Saturday, August 8, 2015

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Genre: YA/ Middle Grade Contemporary 
Pages: 315
Type: Standalone 
Rating: 5/5 
Synopsis: You can't blend in when you were born to stand out.

My name is August. I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.

August Pullman wants to be an ordinary ten-year-old. He does ordinary things. He eats ice cream. He plays on his Xbox. He feels ordinary - inside.

But Auggie is far from ordinary. Ordinary kids don't make other ordinary kids run away screaming in playgrounds. Ordinary kids don't get stared at wherever they go.

Born with a terrible facial abnormality, Auggie has been home-schooled by his parents his whole life, in an attempt to protect him from the cruelty of the outside world. Now, for the first time, he's being sent to a real school - and he's dreading it. All he wants is to be accepted - but can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, underneath it all?

Review:

I had seen the book around the book world. Occasionally, people would talk about it. But I really didn't know it was about a kid with a facial abnormality. I don't really know what age group to put this book under. But I guess I'm going to go with Middle Grade. The book is told in a lot of people's perspectives. August's sister, her boyfriend, August's friends and August himself. I didn't like that in the beginning. But slowly I found out that I wanted to know what other people thought. And in the end, I loved the different perspectives. 

The book really got to me. I was very invested in it. It taught me so, so much. I had made a little fun of some kids. I've never been proud of it, but after reading this book, I felt so awful I broke down and started crying. It wasn't big things. Just small ones, like trying to get out of the person's way. Not talking. Ignoring. That sort of thing. I couldn't imagine what it would feel like to be shunned and know that you're being made fun of. 😭😓😔😞😢 It must be terrible. 

The book was so simple. Yet. It was very heart-breaking. Seeing this 10 year old kid going through things that no 10 year old should go through. Scratch that, not even an adult should go through it. August had a lot than what met the eye. He was funny and interesting! And anyone could see that if they became friends with him. At one point in the story, my heart smashed into pieces. He had just come home from school. And when he rushed to his room and his mom came after him, he asked his mom, "Mom, why am I so ugly?" I couldn't bear it! Even now, as I type, tears are springing into my eyes and I'm getting chills all across my body. 

Everything seems so real. And I know that this boy got his happy ending, but a lot of kids like him out there don't. They don't get their chance at living a normal life. Even if they get accepted here, they'll never get accepted there. It sucks! 

Anyway, since this is a book review... The book without doubt is one of my favorite books of all time. The story was beautiful and everything was woven together beautifully. There was loads of character development not just from Auggie as his school year progresses, but even from his friends and sister. 

If you want to read something important, something that will leave you heart broken in the best way possible, then PICK THIS BOOK UP. In fact, you should read it even if you don't want something of that sort. This book means a lot to me, and I hope that it will to you too. 

6 comments:

  1. Hmmm..I usually stay away from these type of contemporaries but I might give it a try some time in the future. They just get me sooo emotional!

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  2. I loved this book! For me, the best thing about it is the different POVs, and how they don't sound like each other AT ALL. Nice review :)

    Ranu @ The Bookish Life

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    1. Same here! I especially loved reading Olivia's POV. Thanks!

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  3. I'm glad you enjoyed this book! I'm afraid I have to disagree... though everyone has different opinions! I admit the fact that it's a very important book, but I really couldn't get into it. I guess this wasn't helped by the fact we were forced to read it at school though!

    I nominated you for The Book Fangirling Award! Check out my post for the rules here: http://confessions-of-a-book-addict.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/the-book-fangirling-blog-award.html

    - Denise @ Confessions of a Book Addict
    confessions-of-a-book-addict.blogspot.com

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    1. Yes, everybody is entitled to their opinions. I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it. :(
      But thanks for nominating me! :)

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