The Wonder

"For Emma Donoghue, big stories thrive in small spaces. The type of setting Donoghue made her signature in 2010’s Room is one she returns to in The Wonder. Set in 19th century Ireland, The Wonder explores the relationship between a young girl and her nurse, who are both confined to a bedroom. Locals call the girl “the living marvel” because she doesn’t eat, yet seems “unchanged.” The girl, Anna, says she is living on manna from heaven, and the nurse is there to verify her claim. Donoghue engages mysteries of faith and doubt without sacrificing the lyricism of her language or the suspense of her storyline. Anna may or may not be a “living marvel,” but The Wonder certainly is."