Wonder

“You really are a wonder, Auggie. You are a wonder.” (Palacio 2012)

Wonder by R.J. Palacio was published in 2012 by Random House Inc. It is a realistic fiction, young adult novel about a fifth grader named August. Auggie is a normal ten year old boy who loves Star Wars, video games, and his family. But there is one thing about Auggie that is not so normal: he has a significant facial deformity. Wonder is truly remarkable.

Auggie’s family consists of himself, his mother, father, older sister Olivia or “Via,” and his elderly dog named Daisy. Auggie’s extreme facial deformity and health issues have restricted him from going to regular school. He has been home schooled and is actually extremely bright. One day, Auggie’s mother and father decide it’s time for him to begin school at Beecher Prep just in time for his fifth grade school year. One can imagine how unbelievably nerve wracking going to a new school can be but can you imagine how terrifying it would be if you knew everyone would stare at you?

August understandably has a great deal of anxiety about his face and people staring at him. Most people scream in horror when they see him. Can you imagine? My heart breaks for him. But as he begins his first few weeks of school, the students and faculty get used to his face and Auggie begins to like school. One of August’s first friends is Jack Will who is a kind, honest boy that sits next to Auggie in most of their classes. They quickly become best friends. Another friend of Auggie’s is a beautiful girl named Summer who randomly starts sitting with him at lunch on his first day. She feels bad for Auggie and once she starts sitting with him at lunch she actually sees how wonderful he is. EVERYONE sees how great August is when they stop judging him by his face. However, August of course has an enemy also, named Julian who goes out of his way to be cruel to Auggie about his deformity as well as any friends of his.

The story is told from multiple points of view and each chapter is only a page or two. Part One’s perspective is of Auggie, Part Two is Via, Part Three is Summer, Part Four is Jack, Part Five is Justin (Via’s boyfriend), Part Six is Auggie again, Part Seven is Miranda, and Part Eight is Auggie. On the page for each new perspective, there is an illustration of the character’s head with their precepts or lyrics/quotes that relate to that person. Interestingly, August’s face changes a bit each time. It begins with nothing on him, then for Part Six we see Auggie with what appears to be his new hearing aids, and then in Part Eight he has his infamous space helmet on. The different points of view show interesting twists of what each person is thinking during the same event.

I don’t want to give away the entire story to anyone wanting to read this book. So let me just say that the story follows August, his family, and his group of friends through their struggles and victories this school year. I cannot pick a favorite line from the book because I have so many. My copy of Wonder is completely marked up in sticky notes but I think that says something. I know it is cliché to say, but this book made me laugh, it made me cry, and it really had an effect on me. Wonder is sure to touch your heart in every way.

I have an early childhood special education endorsement from my undergraduate teacher program. I spent many summers through college working with students with special needs of all kinds. There is a special place in my heart for people with disabilities, special needs, and deformities. Therefore, Wonder was especially wonderful to me. I will forever hold this book close to my heart and will someday share it with my own children. The themes of this book are kindness,being true to oneself, and friendship. I am a strong believer that kindness and empathy alone can save the world and Wonder is an example of that.

I saw on Amazon.com that R.J. Palacio is releasing The Julian Chapter: A Wonder Story in May! I am THRILLED! He is by far the villain of the story and it really bugged me that Palacio didn't include a part on his perspective. I cannot wait to read Julian's chapter and I plan to blog and report back on how/if it has changed my view of Wonder. 

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Back to Front and Upside Down!

Back to Front and Upside Down! By Claire Alexander is a Schneider Family Book Award winner and with good reason!  This book is about Stan, a reluctant writer because of the difficulties he faces when he writes his thoughts down on paper. His letters come out “back to front and upside down.” The struggle that Stan faces is a very real one that many students encounter every day. But Claire Alexander has managed to portray how students with similar disabilities can still be successful writers. 

The story begins with Stan’s principal, Mr. Slippers, announcing his birthday in Stan’s classroom. He invites the entire class to his birthday party and all of the children are excited. Stan’s teacher, Miss Catnip, decides that all the children need to create birthday cards for their principal. Stan is ecstatic at the idea and immediately begins drawing! But then, Miss Catnip reminds the students that they need to write, “Happy Birthday” in their cards. Stan immediately became full of anxiety! As hard as he tried to write “Happy Birthday” the same way he read it on the board, his letters came out “back to front and upside down.” Alexander accurately portrays the anxiety and frustration that struggling writers can face with tasks that seem easy to others. Stan became very frustrated and started to shut down. He watched as his friends effortlessly created their birthday cards with writing in them to Mr. Slippers. He so badly wanted to ask Miss Catnip for help but was terrified that his friends would laugh at him. 

The illustration on this page is iconic for what dyslexic and struggling writers face every day. The background is black which suggests how lonely Stan feels in his daily struggle to write. There is a giant clock behind him that portrays how he always feels so rushed to keep up with his peers. When you turn to the next page, the background is completely black and there is sad Stan sitting alone in his small desk. “Stan felt sick, like his tummy was being all stirred up with a big wooden spoon.” Any reader and writer, struggling or not, can empathize with Stan by this point in the story. I have witnessed students exactly like Stan fight the same struggle in my classroom and it is not an easy one.

Then, it was Stan’s friend Jack that reassured him that it was OK to ask for help because we all need help sometimes. So when Stan does ask for help, Miss Catnip is happy to assist him and a classmate named Mimi admits that she also needs help. The look on Stan’s face is priceless! Alas, he is not alone after all! After this realization, Alexander has two pages about how much hard work and practice, practice, practice was needed for Stan and Mimi’s letters to come out “right way round and the right way up.” In the end, it is explained that Stan now enjoys writing even though it does take him longer than everyone else and when he gets stuck he asks for help. That closing message is exactly what I try to get across to my struggling, dyslexic writers every day. Although writing may take them longer and use more effort than others, they are just as capable and smart as everyone else.

The illustrations in this text are lively and colorful. They are welcoming to any child and are sure to keep their attention throughout the story with so many fun elements. The vocabulary is not difficult and has some repetition that is helpful for struggling readers. This text would also be wonderful to help students with their fluency.  I highly recommend this book! It forces readers to empathize with students with dyslexia, a developmental delay, or similar disability and in the most supportive way. I currently have a student in my classroom that endures an identical struggle every day. I cannot wait to read this book to my class and watch her eyes light up when she realizes she is not alone. We are in this together.