Review of Wonder (Mateo)

Review of Wonder

            The story Wonder, written by R.J. Palacio, follows a young boy named August Pullman who has a rare condition known as ‘Treacher Collins syndrome’ which deformed his face at birth. Despite his appearance, August is a normal boy: he likes his Xbox, ice cream, and Star Wars, things that any other ten-year-old would like. He has a loving mom and dad, a protective older sister, and a nice home in lower Manhattan. But no matter how many surgeries he has or how normally he acts, his face won’t ever look like everyone else’s. As the beginning of 5^th grade looms around the corner, his parents urge him to start attending a school with other children, since he has been homeschooled his whole life. Although August believes that middle school is the last place that he would want to go, for fear of being stared at and bullied, he eventually comes around and begins Beecher Prep. Once August started going to his new school, he adapted to the workload, the people, and the environment while everyone else adapted to him. He makes friends, endures hardships, and learns to enjoy school and life with his unique condition.

            I have to say, I haven’t actually sat down on the couch and just read for FUN in a long time. But Wonder managed to bring me back to that place. The deep and funny characters who drove the story really kept me hooked. I sympathized with August about the fears of starting a new school, but I could understand that for him it is on a whole other level. With every major event that took place, it was hard not to support and empathize with him. For example, when he took the risk to go to his first sleep away camp, I was rooting for him to be brave and try something new. When he was assigned an important school project, I could relate and wished for him to do well.

Another aspect that I found enjoyable about this novel was the way that it is organized. Each section is written from the viewpoint of a specific person. Part one starts with August’s point of view, then the next section from the viewpoint of his sister, and so on. I think that this is a great way to write the novel because everyone has their own opinions and perspectives. Another key component of this book was reading about the reality of children like August who have special needs and conditions. This was a moving story about a loveable boy who was diagnosed with an unlucky syndrome, but manages to overcome the odds and thrive in the world that was built against him. There was honestly nothing unenjoyable in this book. The tone that it was written in, the funny and complex characters, and the plot were all very entertaining and well written.

            Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a take on the ‘coming of age’ genre or would like to read a heartwarming story about a Wonder child.