The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao: A Heartfelt Review Through the Eyes of an Aunt to a Neurodivergent Nephew

 

Why Oscar Wao Feels Personal to Me

I met Oscar Wao in the middle of a quiet afternoon, expecting literary footnotes and angst. What I didn’t expect was how deeply I'd connect with this overweight, awkward, dreamy Dominican-American nerd. Oscar is tender, tragic, and deeply human. He reminded me of someone very close to my heart—my autistic nephew.

My nephew is on the high end of the spectrum and has global developmental delay. He doesn’t talk about Tolkien like Oscar, but he too lives in a world slightly apart. Where Oscar’s world spins with comics, Dungeons & Dragons, and unrequited love, my nephew's world is filled with messy cardboard boxes, picked plastic cup caps, tapes, staplers, paints – as he repeatedly constructs (also with Minecraft if this is digital) a building with a ceiling that should have fire alarms and walls with sprinklers. The rooms in this imagined house space are lighted with his favorite bulbs, and always, the bathroom is the only space filled with things – pail, dipper, shower, and the toilet bowl of course

What Makes Oscar Wao a Wondrous Read

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz is no simple read. It's a whirlwind of history, nerdy pop culture, Dominican curses, and footnoted political trauma. But beneath all the layers is a boy who doesn’t fit in—and refuses to shrink himself just to belong.

Oscar’s story resonated with me as an aunt. He’s different, yes, but so full of feeling, imagination, and longing. Like my nephew, Oscar doesn't filter himself to fit expectations. And that refusal to conform is, to me, wondrous.

Recommended Books Featuring Neurodivergent Characters

If you love characters like Oscar or know someone who sees the world differently, here are some books with neurodiverse protagonists that you may enjoy:

1. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

A smart, funny, and moving mystery narrated by a boy on the autism spectrum.

2. Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork
A quiet teen with cognitive differences navigates summer work, faith, and justice.

3. Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
Told from the POV of a girl with Asperger’s, this novel explores loss and empathy.

4. Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin
An autistic boy’s journey to make sense of social cues and creative writing spaces.

5. El Deafo by Cece Bell (Graphic Memoir)
While centered on hearing loss, this graphic novel is a powerful look at difference, friendship, and self-worth.

Reading About An "Other"

Oscar Wao doesn’t get a fairy tale ending—but his story is filled with courage, love, and radical honesty. For anyone raising, loving, or being someone who walks a different path, this book is a reminder: different isn’t broken—it’s brilliantly human.

If you’ve read this book or have recommendations for stories featuring neurodivergent characters, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.