The Miracle on Monhegan Island

Starred review from March 28, 2016
Thirty-one-year-old Jessie “Spark” Monhegan returns to his dilapidated Maine home after leaving in a shroud of disgrace and secrecy. The house is still a residence to three other Monhegan males: Pastor Ragnor, Spark’s semideluded father; Hugh, his demoralized artist brother; and his Spark’s 13-year-old son, Hally, who is keen to discover the truth about his mother and Sparks’s apparent abandonment. Accompanying Spark on his journey is the dog-napped Ned—an intelligent, highly observant and intuitive three-year-old Shitzu—who also happens to be the charming and wise narrator. At once touching and humorous, Kelly’s (Apologize, Apologize!) story boasts a plethora of themes and an enticing plot, complete with suspenseful moments. The Monhegan men struggle to reconcile their past resentments, ongoing personality differences, and inner demons, amid small-town gossip. The transformation of fathers and sons is catalyzed by Hally’s vision of a woman in white—the encounter that Ragnor dubs the miracle on Monhegan Island and creates a fervent religious following. While Kelly’s multidimensional characters and descriptions—even the olfactory ones—are evocative and engaging, the winning element of this story is Ned’s voice, which provides an entertaining perspective on a dog’s life.