The One-In-A-Million Boy - Monica Wood

The One-In-A-Million Boy

By Monica Wood

  • Release Date: 2016-04-05
  • Genre: Literary Fiction
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 110 Ratings

Description

Winner of the Nautilus Award and the New England Society Book Award, Monica Wood's The One-in-a-Million Boy is the incandescent story of a 104-year-old woman and the sweet, strange young boy assigned to help her around the house—a tale of intergenerational friendship that touches each member of the boy's unmoored family.

"The story of your life never starts at the beginning. Don't they teach you anything at school?"

So says 104-year-old Ona to the 11-year-old boy who's been sent to help her out every Saturday morning. As he refills the bird feeders and tidies the garden shed, Ona tells him about her long life, from first love to second chances. Soon she's confessing secrets she has kept hidden for decades.

One Saturday, the boy doesn't show up. Ona starts to think he's not so special after all, but then his father arrives on her doorstep, determined to finish his son's good deed. The boy's mother is not so far behind. Ona is set to discover that the world can surprise us at any age, and that in this story of found family, sometimes sharing a loss is the only way to find ourselves again.

"Readers won’t be able to resist falling for Ona…The conclusion will leave them smiling through their tears."—Shelf Awareness

"Poignant…There is much to enjoy in this heartfelt tale of love, loss, and friendship."—Express

"A must-read book…Whimsical and bittersweet."—Good Housekeeping

Reviews

  • A good book, but not her best

    3
    By Left Out (objectivity)
    I recently read How to Read a Book by Monica Wood and thought it was really a great book. It prompted me to want to read another by this author. I did enjoy the book and it has some interesting and well developed characters. Also, the relationships among the characters are intriguing and insightful. Although it is not that long book, there were some parts that seemed longer than necessary or very tangential. At certain points, I was just looking forward to getting to the end of the book. To her credit, I would say that Monica Wood really knows how to end her books in a satisfying manner.
  • An old lady and a boy

    5
    By YayaNetski
    This is an interesting story about a fascinating 104 year old woman , Ona, and an exceptional 11 year old boy! The story of their friendship and mutual admiration is filled out and nurtured by the boy’s obsession for world records and facts. The people of their families and closest friends round out their story. Their unusual friendship brings people together and enhances their lives with meaning.
  • The one in a million boy

    5
    By Adksgal
    Best book ever!