The Wonder of One by Suzanne Redfearn

 

My thoughts

I have read and loved so many of this author's books. This one may be her best one yet. It's a bit different from the others, but still holds your heart hostage throughout the whole story. There is a child in this one that will touch you in a very profound way. Vivien.

Vivien was born with a birthmark on her face. Around her eye. An ugly birthmark. One that makes some people shun her. Makes other children run from her. But to the ones that love her it's just a part of who she is. A part of her love and most sincere being. Vivien is a rare child. One that will touch your heart. Make you cry for her. Make you root for her. All the way through this book you just want to hug her. 

Vivien's mother was a bit cold. She was not kind to Vivien. Not motherly if you will. I'm not even sure if she truly loved Vivien. At least not in the way a mother should love her child. Maybe it was the circumstances of how Vivien came to be. Maybe it was just a deal to get what she wanted. 

Vivien had plenty of people who loved her though. Ones that stood up for her. The ones who were there for her no matter what. Feed her. Taught her. Clothed her. Did all the things a mother should have done. They were the ones who had been there from the beginning of Vivien's life. 

There is no father. But there is a male role model. She did have Profe. He was everything that a father should be. He was also someone who had been in the family for many years. He had worked for Vivien's grandfather and now for her mother. He was the one who taught Vivien until her mother finally sent her away to school. 

Vivien was bullied something awful. Mostly by a bully called Bart. A person who I believe was just jealous of Vivien. Vivien did have friends. She had people who were there for her at school. But there was also the ones who were mean and cruel, like Bart. Bart terrorized her. 

You read about Vivien's life throughout many years. She grows up to be, in my opinion, a very strong young lady. She gave ice skating a try and was very good. She met Meryl at a pond by the school where Vivien went. Meryl was an ice skating teacher. She saw something in Vivien. They became the best of friends.

This book is priceless in my opinion. It has everything you want in a story. There is laughter, joy, love, heartbreak, death. To much death maybe. Separation. Politics in a vague way. In a huge way when one of the most important people in Vivien's life is taken by ICE. This is one of those stories that will stick around. Make you wonder about things. I hope it will make you look at people who are different in a better way. Not be so judgemental. If you read it that is.

I listened to the audio and read the book. I loved Natalie Naudus as the female narrator. To me though, JD Jackson just wasn't right for the male part. He left a lot to be desired in my opinion. I just could not seem to get into his way of bringing the character to life. He seemed wrong for the part. 

Thank you Lake Union and Brilliance Audio for the ARCs. 

5 stars for the story but only 3.5 for the audio.... 

About

From the #1 Amazon bestselling author of In an Instant comes an inspirational coming-of-age story about one extraordinary girl’s determination to chase a dream.

Vivien Kendall has always been different. Born with a birthmark covering much of her face, she’s been bullied, ridiculed, and mistreated as a child. But at the age of six, Vivien learns that in each of us there burns a spirit flame—a deep belief in oneself that must be nurtured and never allowed to go out.

Living by that wisdom and through the enduring friendships of her nanny, her mentor, and the legend who eventually becomes her coach, she chases her dream to someday become the greatest figure skater in the world.

Along the way, she faces a rapidly evolving world full of modern prejudice and injustice. She falls in love, has her heart broken, learns what it means to win or lose, and discovers the wonder of one, the power within each of us to change things.