I have read many genres from literary fiction to memoirs, but I can't recall ever reading a book quite like this one. The publisher describes it as "A profound new novel about a paralyzed young man’s unexplainable recovery—a stunning exploration of faith, science, mystery, and the meaning of life, " but the whole time I was reading, I couldn't decide if the account by Jonathan Miles was fact or fiction. The story moves between small town life in Mississippi where wheelchair- bound Cameron ekes out a miserable existence with the support of his big sister, and then travels back in time on patrol in Afghanistan to learn how Cameron ended up in that wheelchair. The descriptions are so sharp and authentic they feel like the work of Fannie Flagg mixed with Tim O'Brien. Then as we get deeper into the account, and the author reveals the crucial issue that turns the story from a slapstick comedy to a profound tragedy, the reader is brought up short, wrestling with moral questions that seem beyond the scope of a novel of small town Americana or journalistic reportage. It was only after the story itself draws to a close and I read the afterword and acknowledgements that I was certain that this story is both a beautifully crafted novel and a carefully documented piece of journalism. Miles has done an amazing job of combining the two genres, but what is more amazing is how he lays out the medical and theological questions in the anatomy of this miracle and makes the reader care.

I'll admit it took me a really, really long time to get into this book. I was originally really bogged down with the level of detail the author wove into each character and setting, and thought that it was distracting from the main story of Cameron, but about half way through found that it only enriched the story. One of the reasons that it took me a long time to get into this book was because of the setting, in Biloxi, Mississippi, but with the level of detail the author included I was able to feel like I knew Biloxi regardless of never having set foot in the state. Because of the level of detail, I was thinking to myself "is this based on a true event" and was satisfied when I reached the end where the author reveals that it was based on a true event. This was my first book by the author, but I will definitely seek to read more of his work.

I almost stopped reading this book at the 20% mark due to the extensive amount of minutia written about each character introduced. I felt this great detail detracted from the main storyline, which was about a paralyzed veteran, Cameron Harris, who after 4 years, "miraculously" regains his ability to walk.

The author is a master at character development and describing life in Biloxi, Mississippi. The book probes whether Cameron's recovery was due to a scientific event or a bonifide miracle, as seen from the view point of the protagonist, his physician, family, friends, strangers, and a representative sent from the Vatican. The author blends humor into the main storyline questions, "Who am I" and "What is my life's purpose?"

At the end of the novel the author reveals that the book is based on a true event.

Very well written An enjoyable read. Highly recommend.

Wonderfully, written masterful novel about a paraplegic in Mississippi who walks again. Not, your everyday story and not a simple ending.