family. Minor characters Marly's mom, decides that the family needs an extended stay away from the city at Grandmother's house. Marly's dad, a World War II veteran who is physically and spiritually damaged but finds healing in the countryside. Mrs. Chris, takes care of the two families and all the remaining farm work. Harry, a mysterious hermit eventually befriended by Joe. Margie, Marly's best friend Audiobook A full cast audio adaptation narrated by Cynthia Bishop was released in 2005 with each character brought to life by a unique personality and voice. In popular culture The Hurry Hill Maple Farm Museum located in Edinboro, Pennsylvania has an exhibit dedicated to the book and its author, titled "Miracles on Maple Hill: Where the seasons take on new meaning." Description The story, written by Virginia Sorensen, is told in past tense and uses the third person. The words used are simple and easy to understand. They are mostly conversations between Marly and her family, as well as other people in the countryside of Maple Hill. This story includes fourteen chapters and each chapter is very short. The total pages are less than 250. Critical reception Miracles on Maple Hill was published to very strong reviews. Kirkus Reviews called it "a complete and realistic family story", while the School Library Journal found it "skillfully dramatized" and an "inspiring American classic". The New York Times Book Review called the book "Warm and real as her two previous books centering about a 10-year-old 'curious Missile' and 'Plain Girl'-this one packed with incident, country magic, family love and people to remember; it has substance and spiritual worth." In a retrospective essay about the Newbery Medal-winning books from 1956 to 1965, librarian Carolyn Horovitz wrote that the book "seems to miss its objective because of a sentimental use of language. I know this author has written better books." References Newbery Medal–winning works 1956 American novels American children's novels Novels set in Pittsburgh Novels about post-traumatic stress disorder 1956 children's books