The Yoo family runs Miracle Submarine, an experimental therapy treatment. When the pressurized oxygen chamber catches fire and explodes, killing two patients and injuring others, blame immediately falls on a mother suspected of wanting to kill her autistic son. But as the trial unfolds, everyone’s secrets and half-truths come to light.

Wow, talk about a page turner! This book kept me guessing right up until the end. Several times I did not see a revelation coming, and this book is a testament to how seemingly innocuous actions can be misread when their context is stripped away.

MIRACLE CREEK is also a lot more about motherhood than I expected. It’s about what we expect from mothers, especially the mothers of disabled children - perfection, martyrdom, never a negative thought or a wish for a different life. And it really takes a hard look at ableism and the stigma around autism. Much of the book hinges on whether Elizabeth was doing the right thing in regards to her son Henry’s autism. Was she giving him the best opportunities or was she trying to “cure” him? Where is the line between those approaches?

It’s really impressive how many complicated questions like this are woven into MIRACLE CREEK, and I haven’t even touched on the immigrant narrative underneath all this. I’ll be thinking about the nuances in this story for a long time.