Wonder by RJ Palacio
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Series: Wonder #1
Also in this Series: The Julian Chapter, Pluto, Shingaling
Also by this Author: The Julian Chapter, Pluto, Shingaling
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers on February 14, 2012
Genres: Children's Book, Family Life, Illness
Pages: 320
Audiobook Narrator: Diana Steele, Nick Podehl, Kate Rudd
Audiobook Length: 8 hours and 6 minutes
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Synopsis
I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.
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.
My Review
Everyone on the planet NEEDS this book in their lives.
I read Wonder aloud to my family, which includes my hubby, a teen son, and a tween daughter. Averaging our ratings, we came up with 4.5 stars. As I read, I often had to pause, as each point of view resonated with me in some fashion, especially Via. I grew up with a sister who has cerebral palsy, and was confronted with many of the same things as Via was.
My tween daughter read this first and brought it to me, asking if it could be our next family read-aloud. I’ve been reading aloud to the family for fifteen years, and hands down, this is THE BEST thing I’ve ever read aloud. I’m astounded that this is a debut novel! We’ve also read aloud the Julian Chapters (to be reviewed separately) and look forward to the release of Auggie & Me. The message of these books MUST be shared, and I encourage everyone reading this to give these WONDERful books some time and a good listen.
Choose kind.
About RJ Palacio
R. J. PALACIO lives in NYC with her husband, two sons, and two dogs. For more than twenty years, she was an art director and graphic designer, designing book jackets for other people while waiting for the perfect time in her life to start writing her own novel. But one day several years ago, a chance encounter with an extraordinary child in front of an ice cream store made R. J. realize that the perfect time to write that novel had finally come. Wonder is her first novel. She did not design the cover, but she sure does love it.
