The One-In-A-Million Boy
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4.5 • 115 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher 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
Customer Reviews
I’ve read a lot, but I haven’t loved many.
I’m not going to say anything about the plot or the characters or the setting. Or anything usually included in reviews. I’m just going to say that I read the last page of this book, and it made me want to start over and read it again right then. And that is the highest compliment I can give.
Will leave you feeling hopeful!
Loved this story with all of its quirky characters and yet a serious undertone about life. Makes you believe that there is still plenty of time to make a difference in someone else’s life.
An old lady and a boy
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.