Mysterious Ways

Starred review from May 27, 2024
Of the three career options that 17-year-old Maya comes up with during her “Grippy Sock Vacation” at Whispering Pines Psychiatric Hospital, the one that stands out is “God (?).” What explanation is there for the fact that Maya can read minds other than “she might actually, kind of, be god?” Despite her solitary meditation on the matter (“No one knew about this, obvs”), Maya wonders if there had always been “girls with elusive powerful magic they can’t understand or unleash, because the patriarchy is stronger than god and much more insidious.” It’s this expansive way of thinking that makes up Maya’s appeal: she’s a magnetic personality who’s wholly aware of the systemic patterns that have shaped her, a dynamic that sets the stage of this tongue-in-cheek read. Seamlessly moving between the humorous and horrific realities of Maya’s omniscience, Wunder (The Museum of Intangible Things) chronicles the protagonist’s stay at Whispering Pines and her eventual enrollment at a new school where she makes a friend and happens upon potential romance. But Maya, realizing that her powers might have more practical applications, attempts to use them to help the people around her, a decision that results in a simultaneously wonderful yet wrenching climax that emphasizes how, even when one has hit rock bottom, there’s always hope. Maya reads as white. Ages 13–up. Agents: Joelle Hobeika and Sara Shandler, Alloy Entertainment.

June 15, 2024
A girl who can read people's thoughts tries to devise a way to survive high school. Overwhelmed by her mysterious power, Maya Storm, who's cued white, has a breakdown and begins the story while on a six-week "Grippy Sock Vacation" at a psychiatric hospital. Upon her discharge, she starts fresh at a new school, where she's befriended by Lucy, a queer Korean American girl with a quick wit and entrepreneurial ambitions, and develops an instant attraction to Tyler, an olive-skinned boy with a spiritual streak. But Maya can't shake off the anxieties of her classmates, whose unquiet thoughts plague and fuel her own: a deep generational angst over the pending climate apocalypse and other social crises, plus the constant barrage of everyday teenage stressors like body image, college admissions, and social awkwardness. A tragic accident spurs Maya to take on a personal challenge: She founds Save the Bobcats, a club that will help the local bobcat population (which would look great on her Common App) while also giving Maya a way to use her powers to help her classmates with their own challenges. Maya's wry, older-than-her-years narration moves at a fast clip and is peppered with references both modern and retro. The depiction of Gen Z anxieties feels spot on, though Maya's voice stretches credibility as that of an authentic teenager. A humorous and stimulating reading experience that offers glimpses into a girl's exhausting inner thoughts. (content note) (Fiction. 14-18)

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July 1, 2024
Grades 9-12 Due to Maya's unexplainable telepathic ability, a nonstop stream of voices fills her head--omniscience that makes her wonder about her relationship to god. But knowing everything about everyone is weighing Maya down. When an incident sends her to the psychiatric hospital, her stressed parents have Maya start therapy and public school. Surprisingly, this clean slate is just what she needs. Developing friendships and a love interest provide an opportunity to make connections. When an ordinance to hunt bobcats could be passed, a concerned Maya slowly discovers how her powers and newly formed bonds can be used to help others. Author of The Probability of Miracles (2011), Wunder explores the teen psyche in this contemporary romance. Writing in the third person from various viewpoints, Wunder carefully expounds on subjects such as mental health and suicide. A poignant, funny, and relatable story.

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August 23, 2024

Gr 9 Up-Seventeen-year-old Maya grapples not only with the typical challenges of fitting in with her peers but also with the extraordinary burden of a gift that sets her apart-the ability to delve into others' thoughts and past actions, perhaps even reflecting a divine nature within her. This unique skill lands her in the Whispering Pines psychiatric facility due to the overwhelming influx of information. Upon her release, Maya navigates the complexities of her gift, striving to use it for benevolent purposes while also craving the attention of an intriguing boy. While the story's initial pace may be a bit slow, it significantly intensifies as Maya sets clear objectives for herself. Wunder masterfully weaves a myriad of seemingly disparate events into a cohesive narrative, culminating in Maya's overarching mission to positively impact those around her. Readers will be anxious to know how each character's story will play out, Maya's role in that result, and if her gift is truly a gift or a curse. VERDICT YA readers who enjoy coming-of-age tales will find this a captivating and insightful read.-Jessica Perovich

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