Mike Lupica, well-known as a successful author of many sports novels, tells a heartwarming story that is more than just about sports. Lupica’s Miracle on 49th Street follows the life of 12-year old Molly Parker, and her journey trying to convince Boston Celtics superstar, Josh Cameron, that she is his daughter.
Following the death of Molly’s beloved mother, Jen, she is left with no one. She is new to the United States, moving there from London shortly prior to Jen’s lost battle with cancer, and is taken in by Jen’s best friend Barbara and her family. Although they are very kind to her, it is clear she will never quite fit in. A letter Molly’s mom wrote in her final days finally told her the truth about her father, and she was determined to find a way to be with him. With help from her best friend, Sam, Molly was confident she could achieve this. When Bill, Barbara’s husband, gets a promotion to work across the country in Los Angeles, Molly is given a deadline to get Cameron to believe her story.
The relationship between Molly and Josh slowly progresses after their first meeting. She spends more and more time with him at his apartment along with his maid, Mattie, who plays a grandmother-like role. He will still never admit that he thinks she is his daughter and suggests a DNA test. Molly however wants him to want to be her father, and not just because he has to be. With many ups and downs, she realizes that the Celtics point guard, may truly only have room in his life for himself. Jen Parker left Cameron to go to school in London after she found that basketball was more important to him than she was. Molly believed that he was different until eavesdropping on a conversion between Josh and his agent, hearing about their plan to let Molly out of his life easy, because it was bad press that “Mr. Perfect” Josh Cameron had a kid before marriage. She finds herself ready to escape to California with Barbara’s family, who treats Molly like family more than the only true family member she has left. Unless Josh Cameron can win her back before Christmas, she will be as good as gone.
This book provides a terrific story from start to finish, with few flaws. The resolution is perfect, but it ended too quickly in my opinion. It is an easy-read with a great message that family is more important than fame. Character progression is well established and emotions seem real. Some of the dialogue is unnecessary as the author tries to add humor that falls flat, but it doesn’t take away from the well-constructed plot.
Unlike many of Lupica’s books, this is a must-read even if you are not interested in sports. This book could easily be read within a week as it is not very challenging and hard to put down with the reader always wanting to find out what happens next.
Miracle on 49th Street, by Mike Lupica, Puffin Books, October 2007, 272 pages
By Colby M
Mike Lupica, well-known as a successful author of many sports novels, tells a heartwarming story that is more than just about sports. Lupica’s Miracle on 49th Street follows the life of 12-year old Molly Parker, and her journey trying to convince Boston Celtics superstar, Josh Cameron, that she is his daughter.
Following the death of Molly’s beloved mother, Jen, she is left with no one. She is new to the United States, moving there from London shortly prior to Jen’s lost battle with cancer, and is taken in by Jen’s best friend Barbara and her family. Although they are very kind to her, it is clear she will never quite fit in. A letter Molly’s mom wrote in her final days finally told her the truth about her father, and she was determined to find a way to be with him. With help from her best friend, Sam, Molly was confident she could achieve this. When Bill, Barbara’s husband, gets a promotion to work across the country in Los Angeles, Molly is given a deadline to get Cameron to believe her story.
The relationship between Molly and Josh slowly progresses after their first meeting. She spends more and more time with him at his apartment along with his maid, Mattie, who plays a grandmother-like role. He will still never admit that he thinks she is his daughter and suggests a DNA test. Molly however wants him to want to be her father, and not just because he has to be. With many ups and downs, she realizes that the Celtics point guard, may truly only have room in his life for himself. Jen Parker left Cameron to go to school in London after she found that basketball was more important to him than she was. Molly believed that he was different until eavesdropping on a conversion between Josh and his agent, hearing about their plan to let Molly out of his life easy, because it was bad press that “Mr. Perfect” Josh Cameron had a kid before marriage. She finds herself ready to escape to California with Barbara’s family, who treats Molly like family more than the only true family member she has left. Unless Josh Cameron can win her back before Christmas, she will be as good as gone.
This book provides a terrific story from start to finish, with few flaws. The resolution is perfect, but it ended too quickly in my opinion. It is an easy-read with a great message that family is more important than fame. Character progression is well established and emotions seem real. Some of the dialogue is unnecessary as the author tries to add humor that falls flat, but it doesn’t take away from the well-constructed plot.
Unlike many of Lupica’s books, this is a must-read even if you are not interested in sports. This book could easily be read within a week as it is not very challenging and hard to put down with the reader always wanting to find out what happens next.
Miracle on 49th Street, by Mike Lupica, Puffin Books, October 2007, 272 pages
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