The rich descriptions and realistic characters of Miracles on Maple Hill may owe something to Sorensen's detailed observations of a real place. Sorensen notes that she based the setting on a real place, Edinboro, Pennsylvania, and some of the characters, such as Mr. and Mrs. Chris, on real people who lived there. The author's own experiences at Edinboro inspired some of the events in the novel, and she seems to have transferred her own urge to explore to Marly.

The thematically complex narrative presents some fundamental ideas about what is important in life and then fully realizes them through Marly's adventures. Sorensen's skillful descriptions of the natural world symbolize much of the inner worlds of the characters, bringing together the important literary elements of setting and character development.

The themes are also carefully tied to the inner growth of Marly and those around her. Nothing is...