#10 Wonder

This book’s popularity was launched by the film of it that came out in 2017. Once again we are in the territory of seeing the films first then reading the book. I was asked/ recommended/ told to read this book for my blog so that is what I did.

If you have not seen the film yet, then you’re in for a wonderful treat (hehe). August Pullman is your average ten-year-old boy except he isn’t. He has a genetic abnormality that has resulted in a deformed face. He has spent his childhood in and out of hospitals having a range of plastic surgeries to ensure he can eat, breathe and hear. Other children often scream and run away from him due to how it looks, and don’t want to touch him incase his face defects are contagious…

At home Auggie has his incredible parents, his older sister Via and his dog Daisy to keep him company during the days. Due to his surgeries, he was homeschooled, meaning his family were his best friends, mainly Daisy. It wasn’t ideal anymore to be taught by his mother, so it was time for him to start normal school. Meaning he would head straight into 5th Grade, Middle School at Beecher Prep (Year 6 for us Brits).

The concept was horrible for Auggie, particularly after he heard his father say “So sending him off to middle school like leading a lamb to the slaughter…”.After googling its definition, Auggie thought this to be true as children his age didn’t react well to how he looked and adults were the same but better at hiding it. Shortly after his schooling began, he met Summer and Jack Will who changed his view of school and helped him feel that little bit normal.

His journey through the 5thGrade is told through multiple points of view, all in the first person. Allowing for the actions of different people to be explained and justified. For me, it creates a more-rounded read as you can know each individual as well as the protagonist.

R.J.Palacio has created a book which comes face to face with some harsh realities, which are true in real life. I admire Auggie’s day-to-day courage, which although is easy for him, would feel impossible to anyone else. I smiled throughout and cried too but was warmed by the kindness of a few and then some.

Right at the end of the book, there are precepts which have been created by the pupils in Auggie’s class. They are so true and so lovely to read…and they don’t feature in the film. So if you want to find out what you’re missing, then you’re going to have to read it.

Hx