Wonder

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Average customer rating 4.9 (11 comments)

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Wow what a great book it's so well written and the boy is so amazing! I know this book was meant for younger kids but I'm an adult and I wanted to red it for other reasons and I'm so glad I did .... I think kids should read this cause we all have issues and things we don't like but this book made me feel like it was ok! The book was easy to read for kids but also the story and characters were the kid you always remember. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it my son is going into 5 th grade this year and I'm going to have him read it........

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Once in awhile you read a book in which the character remains important deep within your thoughts and heart. A character so moving, so special, and so inspiring... so alive. Wonder is a book in which the main character has made the decision to enter Middle School after being home schooled. It is a decision that will leave him vulnerable and exposed. A courageous step beyond the safety of his family. Meet Auggie (August Pullman), who was born with a facial deformity, intelligence, and courage. All of his life he has endured the devastating looks, reactions, and fearfulness of strangers. Now is the time for him to become a student among many who are finding their way as middle school students. Given the "all encompassing" emotions and hormonal changes, middle school can be a roller coaster of fear, bullying, anger, and uncertainty. Why would Auggie want to begin public school at such a time is beyond reasoning for most of us. Yet, Auggie is blessed beyond measure with courage and a determination to live without "superficial" boundaries. "I know I'm not an ordinary ten-year-old kid. I mean, sure, I do ordinary things.... But I know ordinary kids don't make other kids run away screaming in playgrounds." Mr. Tushman of Beecher Prep school has prearranged a meeting with Auggie and his mother before the first day of school. Like any ordinary "new" student, Auggie will meet some of the staff and tour the school. It is with great foresight, that Auggie's tour is lead by a few "homeroom" students: Jack is the first student that will extend friendship in the halls and classrooms. Yet, at some point he will need to decide if he wants to fit in with his old friends or stay friends with Auggie. Jullian is rude and obnoxious (you know that type that acts one way with adults and another with students). The type that is loud, arrogant, and will not let Auggie escape being bullied. When push comes to shove, Auggie will demonstrate true character strength. The question will be if Jullian will learn acceptance of Auggie as an "ordinary" kid... and a friend? Charlotte is an "artsy" girl. She enjoys all aspects of school, including science. She doesn't waiver in her support for Auggie, unless maybe it's in the lunch room. Will Charlotte be strong enough to overcome peer pressure? Mr. Browne is Auggie's English teacher. He values his students and begins school with learning about precepts (any important thought, motto, or saying that guides you when making really important decisions). His students will write-to-learn a new precept every month: "When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind." Dr. Wayne W. Dyer Summer is the first student who braves the whispers in the lunch room and chooses to sit at the table with Auggie. It might seem a small gesture to many... but not only will it prove to be a courageous step towards friendship... it will also be an experience of a life time for both of them. Whether it is Auggie's first birthday party, the first Halloween school event, the first school trip (outdoor school away from home), or the first meeting with his sister's high school friends... Auggie is on a life-changing quest... to be just another "ordinary kid!" The depth of characterization will leave a lasting "thumb-print" upon every reader's heart. Those middle school experiences will be confirmed and/or "pushed" to a new level of awareness with dignified choices. The story line is expertly woven between Auggie's story and the voices of those who are changed by their encounters with Auggie. There is so much that Auggie offers, care enough to experience the "Wonder," MrsK mrskbookstogo.blogspot

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What a truly amazing book! It is perfect for grades 5-9, since the main characters are in those grades. It is a story about a boy named August who is born with a deformed face. He is home schooled until his parents suggest he should go to Beecher Prep for 5th grade. August doesn’t really want to do this since he has had people stare at him all of his life, and he doesn’t want to take that on in a larger setting: his first year of Middle School. What happens with him and his newfound friends, and enemies, is a story so real and so rewarding that I think every person in the world should read it to understand what people endure and how much one can grow by accepting others...and oneself. This book is not only a great book to read alone, but it would be an outstanding read aloud book ~ although, there will be times that it is difficult for the reader to read and maintain composure. The story is sweet and sad and rewarding. A DOUBLE thumbs up book!

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Wow! So impressed with this book. It is genuinely the sweetest book I have ever read. Definitely an easy read, written very simply, but really well written. It is so feel good and you completely fall in love with all the characters and wish they were real!

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I saw this book looking at Powell's and I saw it was for young reader and wasn't going to get the book but I'm so glad I I did it's for all readers young or old because this book teaches us what we sometimes forget not to judge someone for the outside but what's on the inside is what matters!! I'm 39 and I'm going though a hard stage I have to have a huge surgery and it has made some huge complication in my face and how I look. I was SO SO shy and didn't want people to see the way I looked but after reading this great book it made me see what I was going though in a new light I think everyone should read this book cause you will learn something about yourself!

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This is the first time my daughter (age 10) recommended a book to me, and we both loved it. It is a book about adolescence and all of the good that can somehow come out of those "ugly-duckling" years. It is told from the point of view of several characters, all of which you will grow to love as you begin to understand their unique obstacles, trials, and victories.

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I really really love this book! I learned a lot of things from it, like how we should never judge people by their appereances and we can also read about multiple perspectives of people with the same event. This book is awesome same like Okay for now by Gary D. Schimidt

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I thought this was a very uplifting read. Really speaks to the value of not judging someone's life by his/her appearance.

