The heroes of Valery Tong Kuong’s new book are going through not the best times. The teacher Marietta is disappointed in her husband, and her children at school openly mock her. The secretary Milly is suffering from loneliness and feels unnecessary. A big man, Mr. Mike—the former soldier—deserted the army and became a wanderer. Someone needs to pull them out of their swamp of failures and troubles. And—miracle! — a man named Jean appears in their lives. He owns an unusual “Workshop of Miracles.” His job is to help those who have given up hope. Who is he? A wizard? A kind eccentric? And yes, and no. In the very end, the reader learns that Mr. Jean has his own story—which explains a lot…