The One in a Million Boy
By Monica Wood
Published 2015
Read Sept 2025
The structure of this book was very appealing to this reader. There are two story arcs: one of a boy (unnamed), likely “on the spectrum”, and the 104-year-old woman (Ona) for whom he is doing a boy scout service project; the other of the father of this deceased boy (we learn this very soon in the book—this is not a spoiler) as he fulfills the remainder of his son’s service project after his son’s death. The story of the boy and Ona is told through the recordings he made of Ona as he’s drawing her story out of her and simultaneously pushing her to seek a Guiness Book of World Records regarding something about her age. The father’s story is told in a more usual style using his thoughts to describe the past situation—he was a professional guitarist who married his girlfriend when they learn she is pregnant—which, in addition to the loss of his son, help us understand his current mindset and actions. He is grieving for his son, he is grieving for being a bad dad, he is grieving for the failure of his relationship with the boy’s mother (they married and divorced twice), and he is continuing to try to make it as a professional musician, a very difficult career path.
Wood can draw such wonderful pictures of real humans that, although you may never know someone like them, you now know them so well. This reader really appreciates this gift of hers, and it certainly drives this reader to read more from her.
This reader finds it strange that she cannot find a New York Times review of this book or any other of her books since her second one, My Only Story. Possibly this is because that review indicated “Wood, whose first novel was titled ”Secret Language,” is an often graceful writer, and her appreciation of tragic lives that still manage to embrace love is marred only by a bit too much sentimentality.” (1) This faint praise may have unfortunately eliminated her from a list of authors they follow since this book is as good or better than many this reader has read that they have reviewed. Her publishers may not have done enough to ensure appropriate reviews and prizes but this reader is definitely a fan and highly recommends her books.
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