The Orphanage of Miracles by Amy Neftzger

The Orphanage of Miracles

by

Amy Neftzger

MY TAKE:

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.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Perhaps everyone could use a miracle, but very few will find the one they truly need.

Amid a war torn land and hidden deep within an enchanted forest lays an orphanage where miracles abound. It s a magical place created years ago by a resolute king who must defeat an evil sorcerer waging bitter war against his land and his people. He knew that in order to save his people, victory would require a miracle.

A young girl named Kelsey also desperately needs a miracle. She sets out on a quest to find the whispered-of 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 under a spell cast by the evil sorcerer, 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 and take a peek inside The Orphanage of Miracles.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Amy 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." - Goodreads.com