Wonder

Wonder, a fiction book by RJ Palacio, teaches that true beauty is seen with the heart and not with the eyes.  Due a rare facial deformity, Auggie has been homeschooled until the fifth grade.  At this point, Auggie's parents decide that they can no longer shelter him and decide to send him to school.  This story beautifully depicts the ups and down of starting middle school, especially with the added pressure of not looking like everyone else.

This book had so many amazing lessons.  I found myself stopping many times to reflect on powerful lines in the book.  Such as, "When given the choice between being right and being kind, choose kind." (Wonder, pg. 48)  As I read, I wondered why people are so quick to judge others based only on their appearance.  How many great people do we miss because we don't take the time to get to know them?

One of the things that I loved about this book was the fact that it was told from many different perspectives.  (Jodi Piccoult is an adult author that I enjoy reading who also uses this technique.)  It is enlightening to hear the story told from Auggie, his sister, his friend, and other points of view.  If you don't mind crying a little while reading, this is a book that you won't soon forget.

Watch the book trailer below for a taste of this book.