Counting Miracles

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Counting Miracles follows three characters—Tanner, Kaitlyn, and Jasper—whose separate storylines eventually converge in unexpected ways. How effective did you find Sparks’s technique of gradually weaving these narratives together? Did the connections between the characters feel organic or contrived?

2. How do you feel Sparks handled the theme of chance encounters changing life’s trajectory in this novel compared to his earlier works like The Notebook or A Walk to Remember, which also feature fateful meetings?

3. The novel’s title refers to unexpected gifts and connections that transform the characters’ lives. What did you consider to be the most significant miracle in the story, and why did it resonate with you?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Tanner spends much of the novel searching for his biological father and, by extension, a sense of identity and belonging. Have you ever gone through a period of searching for something or someone that you felt would complete your understanding of yourself?

2. Kaitlyn struggles to balance her roles as a doctor, mother, and individual with her own needs. How do you navigate multiple responsibilities while maintaining your sense of self?

3. The Jenga game that Tanner plays with the Cooper family symbolizes the fragile balance of life’s challenges. What games or activities have taken on symbolic meaning in your own family gatherings?

4. Jasper’s gradual return to faith after feeling abandoned by God represents a significant journey. Whether religious or not, have you experienced moments that challenged or restored your belief systems?

5. Both Tanner and Kaitlyn are hesitant to open themselves to new relationships because of past experiences. How have your past relationships shaped your approach to forming new connections?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel touches on the challenges that military veterans like Tanner face reintegrating into civilian life and finding purpose beyond service. How does this reflect broader societal issues facing veterans today?

2. Jasper’s isolation following his disfigurement from burns highlights how physical appearance affects social interaction. How does the novel address societal attitudes toward visible differences, and what commentary does it offer?

3. In the novel, the white deer is considered a mystical creature—one of the “messengers from the otherworld” (107) in certain cultural traditions. How do different cultures find symbols of hope in their natural environments, and why are these symbols important to communities?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The novel alternates between the perspectives of Tanner, Kaitlyn, and Jasper before bringing their stories together. How does this narrative structure enhance the themes of connection and fate?

2. The white deer serves as a powerful symbol throughout the novel. How does this motif develop, and what multiple meanings does it acquire by the story’s conclusion?

3. Tanner, Kaitlyn, and Jasper are all on journeys toward healing from past traumas. How do their paths toward healing differ, and where do they intersect?

4. In what ways does the novel explore the theme of redemption? Consider how each of the main characters finds some form of redemption by the end.

5. Sparks incorporates biblical references, particularly to the story of Job, in Jasper’s narrative. How do these allusions deepen the novel’s exploration of faith, loss, and redemption?

6. How does Sparks use the setting of Asheboro and the Uwharrie National Forest to develop the characters and themes? What significance do these locations hold for each character?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were to write an additional chapter that takes place five years after the epilogue, what do you imagine would have happened to Tanner, Kaitlyn, Casey, Mitch, and Jasper?

2. The novel ends with Jasper finding redemption and renewal through his new family. Imagine an alternate storyline where Tanner never discovers his connection to Jasper. How might both of their stories have unfolded?

3. The white deer serves as a symbolic catalyst for much of the action. Create another natural symbol that could have served a similar purpose in the story, and explain how it might have changed the narrative.

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