Wonder

by R. J. Palacio

'My name is August. I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.' Auggie wants to be an ordinary ten-year-old. He does ordinary things - eating ice cream, playing on his Xbox. He feels ordinary - inside. But ordinary kids don't make other ordinary kids run away screaming in playgrounds. Ordinary kids aren't stared at wherever they go. Born with a terrible facial abnormality, Auggie has been home-schooled by his parents his whole life. Now, for the first time, he's being sent to a real school. All he wants is to be accepted - but can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, underneath it all? Astonishingly powerful, WONDER is a read you'll never forget.

• ISBN10: 0552575968
• ISBN13: 9780552575966
• Publish Date: 1 January 2099 (first published 1 January 2012)
• Publish Status: Cancelled
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Penguin Random House Children's UK
• Imprint: Corgi Childrens
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 320
• Language: English

Reviews

[wcs53]

With the movie adaptation of this book being released a few months ago, I knew that I wanted to read it before seeing the big screen version. I didn't know much about it, other than the fact that so many different people were raving about it.

This is a wonderful little book. It's aimed at younger readers, but I believe it can be enjoyed and appreciated by readers of all ages. Once I started it I found it hard to put down. The story centres around August, a boy born with severe facial anomalies, and how those around him react to how he looks. After being homeschooled by his mom up to the age of ten, his parents decide that he should enrol at a local middle-grade school. The book is basically the story of the ups and downs of his first year there.

One interesting thing is the way the story is told through the eyes of the various characters, including August himself. The book, I'm sure, will be used for many years to teach young readers many life lessons, including how to treat others who are different from you, tolerance, acceptance, and kindness, among many other things. To go into any of the details of the story would involve too many spoilers, so just pick up the book and read it. You won't be disappointed!

[Sam@WLABB]

This was such a lovely treat to read.


Full review to follow!

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In an age where bullying, stereotyping, and peer pressure are on the rise; this book is relatable to most people today. August is severely disfigured and we see him conquer many trials... but we also see how the other characters are also changed (for the better) because of August as well. Wonder is light, age appropriate book and a pretty light read with lots of humor and positive attitudes throughout, but it's also a great moral story of how one should not judge anyone and that it's best to stand for what's right, even when you're standing alone.

[Bianca]

I think there should be a rule that everyone in the world should get a standing ovation at least once in their lives.

[Jyc]

★★★ // familiar plot, but you get a winning hero as a takeaway. that’s all that matters.

[boghunden]

“I think there should be a rule that everyone in the world should get a standing ovation at least once in their lives." This quote pretty much sums up this book. I mean, this book deserves that! It was amazing, absolutely amazing. To me, it was the kind of book that makes think more than it was the kind of book that makes you feel things.

I liked the different POVs, it was interesting to see how August had an impact on the different people and their lives. I especially loved hearing the story from Justin's POV (apart from August, that is).

I find that more often than not the parents are absent in these kind of books. Well, not in this one. August had the most caring parents ♥ They treated him like they would treat any other kid, and gently helped him grow older and used to the cruel world around him. They fought a bit, but it felt so so real! And that's part of why I loved this book so much.

I was touched by how cruel kids can be. I mean, I already know that of course, but still, it had an impact on me. It felt like Palacio was just describing the real world and it kind of hurt, you know? Why are kids so cruel? Smaller kids, well, they just don't know any better, but bigger kids? Well... There's a lot of reasons for that, I guess.

August seemed older than ten years, he was so smart! It still seemed fitting though, because wouldn't you be older on the inside if you had his life? I think so...

Even though this book is about how looks aren't important and that you should accept one another, I think it's the most heartfelt book I've read all year. August's life is not easy and the situations he got into? Well... It's not easy being him, let me tell you that! Still, this book gives me hope. I really believe that this book can change your look on things, maybe even your life. It changed mine.

[lisacee]

I read this book knowing nothing about it save that it was surrounded by hype. Everyone loves this book. Now I do too.

[Jo]

Originally posted on Once Upon a Bookcase.

There has been a lot of buzz surrounding Wonder, especially lately as it was RHCP's book for Internation Book Giving Day. I thought it was about time I read it after having had it a while, expecting to completely fall in love with this story. However, although it was a really sweet story, I felt like I was missing something.

Auggie has mandibulofacial dysostosis, a genetic condition that severely affects the face. In every other way, he's a normal boy, but people look and stare whenever he leaves the house. For his protection, his parents have home-schooled him, but now he's ten, they've decided the best thing for him is to go to a proper school. Narrated by him, his sister and his friends, we see his experiences, and the reactions of others; people being freaked out by his appearance, outright bullying, and people deciding that how he looks simply doesn't matter. Wonder is the story of Auggie's year at school.

Wonder is a moving story, and seeing Auggie overcome his fears and start school, despite knowing how hard it's going to be is just so cool. He is such a strong little boy, and goes through so much hassle simply because of how he looks. Some of the things said and how he's sometimes treated are just heartbreaking. The adult edition of the book has Auggie wearing an astronauts helmet on the cover, and I always wondered why - because, for two years, Auggie would not leave the house without wearing it, because he couldn't stand the stares. It's so sad.

It's also sad to read the parts narrated by his sister Via and his friend Jack. As Auggie's friend, Jack is a victim of bullying too, separately from Auggie, which is just awful. And yet, Jack is such a good guy, mostly. It would be so easy to stop it all, just by not hanging out with him anymore, but he sticks by his mate. Via loves her brother, but recently, she has been feeling a little resentful. She's just started high school, and has kept her brother's condition mostly to herself. She doesn't want to be the girl who's brother is deformed. She just wants to be Via. She no longer wants to be known for her brother, but for herself. And because her brother has needed a lot of special care, in and out of hospital, her parents focus a lot more on Auggie. Via has always accepted that this is the way things are, but now she's reached a point where it bothers her, and she would like some attention herself. She really does love Auggie, but now she's letting how she really feels come to the surface, and it's really sad.

However, as sweet as the book was, I didn't love it. I almost felt like I was reading a different book from everyone else. Yes, I enjoyed it, I liked it, but I wasn't wowed by it like everyone else seems to be. Yeah, it was good, the ending was really great, and I'm sure it will be one of those really memorable books for me, but it didn't do all that much for me. I'm not completely heartless, I felt for Auggie, but to me it felt like there was something missing. There was so much potential for this to be an incredibly moving, beautiful story, but it didn't quite get there for me. It's a real unique story, I've not read anything like it before, but sadly, it did fall a little flat for me.

There are a lot of people who have really loved Wonder though, so don't pass it by because of this review. It is worth a read, I did like it. It's just one of those cases where the hype made me expect a whole lot more. You might love it, though. Do give it a go.

Thank you to RHCP for the review copy.

[mrs_mander_reads]

I thought this was a really great book. The story is endearing, and I just want to give Auggie a hug perpetually. think this book would be a great addition to any bookshelf, but especially for teens and tweens who are having self-image or confidence issues.

[mitabird]

3.5 stars