Oscar is a boy who is different. He has a hard time looking people in the eye. He doesn't understand social cues. He likes his routine and struggles when it is not followed. People are unkind to him because of his differences. But he tries to learn and do better. He makes friends and turns to them when he is struggling. But then he discovers what he thinks is the truth about himself. He was made out of magical wood. No wonder he isn't right! He is made out of wood! He embraces his differences, because that is all he was created to be.
If Oscar were in our world, he would probably receive a different type of label. Autism seems likely. When we get these labels, it is easy to respond the way Oscar did--to see it as a statement of what we are, and forget that we are still self-determining. Diagnoses or labels are tools to help us get help and understanding of the challenges that come our way because of the differences we have. But we must understand that we still have the responsibility to work to improve and become better, just as Oscar worked to learn how to work with people. And through the combination of his new skills and who he was, Oscar became the hero of the story.
Interestingly enough, the perfect City children were actually the ones made of wood.
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