Review of The Wonder Year

Nzube Chizoba Okeke · Post by **Nzube Chizoba Okeke** » 03 Oct 2022, 02:51

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Wonder Year" by Lucia Maraver.]

3 out of 4 stars

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In The Wonder Year, Lucía Maraver told a story about her experience in the United States. An introverted Spanish girl born in Salamanca, she was on a journey that took her to Pennsylvania in the United States as an exchange student. She was placed with host parents whose names were Mike and Martha. Upon her arrival, she became friends with Susanna, their daughter. Lucía was to start school as a senior at Exeter High School. As the year unraveled, Lucía had to adapt to her new environment amidst all the challenges with which a teenage girl was confronted. From taking long trips to dealing with unrequited love, America gave Lucía a chance to either let go and be adventurous or remain stuck in her place of comfort.

The author's narration was fun to follow. She was witty with the storytelling and her remarks about certain parts of the story. There was one instance when she described the theory test she had to pass before she could get driving lessons in Spain. She remarked that the tests were 'designed to get you,' which was her amusing way of saying the test was tough. The writing was concise, and each section flowed easily into the next.

The author's authentic descriptions of herself made her a relatable character. She was raw about her insecurities, the types that I would suspect would besiege a lot of teenagers and even adults once in a while. Lucía took us through her jumbled mind 'pep talks' that mostly saw her through those insecurities.

Through her story, Lucía showed us the anxiety of leaving her comfort zone. She also showed us the many exciting possibilities that life could bring from simply doing something one wouldn't ordinarily do. So, this would be a bit of motivation for readers out there to dare to move beyond the bounds of their safe places.

This book was more than just a simple narration of a travel experience. It was a heartwarming, emotionally endearing story about love found and love lost, friendships, and family. It was about the fantastic people that Lucía met on her journey and the inextricable bond of love that formed among them. Seeing these new 'places' through Lucía's eyes, with her pure, innocent exploration of the United States, was beautiful. Lucía's story provided a balanced narrative of a nation and its people.

This book was filled with endearing moments and likely to awaken a desire in readers to see the world with the same bravery as Lucía. The Wonder Year was enjoyable, and I loved reading every part. However, some errors would demand further editing.

The Wonder Year will best be appreciated by readers who are travelers at heart and love stories about travel experiences. Unfortunately, because of the number of errors, I rate it three out of four stars.

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The Wonder Year
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