A mesmerizing historical psychological novel by Emma Donoghue, first published in 2016. Set in rural Ireland in the years following the Great Famine, the novel masterfully blends historical fiction, mystery, and psychological drama.

The story follows Lib Wright, an English nurse trained under Florence Nightingale, who is hired to observe Anna O'Donnell, an eleven-year-old girl who reportedly has not eaten for months yet remains inexplicably alive and healthy. The Catholic community regards Anna as a miracle, while skeptics suspect deception.

Together with a nun assigned to the case, Lib watches Anna around the clock to determine whether the girl is truly surviving without food. As the days pass, Lib becomes increasingly disturbed by the family's unwavering religious devotion, the village's unquestioning faith, and the psychological pressures surrounding Anna. What begins as a scientific investigation gradually evolves into a tense moral dilemma as Lib uncovers painful truths hidden beneath the appearance of holiness.

Rather than relying on supernatural explanations, The Wonder explores the power of belief, religious fanaticism, trauma, grief, starvation, and the conflict between science and faith. Donoghue's atmospheric prose and slow-burning suspense create an emotionally charged narrative that builds toward a powerful and thought-provoking conclusion.