Books by Maine Authors: Monica Wood, One-in-a-Million Boy

Of the many Maine authors whose works I follow, perhaps my favorite is Monica Wood. Her debut novel, Any Bitter Thing, was luminous and entrancing, and I was immediately a fan. A memoir, When We Were the Kennedys, followed, which I loved for many reasons, not least that it's always a thrill to recognize the locations I am reading about, and to know people who live similar lives.

Now Monica Wood has a new book: The One-in-a-Million Boy. I just purchased it and can't wait to get reading!

Here's what Amazon has to say about it:

The incandescent story of a 104-year-old woman and the sweet, strange young boy assigned to help her around the house — a friendship that touches each member of the boy’s unmoored family

For years, guitarist Quinn Porter has been on the road, chasing gig after gig, largely absent to his twice-ex-wife Belle and their odd, Guinness records–obsessed son. When the boy dies suddenly, Quinn seeks forgiveness for his paternal shortcomings by completing the requirements for his son’s unfinished Boy Scout badge.

 

For seven Saturdays, Quinn does yard work for Ona Vitkus, the wily 104-year-old Lithuanian immigrant the boy had visited weekly. Quinn soon discovers that the boy had talked Ona into gunning for the world record for Oldest Licensed Driver — and that’s the least of her secrets. Despite himself, Quinn picks up where the boy left off, forging a friendship with Ona that allows him to know the son he never understood, a boy who was always listening, always learning.
 

The One-in-a-Million Boy is a richly layered novel of hearts broken seemingly beyond repair and then bound by a stunning act of human devotion.

When I dive into to a book, I sometimes don't come up for air until I am finished, so it may be awhile before I post again. No worries: I am happily lost in Monica Wood's fictional world.