Review: The Julian Chapter: A Wonder Story

The Julian Chapter: A Wonder Story by R.J. Palacio

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Julian, the bully from [b:Wonder|11387515|Wonder|R.J. Palacio|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1366213431s/11387515.jpg|16319487], tells his story in this release. While we got to know the events that are happening to Auggie, a little boy with a genetic defect, in his first year at a public school only from the boy's perspective and those of his family and friends, the book doesn't tell us what made Julian bullying Auggie. This short story catches up on this. We read about Julian's reasons for his behavior, his problems and his parents' action that lead to a big fifth grade melt down, and we follow him to France where he spends his summer holidays - with his amazing grandmother. There he takes a journey to his family's history and to facing his actions until he comes back to New York City as much more responsible and mature boy.

I felt this was an interesting addition to the main book and not too short for the 1 $ I paid for the ebook. I liked to read Julian's point of view and think that the author did a great job in showing the readers, that there's no black and white, no pure evil and good out there. Everybody has his or her own reasons for acting this or that way and everybody can make mistakes. We're all just normal human beings. I think this is a very important lesson to learn, even more so that the target audience are middle graders. That was accomplished very well in my opinion. Still, the loose ends did find together a little too perfectly for me. Too many coincidences, too much understanding...I don't know how to put it, everything went just too well. I liked this short story but I'd have prefered a more realistic way of dealing with the issues, to which more kids could relate in their everyday life.



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