Wonder

This novel told the story of a young boy named August who was born with a facial deformity. August has never been to school before because of how sick he has been. But now, since his health has been good, August’s parents think it is time for him to start school. August gets accepted into Beecher Prep and the book tells the story of the high points and low points throughout fifth grade for August. It discusses the kindness of some of the people at August’s school and the cruelty of others. In the beginning of the school year, things are rough for August. Many students stay away from him and constantly stare. They even started a game called the Plague where if August bumped into them, they had only thirty seconds to wash themselves. Jack and Summer befriend August, but at times their friendships falter. Julian, a bully, constantly picks on August and even starts a war in the fifth grade between the boys. Roles are reversed when the fifth graders go to a retreat for three days. August is attacked by seventh graders from another school and Jack and other fifth graders team up to defeat them. They protected August and everyone begins to have a new respect for him. August completes the fifth grade and even wins the Henry Ward Beecher medal that honors students who have greatness in them. He wanted everyone to get to see the real him and have people look past the way he looked. August accomplished this and truly was a wonder.

What an incredible story! I truly feel in love with August’s character and became immersed in his story. In my opinion, what makes this such an awesome story is because it is so realistic. The characters and the plot are all things that happen in children’s everyday lives. The novel includes different parts that tell the story from different points of view. It includes August’s, his friends, Via (his sister), and her boyfriend’s perspectives. This was very interesting because the feelings that were portrayed through the different perspectives were feelings that children would have if they were in the exact positions as these characters were. Another reason why I feel that students love this book is because it is so relevant to schools today. A lot of schools are mainstreaming students with disabilities and students who are not life everyone else. It gives students perspective on what it would feel like to be that child who is different from the rest. The story also makes children think. What type of person would you be if you were at a school with a child like August? Would you be Summer, the girl who sat down with him the first day of school at lunch? Would you be Julian, the bully, who tried to make August’s life even more miserable? When I am a teacher, this book will be one that I will read aloud to my students during the first weeks of school. There are many valuable lessons that can be learned from this book. The last thing that I really cherished from the book was the Mr. Browne’s Precepts. This is something that I would love to continue and use in my own classroom. It gives the students some food for thought. I also would want my students to write me during the summer with their postcard precepts like the students in the story did as well. Truly, a wonderful story and one that will be displayed and used in my classroom very often. 

Wonder

Author: R.J. Palacio

Year Published: 2012