Children's Book: Wonder

Today I would like to give the book Wonder by R.J. Palacio center stage in my blog.

                                                     

Wonder is an amazing book about ten year old Auggie Pullman in his first year of public school.

Auggie is like every other ten year old boy: he enjoys Star Wars, Xbox, and playing with his friends. There is only one thing that keeps Auggie from being 'normal,' and that's his severe facial deformity
(similar to Treacher Collins Syndrome).

5th grade is going to be Auggie's first year not being home schooled. As he branches out of his comfort zone, his life yo-yo's between joy and struggle. As Auggie endures the hard times, he grows and learns, and those around him are able to grow and learn as well.

What is so amazing about Wonder is that it it so normal. The actions and reactions, the thoughts and dialog of the characters, are all very real. They don't cheapen the story with unneeded theatrics, or attempt to manipulate our emotions, it is simply written so that we can understand this close family and the good people around them.

Many books that try to deal with issues of this nature tend to become melodramatic and unrealistic. Wonder manages to capture feelings in a way that everyone can relate to. I know that as I read, while I've never had a craniofacial deformity, the things that made Auggie cry were things that have made me cry, and the way he handles life as a ten year old is how I handled life as a ten year old. I have never been in a situation like Auggie's sister Via, but I have felt like Via. I've never been the parent of struggling children, but I could empathize with the strain of the loving parents in this book who are doing their best.

We don't only see from Auggie's eyes in this book. We are able to see through his sister's eyes, and some of his friends' as well. In fact, one of the thing's that I love is how focused on perspective this whole read is. I don't know for certain, but I believe that that's why in all of the pictures, on the jacket and on the inside of the book, everyone only has one eye. To me it symbolizes that everyone only has one part of the whole, one perspective unique to them.

It would be so easy to make a book like this and have it be negative; I was afraid when I picked it up that it would be too sad for me; I was pleasantly surprised. While it did tug on my heartstrings in an empathetic way, it was overall very positive and uplifting. When I was finished I had a whole new understanding of life through another's eyes.

Some quotes from Wonder:

"Your deeds are your monuments."-inscribed on tomb

"Always be kinder than is necessary."-J.M. Barrie

"Everyone in the world should get a standing ovation at least once in their life because we all overcometh the world."-Auggie Pullman

If you want an easy, sweet, sentimental read, I suggest trying Wonder. It left me feeling bot warm inside and thoughtful, which to me is the fruits of a good book.