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. 

I Mustache You Some Questions Tag

I don't remember the last time I did a tag. Today, we are going to rectify that. I was tagged by my awesome friend Theepika. Go and follow her! 

1. 4 jobs you would like to have

Never had a job. So I'm going to give you 2 jobs I want right now, and 2 jobs when I grow up. 

- Bookshop person

- Library person

- English Prof

- Publisher 

2. 4 movies I have watched more than once

Don't really watch a lot of movies. 

- Little Mermaid

- Jurassic Park (all of them!)

- P.K. ( Hindi movie)

- Matilda

3. 4 books I would recommend 

- Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

- Sold by Patrica McCormen

- Wander by R.J. Palacio

- Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

4. 4 places I have visited

- Melbourne, Australia

- Abu Dhabi, UAE

- Sydney, Australia 

- Muscat, Oman

5. 4 things I don't eat

- Fish

- Kidneys

- Brain

- Bitter Gourd

6. 4 of my favorite foods

- KFC chicken 

- Fried Cauliflower 

- Lady Fingers

- Papa Johns Pizza 

7. 4 TV shows I watch

- The Originals 

- The 100

- The Vampire Diaries 

- Reporters (Indian Soap)

8. 4 things I'm looking forward to this year

- Reading

- November

- Baby sister's skills

- More reading

9. 4 people I tag

I don't really have anyone specific to tag. So if you want to do it, go ahead, and do it. Say that I, Aisha, tagged you. And send me a link if you do it. So that I know that you did. 

To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Pages: 288

Type: #1 in TAtBiLB duology

My Rating: 5/5 

Synopsis: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.

Review: 

I listened to this book. I didn't read it. It was my first time listening to an audio-book. I was impressed. The narrator really knew what she was doing. 

I loved the prospect of the novel. In my opinion, it was very refreshing. It was different and intriguing. Han has written something that will compel people to know more about the book. 

The book in it of itself is HILARIOUS! I was laughing before I knew it. The plot also turned quite unexpectedly. Lara Jean was very relatable. She was like most teens, didn't know what she was doing. Just wanted to live. 

I found that all the characters were very different, relatable and likable. They all had distinct qualities, which is something that many authors tend to neglect doing. 

The book also had a very strong base apart from school and love life. Han portrays a very cozy, supporting and believable family. The support system Lara Jean has is extremely heart warming. She has 2 sisters, an older one and a younger one. All the girls have different characteristics and personalities. 

The book also taught me the importance and responsibility of being an older child. I am the eldest of four siblings and I can say for sure that I'm not a very good older sister. 

Lara Jean has a strong sense of responsibility towards her younger sister. She wants her sister to look up to her. She wants to be somebody who Kitty (the younger sister) could look up to. It definitely made me feel bad about the way I treat my siblings.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book and can't wait to read the next one. No ifs, ands, or buts about it; I recommend this book to you if you want to read some quick, light contemporary with more than just romance. And I highly recommend you listen to the audio-book.