Wonder is a middle-grade novel written by R.J Palacio. This novel features a fifth-grade boy with a facial deformity who learns to love himself and fit into his new school.

The book’s premise: 

August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school – until now. He’s about to enter fifth 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?

I heard so much about this book. My co-workers had seen me reading this book during my lunch break, and they had commented on how great the story was. In fact, I have always wanted to read books about kids with disabilities, and it felt like a breath of fresh air. Reading a book about the main character with a disability is hard to find. Quite frankly, I wish there were more books in bookstores that contained more than one character who has disabilities and is seen in a positive light. Given that statement, I knew this was a must-read. 

After reading this book, I give it a five-star rating. 

Why, you ask? This book is amazing from the beginning to the end. As I would read, I would find myself reacting to the storyline. There were some “oohs” and “aws,” and I can even relate to most of the characters. 

One reason why I loved this book was because of the multiple points of view. I kind of thought it would be hard to follow, given there were so many. The points of view we get from following the same storyline are: August (Auggie), his sister, and his friends. However, it was easy to follow and written in parts, so it didn’t feel all over the place. Also, the multiple points of view all individually had their unique voice, and even how they are written are vastly different. 

With the multiple points of view, it was refreshing to hear other perspectives that were not Auggie’s voice. I had wondered what other characters thought of the main character and about his disability. I also thought about what kids would think when they see someone not like them. What I loved about this novel, in particular, was that each character dealt with the impressions of Auggie’s facial deformities. That could be whether they had to get used to looking at his face, or they were already accepting of his flaws. Once they were able to get past it, Auggie became the “cool little dude.” The author did a great job of integrating the points of view into the same storyline. I thought it was well done. 

I liked how realistic the story was, so much to the point where you felt like you were there with each of the characters, especially Auggie. The pacing of the story was just right, and it was easy to read. Half of the chapters were only one-page chapters, and the other half was a bit more than one page. Despite how heavy the storyline was, the novel gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling, and it was lighthearted. 

The theme of the story is important. It’s about kindness and how we should treat others, regardless of their differences. Besides Julian and the seventh graders who treated Auggie badly, everyone else at some point came to the conclusion to be kind to Auggie and to accept him for who he is, despite his facial deformity. 

The only thing I wished they included in this novel was a snippet of Julian, the bully’s point of view. They do have his point of view in another book, but that is the only con that is very minor. 

Also, the book was adapted into a movie. Check it out! 

Wonder Movie Trailer via Youtube

Wonder is a must-read. Anyone who hasn’t read a book about a child with a disability should read this first. I highly recommend this book to anyone who knows someone with a disability and wants to see kids’ views on it, and all teachers and parents. This is a book to read, and you don’t want to miss out.