Wonder, by R.J. Palacio is considered a children's book but really, it's a book everyone should read. It is the story of a boy named Auggie who is born with physical malformations that have required numerous surgeries over the course of his ten years of life. Still, he doesn't look like other kids and this book gives us a glimpse at not only how he deals with this issue, but how others in his family and some of his friends do as well. It is a charming book, so well written with great characters and realistic outcomes. It's a book that I think changes people--it certainly changed me. My eleven year old son read it as well and really liked it. It deals with pretty heavy issues so I won't recommend it to children who struggle with that sort of thing, but otherwise, I'd suggest it to anyone. This isn't Diary of a Wimpy Kid. It's an amazing story about an amazing kid and those who share his journey. Easily one of my all-time favorite books.

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I have been wanting to read this for awhile and when my son begged me to buy it for him the beginning of the summer I did. My 10 year old son ended up loving it and was eager for me to read it as well. This was an excellent read that I enjoyed a lot. It was very engaging and very well written!

The book is told in sections and each section is told by a different person involved in Auggie's life. Auggie's severe facial deformities have made life challenging for him to put it mildly and they affect everyone from his family to his friends.

I loved Auggie; he has a positive attitude, is able to poke fun at himself, and is incredibly smart. That's not to say he's perfect; he struggles a lot with things and sometimes assumes the worst of people because of his experiences.

This was a very heart-warming and humorous story about kids that look past Auggie's appearance and give him a chance as a friend. It also takes an interesting look at how everyone around him is affected by either being related to him or choosing to be his friend.

This is a story that leaves you feeling absolutely happy and amazed at the end; it's just very engaging and inspiring. I had a really hard time putting it down and understood completely why my son loved it so much.

Overall this was an amazing read and I would recommend everyone read it. There's a lot of food for thought packed into this engaging, humorous, and inspiring story. It's very readable and engaging and I enjoyed it thoroughly!

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I liked but did not love this book, which was disappointing, because I wanted and expected to love it. The hero is August, a 10 year old boy born with a severe facial deformity. As he discloses: "I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse."

Despite his appearance, August is normal in every other way. This book takes us through his first year in a public school. August struggles at first to fit in, as it is a huge and scary hurdle not to be affected or hurt constantly by the side-ways glances, nudges and whispers that follow him around. He eventually risks trusting a few of his fellow classmates who reach out to him in kindness and friendship.

The book is first told from Auggie's point of view, then alternates with that of his older sister and several of his classmates. It is interesting and believable as his classmates relate their own struggles with their sometimes unkind thoughts and words. They know and want to be better, but fail sometimes to be empathetic.

The story wrapped up with a much-too-nice big red bow of an ending, which rang false to me, but aptly summed up the book's message, which is one of kindness towards others. It cannot be a bad thing for kids of all ages to read this book and absorb its inclusive messages.

*** Three stars

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One of the best books I have ever read. I cried buckets at times, and I'm not the type to cry even during the saddest of movies. It's a children's book but I think any adult would enjoy it. I'm 39 and don't have kids and I loved it. There are happy points and sad points and it's really a story about family and friendship and love.

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This book definitely has a powerful lesson to teach children. I did feel the writing was rather simplistic for me, which pulled me out of the story a bit, but I didn't deduct from my rating due to that. It wouldn't be fair, given the age level this is written for and the fact I'm an adult reader. It's just an important point for other adults who might care to read it, particularly as it's something that I usually have no issue ignoring.

That being said, Wonder has a great story to tell about a young boy with a facial deformity so severe that it horrifies people and makes some even run away screaming. After being taught by his mother at home for his early school years, the decision is made that he should attend a regular school so that he can advance beyond the point where his mother can help him. This book is the story of his first year at school, and it certainly isn't easy.

One interesting element is that the narrative voice changes several times in the book, though some of those voices are done better than others. But, we as readers get to hear the perspectives of August's sister, some of his friends, and so on. Each one does add to the story, and provides good insight into where the character is coming from, but the shifts in character do also seem to interrupt the flow and jar the reader a couple times, or at least that was my experience. It is clear as you read the book why it was done though, as it offers information and insight that August is not privy to, often thankfully so.

In any case, I definitely recommend this as a book to read with early-elementary up to middle school aged kids, when they can really learn from it. I say to read it with them because there is a lot to talk about in the book and having those discussions is really important.

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This was recommended to me in an airport in Paris, as I was quickly looking for something to read on the trip home. I didn't realize until partway through that it is probably geared towards a younger reader, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it was the perfect length for the flight.
The story is about a boy dealing with significant challenges as he enters middle school - hard for anyone new to a school - but, as the cover says, "You can't blend in when you were born to stand out". This is a remarkable story about courage, cruelty, compassion, empathy, bittersweet love, laughter and choosing to be kind, which is always the right choice.
As a teacher and parent of a child who is "different", I would recommend it to all, but especially for students in 5th grade and up (perhaps younger, depending on the reader), parents and siblings of a special child, and those who know what it takes to be a real friend, regardless of what others may think.

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