This is from the dustjacket:
"August Pullman wants to be an ordinary ten-year-old. He does ordinary things. He eats ice-cream. He plays on his X-box. He feels ordinary - inside.
Born with a terrible facial abnormality, Auggie has been home-schooled by his parents his whole life, in an attempt to protect him from the cruelty of the outside world. Now, for the first time, he's being sent to a real school - and he's dreading it. All he wants is to be accepted - but can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, underneath it all?
Narrated by Auggie and the people around him whose lives he touches forever, Wonder is a funny, frank, astonishingly moving debut to read in one sitting, pass on to others, and remember long after the final page."
So does the book live up to this recommendation? A resounding YES! Funny, sad, thought-provoking and up-lifting - Wonder is a refreshingly different children's book, with a whole host of well-rounded and memorable characters.
The book group ALL loved Wonder. Everyone enjoyed reading from the different characters' points of view and seeing how there are always at least two sides to every story! The language and cultural references are very up-to-date. The group liked that Auggie and his friends read the same books as they did!
The very short chapters and compelling nature of the story make it extremely hard to put it down - it's always easy to read "just another chapter". Just a warning for any adults reading Wonder - make sure you have a box of tissues handy, you may need them on more than one occasion!
Here are some comments from the group:
"It's an amazing book and it really makes you think. I lent it to my friend because I thought it was such a good read." - Ana
"It's a book that really makes you realise other people have problems." - Lilah
"It was really good. I liked everything about it." - Willow (who liked it so much she read it twice!)
"I always say this, but I really couldn't put it down!" - Tabitha
"Go and buy this book, read it, then pass it on!" - Emma (!)
Can't recommend this book highly enough. Fantastic.
Page Turners rating for Wonder: 5/5
