Memphis Reads Archive

Fiction

Andrea reviews WONDER by R.J. Palacio (Random House Books, 2012)

Ten year-old August “Auggie” Pullman has not had an easy life. Being born with extreme facial disorders, Auggie was not expected to live past infancy. In fact, his parents have homeschooled him until the current school year, because they realized how cruel the other kids could be toward their son.

This year is going to be different, because Auggie is starting middle school at Beecher Prep, a Manhattan private school. Auggie’s family tries to convince him the other students are going to recognize his sense of humor, intelligence, and other talents, when really everyone knows what is more obvious.

This is a heartbreaking, courageous story of August Pullman who just wants to be considered “normal," when in fact, his “abnormal” traits make him that much more “special.”

Wonder is actually classified as a juvenile fiction but I truly enjoyed it and will recommend it to both children and adults.

Andrea King, Poplar-White Station Library

Labels: Coming of Age, Fiction, Reviews by Andrea King