WONDER

This is a guest review from Patricia Koelmel, an accomplished artist and contending writer:

Very few of us are comfortable in our skin 24/7 for one reason or another. Be it a bad hair day, a cold sore, a pimple. Well, what if every day was like that, only a million times worse?

Wonder is a 2012 work of fiction by R.J. Palacio (for children ages 8-12) that brilliantly tells the story of ten-year-old August (Auggie) Pullman, an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face. Born with a rare congenital disorder characterized by craniofacial deformities combined with an unnamed secondary syndrome, he is referred to as a “medical wonder” of sorts. (His parents and fifteen-year-old sister, Via, by the way, are normal-attractive even.)

Of his condition, Auggie prefers to say only this: “I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.”

Now, if you’re wondering what going out in public must be like for Auggie, let me put it this way. Halloween (even over Christmas) is his favorite holiday. “[Of Halloween, Auggie says] I get to wear a mask. I get to go around like every other kid with a mask and nobody thinks I look weird. Nobody takes a second look. Nobody notices me. Nobody knows me. I wish everyday could be Halloween.”

Pretty sad, eh? But be prepared to be uplifted, too. Heartwrenching can turn into heartwarming on a dime. This smart, savvy, funny kid will surprise and touch you in ways you will never expect.

Flawlessly told from alternating character POVs, the story follows Auggie as he navigates his way through the fifth grade in his first mainstream school experience. Homeschooled up until now, he is naturally petrified. But thanks to a loving, supportive family, Auggie somehow manages to bravely march on as he encounters stares, whispers, isolation, and bullies. On the flipside, there are also friendships and wondrous, new times to be had.

In her debut novel, Ms. Palacio has crafted an unforgettable story about a boy, as far from beautiful as it gets, with a spirit more beautiful than most. It is no wonder Wonder made it to the #1 spot on the New York Times Bestseller List. So, do I recommend this book? You bet I do! Not only to the children it was written for, but adults alike. Oh yeah, it’s that good.

Final words: Here’s to hoping that one day society will no longer react differently upon encountering someone with an appearance as unique as Auggie’s. I can’t help but be reminded of the “Cantina Scene” from the 1977 Star Wars film when some of the most bizarre-looking creatures are seen chatting among themselves, clearly oblivious to their dissimilarities. To this day, I remember thinking at the time: If only “our” world could be like that.

RATING: 5 out of 5 stars

Comment: Rick O's blog compliments Patricia for that energized critique. I was thinking about reviewing other novels that dealt with deformities, like Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1831), or Christine Sparks’s Elephant Man, but it would ruin the flavor of her review. So why don’t we just go to “The Cantina”... have a drink and talk about it:

Picture is courtesy of WWW.Craveonline.com