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Inspiring,
Optimistic,
Insightful

4 reviews

A Season of Miracles: A Novel

by Rusty Whitener

Published: 2010-08-03
Paperback : 272 pages

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3 clubs reading this now
2 members have read this book

Recommended to book clubs by 4 of 4 members

No other editions available.

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Introduction

Looking back on the 1971 Little League season, Zack Ross relives the summer that changed his life… Gunning for the championship is all that matters until twelve-year-old Zack meets Rafer, a boy whose differences make him an outcast but whose abilities on the baseball field make him the key to victory. Admired for his contribution to the team, Rafer turns everyone’s expectations upside down, bestowing a gift to Zack and his teammates that forces them to think—is there more to life than winning or losing? And what is this thing called grace?

Editorial Review

No editorial review at this time.

Excerpt

Chapter 1
I didn’t set out to believe in miracles. Nobody does. That’s what makes them miracles.
The events of 1971 would pick me up in a tornado of changes and set me down in an amazing place of grace. As with Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, it would be a kind of homecoming, except that I would be coming home for the first time. ...

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Discussion Questions

From the publisher:

1. In chapter 3, Donnie tells Zack “We both do bad stuff. It’s just I get forgiven, and you don’t.” What does Donnie mean?

2. Near the end of chapter 9, Pastor White says “But people can be decent, really decent, in ways that a lot of people respect… and that can be their biggest obstacle to faith.” Do you agree?

3. In chapter 15, Zack considers: “I was surprised how much I really wanted to be there for Richard.” Why does Zack want to be there? Might Zack be thinking about more than Richard’s needs? What larger need might Zack be pondering?

4. Think about the last sentences in chapter 22: “When you’re a kid, tragic and comic moments overlap. Your heart is light enough then to know the difference. Joy is our true, original destiny. Tragedy is the stranger.” Do you think this is accurate? If it is, should these truths change how we live?

5. The dream in chapter 25 is about heaven existing in the here and now. What parts of the dream did you like? Did any parts trouble you?

Suggested by Members

Did you know anyone with autism when you were in school? Were those kids treated differently than you at school? Would you have tried to befriend an autistic child then? Now?

by mbeebe (see profile) 12/22/10

Weblinks

»	Publisher's Book Info
»	A Season of Miracles Official Web Site
»	Author Rusty Whitener's web site
»	A Season of Miracles web site

Notes From the Author to the Bookclub

Note from the Author:

Dear Readers,

Life is like baseball. It’s all a game. Sometimes we are surprised by unexpected challenges. We have to learn to adjust and overcome adversity. To survive, we need to work together as a team. And as a team, we learn that each of our teammates matter. Each of them offers great talent. But only together can we succeed.

In my book A Season of Miracles, you’ll meet a group of twelve-year-old boys who just wanted to play ball… but never expected to learn a great lesson about life… or about God. As the main character, Zack, looks back at the 1971 Little League season, he realizes just how much his teammates that summer changed his life forever.

I hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane and I hope it creates new memories for you today. And make sure to lookout for the movie version of A Season of Miracles, currently in production with Elevating Entertainment.

Remember… innocence is fragile. Evil is real. And redemption is possible.

Yours,

Rusty Whitener

Book Club Recommendations

Recommended to book clubs by 4 of 4 members.

Author

by sjones (see profile) 01/24/11

We were fortunate to have the author talk to us via conference call and discuss the book and the upcoming movie.

We had thought going to a sports bar would be appropriate.

by mbeebe (see profile) 12/22/10

Member Reviews

Overall rating:

"A Season of Miracles"by Stephanie J. (see profile) 01/24/11

This was a great book about boys playing ball in a very pertinent time period in their life. They learned alot that summer playing ball together about life.

"A Season of Miracles"by Marilyn B. (see profile) 12/22/10

I wasn't sure that a group of 12 year old boys would actually befriend an autistic boy - especially in the 70s, but the book was well written, and our group enjoyed discussing it.

"Inspirational Book"by Connie F. (see profile) 07/22/11

The book is very well written, in addition to being a wonderful story. The prose and turn of phrase are beautiful.

"A Season of Miracles"by Lynda H. (see profile) 12/18/10

This book is an inspirational Young Adult book. If you are a fan of Little League it will be good. I was looking for more challanging things happening, but it did not. I really don't feel that it can... (read more)

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