The One Thing

By Marci Lyn Curtis

Maggie Sanders might be blind but she won’t invite anyone to her pity party. Ever since losing her sight six months ago, Maggie’s rebellious streak has taken on a life of its own, culminating with an elaborate school prank. Maggie called it genius. The judge called it illegal. Now Maggie has a probation officer. But she isn’t interested in rehabilitation, not when she’s still mourning the loss of her professional-soccer dreams, and furious at her so-called friends, who lost interest in her as soon as she could no longer lead the team to victory. Then Maggie’s whole world is turned upside down. Somehow, incredibly, she can see again. But only one person: Ben, a precocious ten-year-old unlike anyone she’s ever met. Ben’s life isn’t easy, but he doesn’t see limits, only possibilities. After awhile, Maggie starts to realize that losing her sight doesn’t have to mean losing everything she dreamed of. Even if what she’s currently dreaming of is mason Milton, the magnetic lead singer of Maggie’s new favorite band, who just happens to be Ben’s brother. But when she learns the real reason she can see Ben, Maggie must find the courage to face a once-unimaginable future…before she loses everything she has grown to love.

I read this with high expectations, and was a tad let down. The interesting thing about this book, the mystery that you keep reading trying to figure out (why Maggie can see Ben and no one else) is a let-down. While you do find out why she can see Ben, it’s a superficial explanation and doesn’t really answer ‘how’. This is a story that isn’t concerned with detailing the fantasy aspect of the novel, but focuses on the moral and coming-of-age implications of the plot. I found that irritating and a cop-out. Even a one paragraph explanation of how she can see Ben would’ve made me a lot happier. With that said, I did enjoy learning a little more about blindness and how people are taught to live with it and function as normally as they can. I enjoy learning that way and was intrigued when I came across information I didn’t know. The love story was okay, but this was more of Maggie’s story of learning to live with a disability that changed her dreams and focus in life. It was pretty run of the mill for a YA novel though. Nothing really exciting or noteworthy.

I give it a 3 out of 5