Born in Vancouver, Wilbur, 14, has lived in Toronto for several years with his mothers, Mom, an actress pulling the devil by the tail, and Mamou, who combines odd jobs. Triangle player in the Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau school orchestra, he has few friends apart from the shy Alex, who has neglected him since dating the flamboyant Fabrizio, and Sal, a Holocaust survivor. 85 years old with whom he practices aquafitness on Saturday mornings.
As an aspiring writer, he has been bullied for three years by Tyler, a handsome boy who likes to humiliate his peers and who has released a very intimate text by Wilbur. Since the unfortunate incident, several students have nicknamed him Wilbite. To add to his woes, Wilbur has a rather ungrateful physique. “My only goal now: to try to survive”, confides the narrator of Great things.
Unparalleled to explore the pangs of adolescence with accuracy, emotion and an irresistible touch of humor, Susin Nielsen, screenwriter of the popular series Degrassi, delivers here a traditional learning novel raised by a gallery of eccentric characters and riddled with many references to the classic of EB White, Charlotte’s little world. Without giving lessons or sinking into melodrama, the novelist also addresses the precariousness of employment, the loneliness of seniors, racism and homophobia through the mouth of her hero.
Although he casts a ruthless gaze on himself, Wilbur never plays the victim. Deep down, he knows his value. As he describes the small world around him, he shows a quick wit, a vivid imagination and an insatiable curiosity. Without difficulty, the reader becomes fond of the young narrator who, despite his uniqueness, resembles many teenagers.
Wilbur’s life will be turned upside down the day, thanks to a cultural exchange, French students arrive at Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau, including the “spectacular” Charlie. “Time has stood still. She was tall, almost the same as me, and broad at her shoulders and hips. She was dressed in a yellow faux fur coat, a mauve miniskirt, black tights with white polka dots and black booties. “
Noting that Wilbur has a crush on Charlie, Tyler pretends to be interested in her: “Oh, Wilbite. My poor delusional Wilbite, Tyler said, digging his index finger into my flabby stomach. You look like the giant Pillsbury man. You are bland. You are… nothing. You are… a zero. It’s not me, your biggest obstacle. You are your own obstacle. “
Unsurprisingly, Susin Nielsen will then follow the pattern too often encountered in films for teenagers, that is to say that the ugly duckling will be entitled to a transformation to the Queer Eye, courtesy of his friends, to seduce the chosen one of his heart. To the reader’s delight, the novelist will avoid Hollywood reversals in order to focus on a moving reflection on the strength and importance of friendship throughout this charming tale on self-assertion.