Wonder Paperback

"My name is August. I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, its probably worse." Despite 27 operations, 10-year-old August will never look normal. Surrounded by a loving family, including protective older sister Via, he is about to start normal school after being home-schooled because of all his operations for his severe facial abnormality. This is the story of his journey where he will face bullying, acceptance, intolerance and kindness and finally find the friendship that he has longed for. Full of raw emotion, this book is amazing and perfectly pitched for a children's book. Very highly recommended.

Wonder"Wonder" by R.J. Palacio should be required reading for all students during their elementary or early middle school years. This book does an amazing job of teaching kindness, friendship and acceptance. In fact, at the end of the book, Mr. Tushman the school principle gives a speech about kindness. His speech challenges readers after reading this book to self-reflect. “How is it measured? You can’t use a yardstick. It’s like I was saying just before: it’s not like measuring how much you’ve grown in a years. It’s not exactly quantifiable, is it? How do we know we’ve been kind? What is being kind anyway?” The language in the book is descriptive. The reader has no doubt how Auggie feels in this book. “I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.” The writing is engaging and keeps the reader turning the pages as it gets different perspectives from some of the main characters in the book. Just, Via, Jack, Summer, Auggie and Miranda all have sections to give their perspective to the situation at school and how their classmates react and treat Auggie. Although the book is told in the first person from several different characters, the plot is organized and goes at a pace that keeps the reader interested. At no point does the reader say, get on with it. Finally, the book pushes the readers to think about tough issues such as having a classmate who has a physical deformity. This book will force readers to dig deep and hopefully teach them empathy after finishing. The big idea is to tell the story of Auggie who has a severe facial deformity and to teach readers to be kind.

In my opinion, the chapter book, “Wonder” is an astounding book for older children to read. When I read this story, I enjoyed the plot, writing, and overall message. The plot in this story is unpredictable and suspenseful. When I was reading this book, I never wanted to stop reading because I desperately wanted to know what was going to happen next. The story is about a ten-year-old boy named August Pullman. He was born with a genetic abnormality that caused him to have a face that some people would call “deformed.” August has been home-schooled since he was born, but his parents decide that it would be good for him to begin fifth grade. “Auggie” has to go to school with many cruel kids. He is constantly reminded that he is different. Other kids stare, whisper, and avoid touching him. His heart is broken when he overhears his best friend saying that he would commit suicide if he looked like Auggie. Auggie’s sister does not want to take Auggie to see her high school play because she does not want to become known as “the girl who has a brother with a messed-up face.” The writing style of this book is very interesting. It is organized into different sections to let readers see not only the perspective of Auggie, but the perspectives of his sister, his friends Jack and Summer, and his sister’s boyfriend. This book reminds all of its readers about the importance of kindness. This book teaches many important messages about people’s feelings and desires to be noticed, accepted, and loved. The book also provides powerful messages that are given by Auggie’s teacher, Mr. Browne. For example, Mr. Browne writes, “When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind.” Overall, this book takes readers on a heartfelt journey. This book teaches readers that words can have a large effect on people’s lives. The big idea of this book is to make readers more aware of the feelings of others.

This is the required summer reading for our 9th grade students. We chose this title based on its universal accessibility to students and the themes, especially bullying, within the story. August has a facial deformity and chooses to go to public school after being home schooled. He and his peers are met with challenges and along the way they learn the importance of acceptance.

A perfect book for Social Issues Book Clubs. With this book, it is important that the readers know that this book is told from multiple perspectives and that the characters are more complex than previous bands of texts they might be used to. Students are encouraged to slow down and keep a reading journal where they can reflect and record character’s perspectives, motives, and actions. This is also a great book to recommend to students help open their eyes to empathy, sympathy, and being strong enough to stand up for what is right. This book makes me think of the picture book, “One,” it would be a perfect companion book to this as a Read Aloud.