Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Author: R.J. Palacio

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Awards: Bluebonnet Award, #1 New York Times Bestseller, One of Time Magazine's 100 Best Young Adult Books of All Time, A Parents Magazine Top 10 Book of the Year, An NPR Outstanding Backseat Book Club Pick, An Entertainment Weekly 10 Great Kid's Books Selection, An E.B. White Read Aloud Award Winner, A USA Today 100 Best Seller, An ALA-ALSC Notable Book, A Washington Post Best Kid's Book, An IRA-CBC Teachers' Choice

Grade(s): 4-6

Summary: Wonder is a wonderful novel about a boy named August (Auggie) Pullman, who is not only physically deformed, but is also dealing with the troubles of attending middle school. Attending middle school for the first time is hard enough, but Auggie seems to have a more difficult time because of the way he looks. You see, August was born with a rare condition which caused him to look very different from his peers. Throughout the first part of his life, he was homeschooled and heavily protected by his parents. However, the older he got, the more his mother felt it was necessary to attend a school. Auggie happened to be accepted by a somewhat prestigious private school and was originally on the fence about attending. After careful consideration and a tour of the school, Auggie decided it was time for him to go to a real school. During his first year of middle school, Auggie makes some great friends, Summer and Jack, who see past his deformities and become August's first real friends in this scary place called school. Unfortunately, Auggie runs into some trouble with the school bully, Julien. Since Julien was a popular kid, he was able to influence the way August's best friend, Jack, thought about August. Auggie came to school on Halloween day dressed as a different character that he originally planned and had overheard Jack say some hurtful things about him in hopes of fitting in with the "cool" kids. Throughout all of his drama at home, August's sister, Via, was also going through a lot too. The two of them became "rocks" for each other. After some dispute, Auggie, Mom, and Dad attended a school play that Via was performing in. At the end, the audience gave Via a standing ovation. This made August believe that "everyone should get a standing ovation once in their life." Though things were rough for August during his fifth grade year, he pulled through and became stronger. He made many friends and received his very own standing ovation as he went and collected and honorable award at school. August Pullman had a lot to learn and a lot of growing up to do, and he did it with pride. At the end of the book, his mother told him, "You really are a wonder, Auggie. You are a wonder."

My Thoughts: Wonder is an outstanding novel that I will have in my library for years to come. It showcases exactly how difficult it can be for children with disabilities, deformities, or any abnormality that classifies them as "different" to society. Not only does it showcase the difficulties of growing up with these things, but it shows how the struggles and perseverance are all worth it in the end. This novel is a work of art and is definitely something every child should read. It is a wonderful example of how we all work in society together and that letting something that makes you seem different from everyone else, should not hinder you from shooting for the stars and living your dreams.