Wonder (Wonder #1) by R.J. Palacio

"This book and its beautiful message truly is a wonder. Palacio pulls at all of your heartstrings but you're smiling admist the tears. It's one of those books that will stay with you long after you've finished it."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pros: Happy tears, sad tears, there were many moments in this book that had me choking up/Auggie was a funny kid and sharp as a tack.

Cons: It felt like everyone was always yelling at each other, even when they were just talking, it just seemed odd.

Full Review:

Born with an extremely rare genetic condition, August (Auggie) Pullman looks very different from everyone else. He's had about 30 surgeries on his face and he's only 10 years old. His parents are always telling him how strong and brave he is and he's willing to believe them. That is, until they drop a bombshell and he's really not sure if he can handle it.

They think it's a good idea for him to start going to public school this year.

Unbeknownst to him, he's already taken and aced the admittance test for Beecher Prep. And though he's hesitant and frankly, terrified, he does it. He starts school and much to his own surprise actually likes it. And he even manages to make friends. Jack, who was one of the kids who gave him a tour of the school and Summer, a girl who sits with him at lunch.

Over the course of a year, we get to watch as Auggie's entire world shifts and Palacio writes with grace and ease, effortlessly switching POVs from Via (Auggie's sister) to Jack, to Summer and beyond.

This is one of those books that simply has to be read to be fully appreciated. There were some real hard-hitting moments, moments that got me right in the feels but they just made the book all the better. This book will stay with me and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Comments

Animal Farm by George Orwell

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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.

"Arnold Spirit, Jr, or "Junior" as he's known on the Rez, does something no Spokane Indian has ever done. He enrolls in Reardon High School and begins the long and often painful process off navigating not only high school and adolescence but also being an outsider. Alexie handles it all with grace, humor and honesty. This was a great read. I would recommend it to anyone." 5 Stars Pros: Alexie handles the ups and downs of not only adolescence, but tragedy and loss in a stark, honest but gut wrenchingly relatable way. Cons: Some of Junior's all-consuming guilt, though understandable was a little repetitive but it's all part of being a teenager. Full Review: It all starts when Arnold Spirit Jr, or Junior, throws a textbook across the classroom. When he opened the book he saw his mother's name, her maiden name and it enrages him. He's furious that the reservation is so poor that they're learning from thirty-year old textbooks. He doesn't...

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