Wonder Book Review

Wonder by R.J. Palacio
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"whenever you can, you will try to act a little kinder than is necessary—the world really would be a better place. And if you do this, if you act just a little kinder than is necessary, someone else, somewhere, someday, may recognize in you, in every single one of you, the face of God."

Actual Rating : 4.5 Stars


Wonder is about a ten year old August Pullman (Auggie) , a little boy born with a severe facial deformity . He was home_schooled because of his health and several surgeries . until now , he's to start 5th grade , a new school , an ordinary kid with an unusual face .
we read from several POVs including his Family and Friends, all these people who are sharing the journey with Auggie . Its a beautiful story full of compassion and its so well worth the time it takes to read it.

The tribulation little Auggie is being through at such a young age and his positive attitude and shiny personality in response is impressing . one would really feel for Auggie,
a ten years old boy ,through all that, is expected to be whiny ( no judgement , human can turn whiny when its too hard to withstand ) , gloomy , insecure and to push people away from him , but surprisingly , Auggie , the little dude , is such a fine character , too funny , too light-hearted.
He repeated through out the book that he's okay with people staring , he would think " I understand , I would be staring if it was me " , to describe the whole experience of it as if a barely noticed drizzle "I'm used to that by now. I don't let it bother me. It's like when you go outside and it's drizzling a little. You don't put on boots for a drizzle. You don't even open your umbrella. You walk through it and barely notice your hair getting wet." , a ten years old boy thinking this way is too enthralling , you can't but adore him with all of the bit of a heart you have , smart and funny and brave and understanding as he is .

And I really like that as The book starts with august's POV he wont be mentioning a frank description of his face when you’re in his head. He simply mentions “I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.” but then when we got to Via’s section she lays Auggie’s looks on the line. Its makes all characters POVs too real , we can notice how different things seem in people's minds .
The whole story in fact felt real . The way Via felt shadowed by her brother and wanting to keep him a secret in her high school life , yet the way she loves him so much . Other things like jack explaining himself to Julian though he didn't really mean it , the way people are not totally good or bad , What I want to say is that it felt real because they all made mistakes but by the end it came to light that what one sticks to is what defines them , all of this has painted the book with a realistic light , except for the end , which is the sole reason its 4.5 stars instead of solid 5 , it was a bit too bright , though i have to admit that inspite of the logic suggesting this , it still made me all teary while reading it , it was emotionally absorbing .

Wonder is a beautifully written story , it is designed to be read by younger readers so yes it isn't as rich as it could have been otherwise. but its a positive point because it also means that children would have no problem reading it , children books to be served in a simple way is most definitely not a blemish in their structure .

This is a story to teach you about the good that humanity is capable of, the falseness of first impressions , the courage of some people and the way one little boy could win the hearts of so many .

'Greatness,' wrote Beecher, 'lies not in being strong, but in the right using of strength. . . . He is the greatest whose strength carries up the most hearts by the attraction of his own.

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