Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Wonder
by R.J. Palacio

Wonder

Grades 4-5 & up

Realistic Fiction

Auggie & Me
We're All Wonders

Book Summary:
Auggie will be the new kid in fifth grade, but in addition to being new, he has a facial deformity. Often, when he's in public, people stare at the deformity, but Auggie himself feels invisible. He hasn't attended school for a long time, so the school arranges for a few kids to meet him in advance and guide him around. Is Auggie up to the challenge?

Book Review:
The author tells this story from the perspective of different characters, including Auggie's sister and school peers, and this adds a richness to the book, rather than being an excuse for the author to experiment with different language patterns. The short chapters and pacing lend themselves to page-turning, and you can't help but root for this character.

I will admit that I prefer Out of My Mind to this book. I understand that his normalcy is the point of the story, but I wish his personality were a little more distinctive - funny, clever - something. You can't help but admire Auggie's courage. This book is hugely popular with teachers and students and provides multiple discussion points about empathy, open-mindedness, and confidence.