WONDER - R.J.Palacio

Title - Wonder

Author - R.J.Palacio

Genre - Children's Fiction

Pages - 320

I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse. 

August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. WONDER, now a #1 New York Times bestseller and included on the Texas Bluebonnet Award master list, begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance. 

"Wonder is the best kids' book of the year," said Emily Bazelon, senior editor at Slate.com and author of Sticks and Stones: Defeating the Culture of Bullying and Rediscovering the Power of Character and Empathy. In a world where bullying among young people is an epidemic, this is a refreshing new narrative full of heart and hope. R.J. Palacio has called her debut novel “a meditation on kindness” —indeed, every reader will come away with a greater appreciation for the simple courage of friendship. Auggie is a hero to root for, a diamond in the rough who proves that you can’t blend in when you were born to stand out. 

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This book was written for the age group 8-12 years, so my rating is from the perspective of a child of that age group:

This book was awesome. I think every kid should read it, it has good values to teach. Some parts are funny, just like how kids like it. You get to see the POV's of 6 different characters which I thought was very cool. The way August goes through his first year in school was well described. Friendships, misunderstandings, bullying, he goes through it all just like any other 10 year old kid, except maybe he goes through worse because of the condition he was born with - mandibulofacial dysostosis. A touching story that will make you laugh and cry, if you are a 8-12 year old and haven't read it yet, it's time you do.

Here's a video to give you an idea of what Auggie Pullman looks like.