WONDER, by R.J. Palacio -- Book Review by Riley R., 6th Grader

I just finished reading Wonder, by R.J. Palacio. It is about a boy named August (Auggie) that was born with a facial deformation. His eyes are way low and his lips are all messed up because of a cleft palate. He has to wear custom hearing aids because his ears are deformed too. To him, it’s not even worth smiling, because no one can even tell if he is or not. Auggie has never been to school until now—he’s always been home schooled.  He’s about to start the 5^th grade at Beecher Prep, and he’s nervous— VERY NERVOUS!

August Pullman is just an ordinary boy on the inside, but he’s not sure if he can convince everybody else to see that.  On the first day of school, Auggie thinks he has friends, but it turns out they’re only his friends because the principal asked them to be. (Come to find out, Jack actually is trying to be Auggie’s Friend!) Throughout the first couple weeks of school, Auggie struggles with a lot and has so many questions.  Who is his friend and who’s not? Is his sister embarrassed of him, or not? Is his dog Daisy sick, or not?

When August goes on a nature refuge trip with his school, a bunch of seventh graders are messing with him. No one likes August or Jack, but when the seventh graders start teasing them, another fifth grader  named Amos and his friends defend them. I would tell you what happens next, but then you wouldn't have a reason to read the book for yourself!  I will tell you though, that Auggie does survive fifth grade, and is even happy at the end...and that's hard for any kid, much less him!

This book, shows compassion, courage, kindness, encouragement, sadness, and depression, but most of all… it shows heart. The characters come to life, and you can see the story like it’s happening right before your eyes. I read the book in two days and I was so, so, so sad when it was over with, but Wonder, by R.J. Palacio, is definitely a MUST READ!!!!