The Wonder

Lib Wright is an English nurse trained by none other than Florence Nightingale. She is hired to a small village in Ireland where she will keep watch over a young girl for two weeks. The young patient named Anna O’Donnell is not exactly sick in the most common of ways. She is an 11 year old girl who has apparently not eaten in 4 months. Her extremely religious family (town and country as well) believe she may be a miracle child. As they prepare for her sainthood and donations pour in from around the world, the half disbelieving public requires some more proof. Lib and a fellow nurse, who is a nun, share shifts to observe the girl 24 hours a day. Against her better judgement and serious nursing commitment, she becomes enamored with the girl and as Anna’s angelic health quickly declines Lib scrambles to become her savior. Each character is mesmerizing; from the village’s priest, the handsome young reporter that is snooping around and the parents that seem to be hiding more than morsels. Incredible author Emma Donoghue (Room) pulls the reader into the hearts of this poor Catholic family. A little bit of a mystery, a lot about love, faith and the finding the truth. I was completely immersed in this story and as always Ms. Donoghue’s writing reads like a song, pulling the reader easily through each passage. I am reminded of Agnes of God (movie) where we want an explanation for something that does not make sense and yet are desperately searching for that little bit of faith and hope we often deny ourselves. Highly recommend this very unique, original novel, LOVED it.