Wonder: The Award-Winning, Multi-Million-Copy Bestselling Phenomenon: The unforgettable, much-loved modern classic

My daughters review:Wonder is the type of book that made me constantly go 'aww' and have tears welling in my eyes. It follows the story of ten year old, August, who was born with a disorder that makes him unlike everyone else. August has had to deal with people staring at his appearance ever since he could remember, whether they were in the street, at home, his sisters friends or even professionals. He's always had to hide himself away because there were people constantly doing a double take to stare at him once again. It definitely doesn't help that his parents protected him so much and homeschooled him, so he was unaware of friends and the harsh truth of everyday life. So when they make the drastic change to send August to a normal school, August feels his heart breaking with anxiety and worry. Before he knows it he is shoved into a school where there are bullies, friends and jerks. Although August finds some friends along the way, people are still not getting used to him. And August feels like he has to hide away for ever.This book was beautifully compelling. I love the structure of the book, too. It adds a definite twists to the plot of the story, as you read everyones perspectives on August and find out what everyone else is feeling compared to his usual fear of socialising. It also adds a new feel to the book when you're reading the backstory of his sister and how she is tossed aside for August as you're gradually building up on everyones view on August and how people see people. There are chapters in the perspective of friends also which allows you to understand whats going on behind August's back when he's joining this school and thinking everything is really working out for him.The plot overall, was definitely a shocker to me. I knew that August had a facial disorder which meant his appearance was altered slightly, however I never thought it involved all the heartache and uplifting that this book offers. There is a mixture of fights, truth, upset, heartache and even death at one point, which are all struggles of someone whose growing up, but even worse for someone whose different to everyone else. Its enchanting to read how August copes with it all and how strong he is when someone calls him names, and it definitely tripped my emotions whenever someone was harsh or offensive. The ending also had a great thriving feeling to it, and it made me feel really happy. All of my emotions spilled out at one point because I felt like I was emotionally connected with August.R.J Palacio has definitely worked well to build her characters. They're fleshy enough to make you grasp valid opinions as well as having enough back story and detail to make you connect with them emotionally. Also, I found that the alternating perspective also allowed you to re-evaluate the story, which as a really nice touch. Honestly, I felt very sorry for August in this book and felt like crying alongside him as well as punching everyone who had upset him and R.J Palacio has beautifully presented the feelings of bullying, insecurities as well as harsh disorders.I'd recommend this story to anyone, really. Any age, any gender. I feel like sensitive people would find the emotional connection powerful but I also feel like people who aren't connective to characters at all would still sympathise with August and all of the other characters. I feel like this book is going to go in the direction of The Curious Incident of The Dog In The Night-Time because it has that same sort of feel, although being different. Absolutely loved it!

Okay... Umm, wow? It's hard to articulate my thoughts at the moment. It has been a day since I finished Wonder, and I'm still in shock at how beautiful and delicate this novel was. I haven't read a book like this since John Green's heart-breaking The Fault in Our Stars, and let me tell you now, this was right up there near that standard. I guess I should just get on with the review...Wonder isn't a complicated book at all, it is just a book about a boy... And I don't want to say: "August Pullman is not like any other boy" because that's a lie. The beautiful thing about this book, is the fact that August is completely normal. He's not extraordinary (despite contrary beliefs). Just because he has a facial deformity, doesn't mean he's part of a different race or anything..! In the short introduction, I compared this to The Fault in Our Stars, and I still stand by that comparison. Hazel is also just a normal kid, who happens to be extremely unlucky. And in the short, that's why I loved this book so much. It wasn't overly extravagant, but just a simple (and cleverly told) tale that reached out and touched my heart.Narrated by five or six characters in August's life, this book was not only gripping, but insightful and full of wit. Although the book is primarily about Auggie's life, we get to hear from a lot of the other characters he interacts with... And that's another thing I really enjoyed. Whether it be the thoughtful, pretty and charismatic Summer or the well-meaning, laid-back Jack, you can't possibly not love this cast of characters.Full of love, sadness, joy, courage, admiration and determination, Wonder makes you think (as cheesy as it sounds) that it really isn't what somebody looks like that counts. A quote that comes to mind as I write this, is one from a John Green book: "That's always seemed so ridiculous to me, that people want to be around someone because they're pretty. It's like picking your breakfast cereal based on the colour rather than the taste." And that's completely true. I love the way that this book proves that someone (like August) can be a whole lot nicer and more fun than a stuck-up and horrible 'pretty' person. I guess the final thing I want to say about this book, is that it explores us humans as a whole. RJ Palacio could have concentrated on how we are too judgmental of people before actually getting to know them, but no, she chose a different approach. Throughout the course of the novel, RJ Palacio taught me about how we have to be "kinder than necessary", and how us humans are capable of a lot more than just "kind". That's the personal message I learned from this book, and I thank her very much for that!

Just finished reading this to my daughter. I have never, ever cried so much at a book. Want to read it all again!!

A fantastic book to read for all ages.