Wonder by R.J. Palacio Hardcover: 320 Pages
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers (2012)
ISBN: 0375869026
Reading Level: Ages 8 and up
R.J. Palacio's Wonder introduces readers to August "Auggie" Pullman. Auggie likes to think that he's an average 10 year-old boy, but the truth is, he isn't. Born with a serious medical condition that left his face disfigured, Auggie has spent his entire life as a spectacle. Wherever he goes, everyone stares at his face, and even though he insists that he's used to it, it's hard to get used to the idea of people thinking you're a "freak" or a "monster."
As Auggie enters public school for the first time, he struggles to convince his peers that he's just a regular kid who likes to play video games and hang out with friends. But Auggie soon finds that his presence as the new 5th grader disrupts the school more than he ever could have imagined, and he must face some tough situations regarding friendship, honesty, family, sacrifice and sympathy.
Told from alternating perspectives between Auggie, his friends, and his sister, Wonder is a fast-paced, entertaining novel that will likely appeal to all ages of readers. Anyone who has ever felt like an outsider will relate to Auggie's tale of incredible bravery and strength. But more importantly, the novel encourages sympathy, compassion, and patience with readers in a way that is neither cliche nor derivative.
I know a lot of folks were pretty upset that that this novel did not make it onto the 2013 Newbery medal shortlist because it did cause a pretty big buzz in the literary community and even made New York Times Bestseller list. Even so, despite Auggie's uniqueness, there's nothing incredibly innovative about the plot. Don't get me wrong...I think this book could be a great tool for teaching empathy and kindness in the classroom (especially since the majority of the conflict arises in a school setting), but in the end, the plot structure and the values that the book imparts are not groundbreaking enough to warrant the Newbery Medal.
Read-Alikes:
- Loser by Jerry Spinelli
- Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick
- The Visconti House by Elsbeth Edgar
