Review of "Miracle on 49th Street," by Mike Lupica

 Review of

Miracle on 49th Street, by Mike Lupica, ISBN 0399244883

Five out of five stars

Great feelgood story about life

 While one of the main characters is a star basketball player of the Celtics, this is a story that will make you feel good about life. It also has a happy ending climax that takes place on Christmas. Josh Cameron is the MVP of the NBA and has a spotless reputation. Molly Parker is twelve years old and has recently lost her mother to illness. Now apparently orphaned, she is currently living with her mother’s best friend Barbara in college. Although she is treated quite well and Barbara’s daughter does not resent her, Molly never feels like her residence is her home.

 In her last days, Molly’s mother told her that Josh Cameron is her father. Armed with no evidence other than a letter, Molly engages in what could be considered stalking of Josh. Using some basic deception tricks, she manages to meet Josh and tell him what she considers the truth. Quite naturally, Josh is skeptical, although he acknowledges the relationship he had with Molly’s mother.

 This starts a complicated sequence of events where Josh and Molly begin to interact, although not well at first. Fortunately, Josh has a line-in housekeeper named Mattie that keeps him firmly in line and grounded in reality. There are many twists and seeming cul-de-sacs in their relationship, but they do slowly make progress towards what the reader hopes will be the ideal conclusion.

 In a manner right out of a famous movie about a miracle, this one ends with another miracle in the snow. The ending is a great uplifting feel good climax that will bring a tear to the eye of many a reader.

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