Proudly CanadianBooks picked and shipped in Canada

Miraculous

by Caroline Starr Rose

Subject
Mysteries & Detective Stories
Age
9-12 years
Format
Hardcover
Pages
352
Publisher
G.P. Putnams Sons Books for Young Readers
Size
13.6 cm × 21.4 cm
ISBN
9781984813152
A traveling medicine show promises to cure all, but two kids learn it takes more than faith in the miraculous to fix things that are broken.

Thirteen-year-old Jack knows what cured his baby sister when his family thought she might never get well—Dr. Kingsbury’s “Miraculous Tonic.” Guaranteed to relieve maladies known to man or beast, Dr. Kingsbury’s potion can cure everything from pimples to hearing loss to a broken heart, and Jack himself is a witness to the miraculous results and the doctor’s kindness. When he had no money, the doctor didn’t turn him away but gave him the tonic for free along with a job—to travel with him from city to city selling his cure-all elixir.

When Dr. Kingsbury and Jack arrive in Oakdale, the town at first feels like any other they’ve been to. But it’s clear Oakdale is a town with secrets, and its citizens are slow to trust strangers.

Then Jack meets Cora, and a friendship neither expected starts to bloom. Together they uncover something else they didn’t expect—not only secrets about the town but also Dr. Kingsbury. As they race to discover the truth, they’ll have to decide who and what to believe before it’s too late.

Data provided by BiblioShare.

This title isn't available to order right now. Browse the book shop for thousands that are.

What reviewers said

“Atmospheric with decidedly ominous overtones, this historical novel offers just the right mix of good vs. evil. . . A deliciously sinister read.”
Kirkus Reviews
“A good read-aloud, possessing enough action and suspense to hold an audience of listeners.”
School Library Connection
“Readers who enjoy immersive historical settings will appreciate the atmosphere Rose captures.”
BCCB
“A small-town mystery unfolds with creeping dread in Rose’s (Jasper and the Riddle of Riley’s Mine) historical thriller. . . A chilling adventure.”
Publishers Weekly
“This story is a unique look at 19th-century medicine shows, as well as the power of hope, and can be used for classroom study on point of view.”
School Library Journal
A 2018 Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year
A 2018 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award Finalist
A 2017–2018 Camellia Children’s Choice Book Award Nominee
An Amazon Best of the Month Pick for February 2017
A Junior Library Guild Selection
© 2026 Peekabooks Inc. All Rights Reserved.
© 2026 Peekabooks Inc. All Rights Reserved.