Mysterious Ways - by Wendy Wunder (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Seventeen-year-old Maya struggles with her omniscient abilities, but when she meets a cute guy at her new school, he helps her learn how to cope with knowing too much."--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

From acclaimed author Wendy Wunder comes a sharp and hilarious coming-of-age novel for fans of John Green and Nicola Yoon about an omniscient teenage girl who must grapple with whether there's such a thing as knowing too much...

Seventeen-year-old Maya knows everything. When she looks at someone, she instantly knows their history, their private thoughts, their secret desires, their most tragic failures. Combine these private miseries with the general state of the world, and it's easy to see why Maya's power starts to get her down...

Which is why she was sent to the Whispering Pines Psychiatric Facility, and also why starting at a new school is going to be such a challenge. Now, faced with Tyler, a cute guy she actually wants to know everything about, Maya realizes that maybe her power isn't so horrible after all. Maybe she can use it for good. Maybe she can even get the guy. Or maybe there really is such a thing as knowing too much.

Review Quotes

New England Book Awards Finalist

Parade, "The 27 Best New Book Releases This Week"

"Seamlessly moving between the humorous and horrific realities of Maya's omniscience, Wunder (The Museum of Intangible Things) chronicles the protagonist's stay at Whispering Pines and her eventual enrollment at a new school where she makes a friend and happens upon potential romance." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"The depiction of Gen Z anxieties feels spot on...A humorous and stimulating reading experience." - Kirkus

"A poignant, funny, and relatable story." - Booklist

"Wunder masterfully weaves a myriad of seemingly disparate events into a cohesive narrative, culminating in Maya's overarching mission to positively impact those around her...YA readers who enjoy coming-of-age tales will find this a captivating and insightful read." - School Library Journal

"Maya's singular narrative voice is the highlight of the novel...Wunder adeptly transitions between witty humor and heavy moments that convey the frightening ramifications of Maya's abilities...The novel's imaginative combination of extraordinary powers grounded by everyday teenage turmoil should appeal to fans of both speculative and contemporary fiction." - Shelf Awareness

"Wunder's portrayal of Maya seems very authentic, which helps immerse you further into her world...Wunder also does a masterful job of blending the fantastical and supernatural elements with real-world issues...Mysterious Ways is filled with heart, humor and encourages the reader to contemplate the human condition, while offering up a fresh perspective on the complexities of growing up and realizing that it might be best not to know everything." - BookTrib

"Mysterious Ways will appeal to readers seeking a novel that goes beyond your typical YA." - YA Books Central

"Wunder's strong voice and intense emotion takes on real Gen Z issues with heart and humor. Maya's story tells us that just because you're omniscient doesn't mean you don't have things to learn. And her journey is all backed by a great soundtrack."--Gretchen Schreiber, author of Ellie Haycock Is Totally Normal

"Sharp, hilarious, heartfelt." --Nicola Yoon, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Praise for The Probability of Miracles:

"Beautiful." - Kirkus Reviews (starred)

"A witty, clever, meaningful, kind of kooky life-sometimes-stinks-but-it's-all-we-have tour de force." - School Library Journal (starred)

"Funny and entertaining." - New York Times Book Review

About the Author

Wendy Wunder is the star-reviewed author of The Probability of Miracles and The Museum of Intangible Things. When not writing, she often works as a rogue librarian and is currently a bookseller at Porter Square Books. She lives in Boston with her writer-husband, dancer-daughter and two dopey (but adorable) pets with no particular talent.