Weekend Pick for January 20, 2023

Weekend Pick for January 20, 2023

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Wonder (2012) by R. J. Palacio

Our next guest contributor to the Weekend Picks is Kaleigh Carter. Kaleigh is a teacher candidate in her second semester of Residency at Southeastern Louisiana University. She successfully undergoes her student teaching in a high school English classroom. Despite of a heavy load, she enjoys reading and sharing her favorite books.
Determined to choose kindness and compassion, Kaleigh introduces a 2012 novel by R. J. Palacio, which has become New York Times Bestseller for over five years. In Wonder, Palacio, treats us to a story of a boy, who is born different, but brave enough to face his fears.

The inspirational quote on the cover of the novel, “You can’t blend in when you were born to stand out,” perfectly encapsulates the heart of this novel. R.J. Palacio’s Wonder will make you laugh, cry, and feel just about every emotion within your capacity. Have your tissues ready when you read the inspiring and heartbreaking story of August (Auggie) Pullman, a boy born with facial deformities who braves the challenge of joining his very first mainstream school in the fifth grade. 

R. J. Palacio

Auggie Pullman has been homeschooled and isolated from peers his whole life until he starts attending Beecher Prep Middle School where he faces the challenges of bullying, discrimination, and other cruelties of middle school life. Palacio skillfully structures the novel, and readers are able to see multiple perspectives of Auggie's life through the eyes of his family members.
Though Augie is unsuspecting of all of the stares, gossip, and avoidance of those around him, his big sister Via, however, is not. In true big sister fashion, Via is extremely protective of her brother and loves him deeply, but audiences see that she is also going through her own struggles. Since her parents show most of their attention to Augie, Via struggles feeling neglected. It seems that her parents don’t see that she is facing her own set of struggles as she begins high school.
Auggie’s parents, Nate and Isabel, balance one another as Isabel is afraid to let go and Nate understands that Auggie cannot be sheltered forever.
          

The novel is full of quotable statements, and I offer you here three of them as an example. 

​ The highs and lows of the Pullman family are masterfully and beautifully captured by Palacio. This novel is a must-read for not only middle school-aged kids, but everyone; as it is sure to spark a sense of wonder in all. ​

​Thank you for reading and see you here next week,
Leilya