle is an exhilarating adventure written by Shara Curlett that sweeps you out of your comfortable book nook into a world where a magical island promises to make all your wishes come true... but also, your worst nightmares.

Juniper Mayfair lives a somewhat solitary life with her Aunt Muriel, their Newfoundland dog, Bernie, and an unusual ghost-like companion called Finnegan Frost, who no one can see, yet only Jupiter can hear. Juniper is also cursed with 'Chaos,' a classification given to children who seem to attract, or be at the centre of, unexplained phenomena that usually cause general mayhem around them, perhaps an exploding plant pot, flying utensils, or something much worse.

Juniper's world, Antasea, is home to an incredibly special island named Miracle: it is magical, and only people without 'Chaos' are allowed to visit. However, visits to Miracle are strictly managed through a ballot system, and residents are only allowed to visit if they have received an exclusive invitation called a 'Chance.'

To her shock and delight, Juniper receives a 'Chance' invitation, so she, her Aunt Muriel, Bernie and invisible Finnegan travel to the Great Wall of Miracle. Once on the island, nothing is as it seems.

For her group, Miracle is not bringing wishes to life - only nightmares. With her new friends by her side, Juniper must unearth Miracle's secrets, and by doing so, she could ultimately lead to the end of 'Chaos' for good.

But they have to survive the island’s treacherous landscape first.

Welcome to Miracle is a captivating, visually rich narrative that really engages the reader with twists and turns that keep you guessing right up to the end. I thoroughly enjoyed the cleverly woven layers and undertones, which younger readers may miss, depending on their overall literacy level.

Themes explored include self-belief, courage, friendship, emotional regulation, teamwork, family and trust. Recommended for readers aged 8 years and older.

On a final note, some significant mysteries remain unresolved; this reader, for one, hopes a sequel is in the pipeline.