The One in a Million Boy; An Audible Book Review

My friend, Paula of Smidgens Snippets & Bits, recommended the audible book, The One in a Million Boy by Monica Wood.  I ordered it up and we listened to it during the first leg of our road trip. This novel was narrated by Chris Ciulla, who did an excellent job.

I smiled when I wrote that because it sounded so much like what The One in a Million Boy might say himself...if he were alive.  But he's not.  The book starts with his death and follows his parents as they try to learn how to cope with this death.  

The boy was an odd little fellow in the following ways:

1. He liked lists....he listed and numbered everything.
2. He liked everything, from his lists to his belongings, in excrements of 10.
3. He is obsessed with the Guinness Book of World Records
4. He liked order, showing signs of OCD and perhaps autism.
5. He takes his responsibilities very seriously.
6. He is a boy scout.
7. He is assigned to help an elderly woman named Ona.
8. Ona is 104 yrs old.
9. He and Ona become fast friends.
10. He and Ona decide to get her into the Guinness Book of World Records.

The boy's father shows up on Ona's doorstep to finish the obligation his son had started. This leads to much soul searching for the father, Quinn, the boy's mother, Belle and for Ona as they continue to learn the lessons that the boy left behind.

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this book and how it touched me.  The book was well written, yes, but I think Mr. Ciulla deserves most of the credit for my love of this story.