Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Title: Wonder
Author: R.J. Palacio
Reviewer: Stephanie
Genre: YA Fiction
Rating: LOVE!!
Alerts/Warnings: This book deals with prejudice and hatred of someone who is different.  So there are instances of cruelty toward the main character, but it is tastefully done and very realistic to true life.
Premise: August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances? (goodreads.com)

Opinions: This is an amazing, amazing book.  I have to say, one of my favorite books that has been published this year.  RJ Palacio has written a book that takes you into the world of Auggie and the people around him (his sister, some of the kids he meets at school) and shows you realistically how people think and feel about people who are different.  Even people we love who are different.

The whole time I was reading this book I kept thinking of a line from a song that says, "We don't like what we don't understand.  And it scares us."  I felt it was fitting.  Auggie knows he is different.  He knows people stare.  But he is smart and wants friends and wants people to see beyond his physical appearance.

This is a touching story and RJ Palacio wrote it so beautifully.  It flows seamlessly and realistically.  It shows a loving and flawed family.  I think that is one of the best things she does in this story is to show the reality of people's emotions and motivations.  She is a talented writer and I am excited to see what she writes next.