Review: Wonder

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Auggie - to himself, he's just an ordinary kid but to the world he's unusual, frightening even to some. He doesn't look like every other fifth grader, he was born with a genetic disorder that made several (many!) surgeries necessary to allow the little boy a life as normal as can be. To allow him to eat by himself. Despite all these surgeries he still looks different...and different is always difficult in fifth grade. But Auggie isn't only extraordinary on the outside, he's a very brave and kind young boy who grows with his experiences when he enters a public school for the first time in his life.

His family, friends and classmates all have to deal with the new situation of Auggie going to school. I found it very interesting and enjoyable that the story was told by all these different perspectives and we understand, it's not only Auggie having a hard time.

I think I've never read a book on this topic before and in my opinion the author did a very good job. She told the story very sensitively, there were many serious and sad moments (actually I had difficulties with continuing the book at a certain point because I was crying so hard and every time I made up my mind and wanted to finish it I had to put my Kindle away just after one or two pages because I got all teared up again). But at the same time the book doesn't pity Auggie and there are quite some laughs in it as well. I especially liked the emphasizing on Auggies everyday life, on him being just a little boy and as I also really liked the writing style (you could feel the story was truly told in a kid's perspective but it wasn't overdone, but authentic and enjoyable. The author was involved in a huge Star Wars research I guess!) I was sure that it'll be a five stars read for me...up to maybe 94/95% of the book. Then I was disappointed by the and-he's-not-just-a-boy ending. The ceremony was way over the top for me...too obviously emotional, close to cheesy and in a big contrast to the rest of the book. Also I didn't feel as close to Auggie as I wanted to. I liked him for sure, but I would have loved to like the character even more. I can't really explain, what it was exactly. In some parts of the story he felt distant to me, just like a book character, and of course that's what he is...but do you know the feeling of forgetting the actual act of reading? When you're IN the story and the story goes on in your head, the book is just the input and the characters seem to come to life? It didn't happen here for me with Auggie, while I got that feeling about some of the other protagonists. Having said all this, I really liked the book. That's just my reasons for not rating it five stars...and four stars are really good as well, aren't they? ;)

And now I should definitely finish this massive super long review and start reading 'The Julian Chapter', a short story published last month in which we get to know Julian's point of view on the events. He's the bully of Auggie's class and the quote the short story starts is very promising already: "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. - Ian Maclaren"



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