Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Apparently I am really late coming to this book. It was on the New York Times Bestseller list for two years. I've seen the cover all over the place but never even looked into what it was about. I wish I hadn't waited so long because it is worthy of all the attention that it has received.

Wonder is the story of August, a boy with craniofacial abnormalities that makes him look so different that he goes about his whole life with people staring, or conspicuously trying not to stare, at him. Young children even scream and run in fear of him. Most of us, even on our very ugliest days, cannot begin to imagine what that would be like.

August goes to school for the first time in middle school, a difficult time for any child. Not knowing what it was about as I got into it, I followed along with August as the narrator and then was surprised when it began switching to other young people who interact with him--friends, his sister, his sister's boyfriend. Though there is no way most of us could imagine being in August's shoes, we've all been in a situation where someone looks so different that we stare at or avoid eye contact with someone who looks different.

What I loved most about this book is that though there are a few simply horrible people who say and do awful things to August, most of the characters may stumble but they do the best they can to follow the precept from the book: "When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind" (Dr. Wayne Dyer). Besides being an entertaining read, it is a book that teaches compassion, bravery, and not judging someone by what they look like. It's geared toward middle grade readers, but it would be a great book for young adults and adults as well.

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Wonder
By R.J. Palacio
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Year: 2012
Ages: Middle Grade, Young Adult

Visit the author's website for more information.