Miracles on Maple Hill

Dale is Marly’s father who is a World War II veteran and former prisoner of war. Though it was not a defined disorder at the time of the book’s publication, Dale demonstrates many classic signs of what is now known as post-traumatic stress disorder. Though the disorder can affect anyone who experiences trauma, soldiers in war are particularly susceptible. Once called “shell shock,” the disorder affects soldiers who are tortured by nightmares, sensitivities to loud sounds and bright lights, depression, anxiety, and in some cases, suicidal ideation. At the beginning of the novel, Dale exhibits symptoms such as depression, sensitivity to sound, and an inability to be in large crowds. Though the novel doesn’t describe his memories of being a prisoner of war, the experience changed him, and the residual trauma affects not only him but also his family.

When the novel opens, the family has made the big decision to leave the city and move to the country in hopes that it will help Dale find rest and healing. By telling the story from Marly’s perspective, the author highlights the ways in which one person’s trauma and mental illness can affect loved ones, for although Marly doesn’t realize it at first, she too needs healing from the trauma just as much as her father does. Gradually, the more time that Dale spends at Maple Hill, the more approachable he becomes. By the end of the novel, Dale feels comfortable enough to be vulnerable with his family and share some of his experiences. After Dale shares about the inhumane conditions that he experienced as a prisoner of war, the revelation opens Lee’s eyes to some of his pain and moves her to be more empathetic to both Dale and Harry. Although the war has changed Dale forever, moving to Maple Hill allows him to breathe the fresh air of hope, release the weight of his past trauma, and embrace the possibility that there is still happiness for him in this life.

Mr. Chris is Marly’s neighbor at Maple Hill. Throughout the story, he serves as a mentor and friend to the young protagonist. As strong and stout as many of the maple trees that populate his sugarbush, Mr. Chris is a physically imposing man; however, his personality is humble, gentle, and mild, especially around animals and children. The text compares him to the patron saint of a child’s favorite season, for the narrator states, “Mr. Chris’s smile looked big and round in the lamplight, like a picture of Santa Claus” (31). Mr. Chris establishes himself as Marly’s hero when he rescues the family car from a snowbank and allows her to ride his tractor like a princess in a chariot. He and his wife, whom he calls “Chrissie,” have known Lee since she was a child, but they also welcome her husband and children with open arms. Marly’s family arrives in the middle of the peak of sugar season and witnesses Mr. Chris’s passion for making maple syrup firsthand, a process that fascinates and enchants them. Though Mr. Chris’s energy seems boundless, Chrissie tells Lee that he suffers from a heart condition, and she worries that he pushes himself too hard. However, Marly sees no weakness in her new friend, and through Mr. Chris’s patient tutelage, Marly learns about all the flowers and plants that grow in her new home and develops a passion and love for the natural world that helps her heal from the trauma of her father’s absence and helps her grow into a more confident, adventurous young girl.

The more time Marly spends with Mr. Chris, the more she comes to admire his humble benevolence. He helps her father begin his maple syrup production despite having more than enough work on his land. He teaches Dale how to plant a garden and instructs Joe on how to collect mushrooms safely for eating. Marly also learns that Mr. Chris helped Harry when he was without a home. Aside from all his good deeds, Marly also recognizes that Mr. Chris doesn’t want any recognition for his altruism. He simply helps people because he takes joy in their happiness. When Mr. Chris succumbs to his heart issue after overexerting himself, Marly’s family along with many others in the community come together to help bring in his sap harvest. The unified show of support for the Chris’s livelihood reveals how much impact they have made on their community. Through her portrayal of Mr. Chris, the author exemplifies the beauty of a giving spirit and how one person’s influence can change the lives of many people. 

Joe is Marly’s older brother, and at the beginning of the novel, he exhibits the usual emotions of an adolescent boy who becomes annoyed by his younger sister’s very presence. Fiercely competitive and always on the move, Joe doesn’t understand Marly’s contemplative, sensitive nature and fights to beat her at being the first in everything they do. In their early days at Maple Hill, Joe combats his sadness over leaving the city by setting out on long walks to explore every inch of the countryside. Marly often watches him from her window and wishes that she were brave enough to do the same. She thinks to herself, “Joe always said he was going to be an explorer. When other boys wanted to be policemen and streetcar conductors and cowboys, he still said he wanted to explore” (48). Though he can’t yet admit that Maple Hill is an ideal place for him to seek out adventure, Joe slowly comes to appreciate the freedom he has gained by moving to the country.

Though Joe often declares his confusion over what he views as Marly’s hypersensitivity, the longer they live at Maple Hill, the more empathetic and compassionate he becomes towards his sister. After discovering a special new bower tucked away on the hill, he invites her to join him, and as they explore together, the author emphasizes the significance of the moment as the narrator states that Marly “had never loved him so much in all her life” (62). Marly appreciates others spending time with her, and Joe learns that he doesn’t have to completely understand his sister to show her love. By inviting her into his world, he elevates her self-worth and inspires her to seek out adventure. In his own personal growth, Joe is most profoundly changed by his relationship with Harry. In the same way that Marly finds a kindred soul in Mr. Chris, Joe bonds with Harry immediately when the old man takes the time to sit with him and patiently teach him how to make the wooden chains that the boy so admires. By showing kindness to Harry in return, Joe teaches his entire family a lesson about seeing the humanity in others.