Wonder - R.J. Palacio

Middle Grade
Pages: 320
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Release Date: February 14, 2012

August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances?

R. J. Palacio has written a spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short chapters, Wonder is accessible to readers of all levels.

A wonderfully touching and beautiful book for everyone. If I could give every single middle-school-er in the world only one book, I would give them WONDER. The story is about Auggie, the sweetest and bravest character I've read about, who just happens to have a rare birth defect that makes his face look... different.

The strength of the book lays on its boldness and the fact that interactions and occurrences are very, very well thought out and life-like. Painfully cruel realities that the author does not shy away from. Yet it is such a sweet book, even if the story is a hard one, it's covered with a gorgeous 'kindness' blanket that made me love it even more.

The Pullman's (August's family) family dynamics were unbelievably heart-warming. Don't we all wish we had a family like that? I guess it's true though, it takes circumstances like this one to make a family stick so close and be so appreciative and caring. If only we were all like that.

All the characters were three dimensional and fully believable. The story is told from the points of view of several of the kids (August, Summer, Jack, Olivia, Justin, Miranda) and you get a different and eye-opening perspective with each character. Each voice felt different and fitting. Chapters are very short, overall a fairly easy and fast read. And SO, SO worth it. I highly recommend it.

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