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Wonder Novel by R. J. Palacio is a frank, funny, stunningly moving debut that you read in one session, pass to others, remember long after the last page.

Parents need to know that the wonder is about 10-year-old Pullman, who has a genetic facial difference. After entering the house, he enters school for the first time in fifth grade and has to deal with a range of reactions to his unusual appearance as well as a lot of middle school drama. Some children use hate language, some people suggest that Ogi mentally impaired. These troublesome situations, as well as other hardships, are borne by the Ogi family, including the loss of beloved family pets. However, the good wins out, readers should find it inspiring and uplifting. The couple accepts high school several times, and Ogi notes some children from the seventh-grade smoke, but it is not clear whether they smoke cigarettes or pot. The book was adapted for 2017 starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, and Jason Tremblay. The audiotape, read by Nick Bodhel, Kate Rod, and Diana Steele, was named a remarkable children's recording by the American Library Association.

Summary: What's the story?

August Bowman is a fifth-rate boy with a severe facial difference. His parents have protected him from loving many of the external influences before Wander begins. He has been taught home to this point, for example. But at the beginning of the book, his mother decided that it was time for the courage to experience the real school. Ogi disturbs and is afraid of facing the reactions of children on his appearance, but there is also a part of him that wants to do "normal" things. The director of his new school, Mr. Toshman, offers Ogi a small group of students before starting school, thinking about this will help ease the shift. While some Ogi students meet and accept the type, while others delay a bit ahead of him, others are still severely harsh. The novel follows the first year of Ogi from middle school from start to finish. It's the year that Ogi experiences the best and worst of human nature and a year of tremendous emotional growth for him.

Is it good?

Ogi himself is a very convincing and moving figure - certainly not just a device - and his story is very moving and upgraded. Author R.J. Palacio wrote the book with multiple voices - Ogi, some of his friends, and his sister - different views are mostly very well realized and show the inner feelings of different characters.

There are a few aspects of wonder that do not ring true. Oji parents are almost too perfect to be believed, and the main child in the novel is a little too dispensed with very easily.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about peer pressure. Sometimes we feel the pressure to reject someone - even a friend - because others do not like that person. How do you deal with Jack's situation?

Why do you think some people are cruel to Ogi?

If you write a plot - like Mr. Brown's class does - what will it be?

Do you think my parents did the right thing in sending him to school?

Book Club Questions

Wonder Book Review
Wonder is a rare jewel of a novel, beautifully written and populated by characters that remain in his memory and heart. August Pullman is a 10-year-old boy who likes Star Wars and Xbox, ordinary, except for his jarring facial anomalies. Educated at home all his life, August heads to public school for fifth grade and is not the only one who has changed through experience, something we learn firsthand through the narratives of those who orbit his world. The internal dialogue and August's interactions with students and family seem true, and although he is remarkably brave, he presents himself as a sweet and funny child who wants the same thing that others want: friendship, understanding and the freedom to be himself. "Only with the heart can you see clearly. What is essential is invisible to the eyes." From The Little Prince and R.J. The remarkable Palace novel, Wonder.

Film adaptation

A film adaptation directed by Stephen Chbosky and written by Steve Conrad starring Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson as Isabel and Nate Pullman respectively, and Jacob Tremblay as August Pullman was released on November 17, 2017 by Lionsgate.

More About The Author R. J. Palacio:

R. J. Palacio lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband, two sons and two dogs (Bear and Beau). Her debut novel, Wonder, has been on the New York Times bestseller list since March 2012 and has sold over 5 million copies worldwide. The book’s message of kindness has inspired the Choose Kind movement and has been embraced by readers, young and old, around the world.

A first-generation American (her parents were Colombian immigrants), Palacio was born on July 13, 1963, in New York City. Her birth name is Raquel Jaramillo (Palacio was her mother's maiden name). Palacio attended The High School of Art & Design in Manhattan and then majored in illustration at the Parsons School of Design. She spent her junior year at The American University in Paris, where she traveled extensively before returning to NYC with an eye toward making her career in illustration. Her early works appeared in The Village Voice and The New York Times Book Review, which eventually segued into her storied career as the art director of several major book publishing companies. She designed thousands of book covers for countless writers in every genre of fiction and non-fiction, including Paul Auster, Thomas Pynchon, Salman Rushdie, Louise Erdrich, Sue Grafton, and John Fowles (among many others).

In addition to designing book covers, Palacio illustrated several of her own children’s books that were published under her birth name, including Peter Pan: The Original Tale of Neverland; Ride Baby Ride; Look Baby Look; The Night Before Christmas; The Handiest Things in the world; and Last Summer. Palacio also invented a baby toy called The Bobo Glove, a portable, wearable, washable activity toy for infants.

Since its publication on February 14th, 2012, Wonder has become a favorite of teachers and educators all over the country. It has been published in 45 countries and has sold over 5 million copies worldwide. In addition to Wonder, Palacio has published 365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne's Book of Precepts (August 2014), and Auggie & Me, ( October 2015), which includes print editions of the original e-book novellas: The Julian Chapter, Pluto, and Shingaling. Palacio's newest work, a picture book called We're All Wonders, which she both wrote and illustrated, introduces Auggie—and the themes of kindness and empathy and tolerance—to younger children. We're All Wonders comes out March 2017.

A movie based on Wonder, starring Jacob Tremblay as Auggie Pullman, Julia Roberts, and Owen Wilson, comes out on November 17th, 2017.

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