A review of Wonder by RJ Palacio

Before reading Wonder, I had just finished reading Carry On by Rainbow Rowell but decided that Carry On wasn't impressive enough and wouldn't be reviewed here. I remember it took me months to finish Carry On, but only 2 days to finish Wonder. What a big difference, right? That's why I decided to give a few thoughts on Wonder, with mostly positive reviews, since the book itself is wonderful.

Wonder tells the story of a 10-year-old boy named August --or Auggie, as people will later call him, born with a special medical condition that results in a face deformity. He has always been home-schooled by his mom until one day he finds himself having to go to a normal middle school. We start with the narration from the boy himself, and as the story goes on, the point of view moves from one character to another, mostly those whose lives intertwined with Auggie, before going back to Auggie for the last time. 

Living as a boy with unusual face is definitely not easy. Auggie, a character who's poignant, fragile yet strong, and well-portrayed, has to deal with many issues at Beecher Prep--his new school (being bullied, treated as a germ and an outcast are one of the few), which will lead him to not only mature mentally but touch the lives of those around him in a way he would never expect. What started as a terrifying change in Auggie's life turned out to be a blessing for Auggie and his friends and families. 

"When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind." This quote by Wayne W. Dryer, introduced during Auggie's English class as the teacher's first precept, successfully binds the book's overarching theme, kindness, tightly. Throughout the pages of the book, through Auggie's life, we are constantly reminded how acts of kindness, no matter how small, matter. Wonder is the book which will lead you to believe that kindness is natural to human beings, and how it should be practiced daily in your life. Wonder is inspiring, heart-breaking, and touching; it can make you cry, laugh, sad, happy, and experience all kind of emotions, but in the end you will be glad having read the book. 

There's no denying that this book has touched hundreds, maybe thousands other children around the world who have to live in a reality similar to Auggie's. For those kids, youngsters, or even adults, I believe Wonder leaves a deep impact, just like it touches a soft spot in my heart. The heart-warming story of a brave young boy, August Pullman, is a reminder of how precious each life is, how everybody we meet is fighting a hard battle, and how we should treat everyone with kindness, for if every single one of us starts to be a little kinder each day, we will be able to make the world a slightly better place to live for every creature in this planet. 

"Kinder than necessary. Because it's not enough to be kind. One should be kinder than needed." RJ Palacio - Wonder