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This book is transforming our fifth graders. As I read it aloud in our library lessons, it is opening our minds to how we can choose KINDNESS in all our responses with others. This is a life changing book.

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Wonder is a spectacular and well written book which tells a story in many voices of an unusual boy from a great family. Very refreshing.

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I'm usually not a middle-grade reader, but the cover caught my attention since the beginning of the year. I've seen a couple glowing reviews for it, but I didn't think much about it until I saw it in the library last week, and I was like "why not?" I read the first few pages to test the book out, and I somehow ended reading thirty pages...and I still wasn't sure what's up with the main character, Auggie: from the first few pages, I knew he had something that set in apart, but I didn't know what exactly--so I borrowed the book to sate my curiosity. And boy am I glad I did. Wonder is the fascinating, inspiring story of Auggie who is born with a severe Treacher-Collin's syndrome, making his face almost hideous to strangers. He attends school for the first time in fifth grade, and he struggles to fit into the school environment. But he is not the only one with problems as his friends and family also struggle to adapt to him. The story, theme may be predictable, but it's the execution that makes Wonder special. Each character has their own engaging, heartfelt story to tell. Wonder is definitely one of my favorite, thought-provoking reads this year. It opens itself to many discussions, and I wish I read it when I was in fifth grade. So What Does August Look Like? Admittedly I had a hard time picturing August (Auggie) since the descriptions made him sound like everything that could possibly go wrong--went wrong on his face. What in the world are cauliflower ears? And no jaw? bulging eyes? So I Googled. And it was just heartbreaking. Though maybe I've seen my share of not-so-normal things, it didn't surprise me. I can see why kids would be horrified though. Fifth Graders Can Be Mean: What stood out for me was Palacio's uncanny ability to capture the feeling of being ostracized in school. I had a nostalgic feeling of being back in fifth grade (even if it has been nine years ago) and I had my share of unwelcome peers--and I wasn't even suffering from Treacher-Collins syndrome. Like Auggie, I've dealt with "The Plague," friends who didn't stand up for me, and knowing telling the teacher is pretty useless (even if you can live down being a tattleteller.) Fifth-grade was serious business, and I was glad I missed the last week of school for a trip--I was eager to get away from my peers. The thing that hurt most was the realization that the 10-year old me would probably not stand up for Auggie. Instead I would be grateful that it wasn't me that they were picking on. Not having a partner for field trips or group projects was not on my list of priorities. Hey! I was ten, stuff like that matters. Characters: I was pleasantly surprised with Palacio's wide spectrum of characters and how the voices still remained distinguishable. Wonder is composed with several points of view from Auggie, Jack, Summer, Via, Miranda, and even Justin. They may be all kids, but they speak volumes. I was delighted with their complexity, and I ended up loving each character for being themselves. I was disappointed I didn't get Julian (the head bully)'s viewpoint though, I was convinced he had more depth--beyond the influence of his stuck-up, rich parents. What I really wanted to see was Julian's parents being taught a lesson. August (Auggie) I have mixed feelings about him. Throughout the novel I see him grow-up, and not use his appearance as an excuse: when he goes to sleep by himself without being told and when he leaves his stuffed animal behind. But even at the end of the novel, I can't help feeling like he hasn't changed that much. There's a scene where he hopes that he will be handsome man in his next life, and his dependency on the astronaut helmet--both of these scenes make me feel Auggie is still the kid in the beginning of the novel. Rather, I think it's the people around him that deserve more credit. However, I still admire this kid. Never did he feel sorry for himself, or wonder out of the probabilities--why was he chosen like the people around him do.) Olivia (Via) My favorite character, and arguably the most realistic one. August's older sister who is starting high school. She's my favorite character for she embodies so many conflicts, but yet still remain in control of her emotions. She is a wonderful older sister. Via is also a heart-wrenching character because she loves Auggie, but she hates herself for the less-than-nice thoughts she has of her brother. At times Via shows signs of sibling jealousy--but yet she restrains herself. She constantly debates what's best for her brother: if they should make him feel normal (and if that would be lying to him), or teach him how to deal with being abnormal. Justin: Via's boyfriend. He is the passive observer who at first doesn't know how to react to Auggie. I had my reservations since his lack of capitalization irked me, reminding me of Omegle conversations with illiterate people (I imagine him talking in slurs.) He also seemed like a very reserved character. But even he does some surprising things that made me like him instantly. Summer: One of Auggie's friends. Honestly, I find her the most unrealistic character. Not being she's super nice (which she is), but because her actions are idealized. Why would you sit down and immediately start making a list of names with a kid you just met? I am not sure how good of a conversation started that is in real life. Ending: I was bracing myself for a happy, cheesy ending--and I got the unrealistic, happy, cheesy ending I secretly didn't want. Oh well, at least it tied well to Auggie's belief that "everyone deserves a standing ovation." Despite the cheesy ending, I fell in love with Wonder. There are points in the book I wasn't a big fan of such as the whole precept idea. I just thought that was unnecessary and even slightly lame. But I loved the multiple perspectives, and the astronaut helmet. A brilliant novel, and an inspiring story.