Review: The One Thing by Marci Lyn Curtis

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 infuriatingly attractive 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.

Publishes in US: September 8th 2015 by Disney-Hyperion
Genre: ya contemp (hint of magical realism with her vision only there around Ben)
Source: Disney via netgalley
Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC (advanced review copy). I am not paid for this review, and my opinions in this review are mine, and are not effected by the book being free
Series? no

Buy it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indiebound, iTunes, Book Depository or Indigo.

Author stalk away: ~site Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram, and Pinterest, and interviews with my fellow debut authors.

    I wanted to read The One Thing because I am drawn to books about teens with disabilities or illnesses, and blindness has always been one that caught my attention even more so. I think it would be so hard to have seen and then lose your vision, because you know what the world used to look like for you, and it changes so much. You have to learn so many skills over again, and you would realize how much you used to take for granted. 

   The main character is six months out from losing her sight, and she is trying to adjust to the new school for the blind that she is a part of. She got in huge court kind of trouble for a prank so now on top of everything else, she's having to see a probation officer. But as fate would have it that is where she meets charismatic, funny, semiperverted ten year old Ben. And she can see again, but only a certain field of vision around him. He meets her after she falls down in the office, and he starts flirting with her and making jokes. 

   Turns out that Ben has spina bifida and he has to use crutches because of how weak his legs are. And that her vision is only restored when she is near him. At first, she goes along with his invitation to come to his house because she wants the tiny window of sight to stick around, but she ends up liking his company, and his mom's. And turns out that Ben's brother is the lead singer for one of her favorite bands ever. 

   He helps her get perspective and realize that even though soccer, and reading used to be her Thinbg 

(capitalization Ben's) if it no longer makes her happy, then she needs to find new things in life to love. Ben is a swimmer, and although he has to work hard at it, he challenges himself to beat his own times, and likes the way that he feels when he is in the water. 

   I actually didn't see the reasoning behind her sudden vision returning, but it was an interesting theory. The emotions really had me going, and I loved how much Ben changed Maggie (aka Thera because he thinks she looks like a character in his favorite video game). But it was def on Maggie's own terms. She had to realize that yes, its bad that she can't see anymore, and that it has changed her interests, friendships, and way of life, but that at least she is alive. She can find new interests, or rediscover old ones. That sometimes friendship has awkward moments, but it is worth it to push through and be there for them and let them be there for you. 

   I liked that the romance was there, and went through stages of growth, nothing was easy there, just as much isn't easy for Maggie lately, besides this funny boy who has become so much of her life. The connection with his older brother is a plus. But I also appreciated that it wasn't the whole story, or even the catalyst for Maggie realizing so much and growing so much. 

   Everything wrapped up in such a neat way, and more hopeful and happy that I could hope for with some of the events that went down. I put it down and was pleased and I have been thinking about it all day. 

Bottom Line: Emotional and heartwarming story about friendship and living with disabilities.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
If you had to chose, would you lose your sight or your ability to walk?