Wunder - Die Filmausgabe

I loved this book because of the message it sent- that everyone should be accepted regardless if they appear different from yourself. I particularly liked the organization of the chapter book. Although it was lengthy, it was a quick read because each chapter was extremely short, (2-3 pages) which kept my focus and allowed me to read at my own pace and not worry about having to stop mid-way through a chapter because they were just that short. In addition, I really liked that the characters were believable and very well-developed, especially Auggie, the protagonist who has a facial deformity. Prior to growing out long bangs to cover his eyes, Auggie once wore an astronaut helmet “everywhere he went. To the playground. To the supermarket. To pick up Via from school.” These detailed descriptions really added to the authenticity and suspense of the story because I know there are plenty of people who are, or have been in Auggie’s position and wish they were invisible, rather than to be judged every day by their appearance.

It's not polite to stare. That's what we're taught when we're kids. Auggie Pullman has been stared at all of his life because of a severe facial deformity. And now his loving parents are putting him in a regular school. This heartfelt novel follows Auggie through that first year in school. Having been picked on throughout my life, I certainly felt deeply for Auggie. The ending might have been a bit too upbeat for me as an adult, but I felt it quite necessary in a middle reader novel like this one. This should be required reading in all middle schools.

This is a "younger" novel than I usually read, but after hearing about it a few times, I decided I had to try it, especially when I discovered that it was available as an e-book from my library.

Loved it. Loved August. Loved the whole book. I hope I can convince my boys to read it.

I started reading Wonder on a whim over the weekend and couldn’t put it down. I’d heard good things about the book for months, and liked the book trailer, but for some reason I kept finding other books to read instead. Even though I do like middle grade books, the subject matter of this one gave me pause. Anyway, the story is so engaging and uplifting, much more so than I had expected. Totally a worthwhile read and I’m so glad I finally read it.

10-year-old August Pullman was born with a severe facial abnormality. His parents home schooled him all of his life due to his frequent surgeries and medical appointments. Now, when others August’s age are starting middle school, his parents think the time may be right for August to attend school as well. Auggie is a normal kid inside, smart and funny, and loves Star Wars and videogames. But will his new classmates be able to see past his outward appearance?

Auggie is so endearing- he won me over from the very first pages. I was so scared for him to start middle school. Middle school is terrifying under the best of circumstances! And even though Auggie has seen reactions of strangers around him all his life, it’s hard to prepare yourself for this age group. I, like Auggie, hoped for the best but steeled myself for the worst. His experience has highs and lows and focuses in on a handful of students and teachers and the different ways they interact with Auggie.

There are a few kids assigned to keep an eye out for Auggie at school to show him around. Auggie is very perceptive about others and is a good judge of character- he really is a brave little guy. It’s interesting to see the world through Auggie’s eyes and then later revisit the same scenes through the eyes of his friends when the book shifts to multiple POV. I hadn’t expected the book to shift POV actually, but it does satisfy some curiosity by hearing other characters perspective. Two of Auggie’s classmates, as well as his sister, her friend, and boyfriend all take a turn at the narration. Auggie’s sister Via is a standout character, as she shares the effect her brother has had on her life.

Hearing the different reactions to Auggie made me think about who I would be in the scenario, and I’d react in middle school if I had a classmate like him. My daughter and I had a dialogue about it, and you always hope you’d be compassionate, but it’s hard to know what is the right way to respond in the moment. The book does a great job of making you think about how to treat people fairly and with compassion. The writing is accessible and has a light touch, even though there are some heavy and distressing scenes. It is just perfect for a middle grade audience, and to read aloud for class discussion or at home. But really I think this uplifting story is appealing for all ages.

Copied from my comment in the group 'Great Middle Grade Reads.'

I agree that it would have been helpful to see Julian's POV. I guess we get a clue when we learn about his mother, though. What a piece of work she is. Maybe Julian will escape her influence later, but he can't really learn & grow to be a better person while still her little boy.

I loved the book for all the reasons you-all did, but I have one quibble/ question. Is is plausible that the 10-11 year-old kids would be so insightful, so articulate about their feelings and those of their family and friends? They seem awfully sophisticated/ wise to me....

I do like how Auggie, at the end, says surviving 5th grade is an accomplishment for anyone. I, personally, think that Jack Will, or maybe Summer, should have gotten that award. Maybe even the two Maxes - I really wanted to get to know them better.

I liked that it took place in the city - not so much about backyards, malls, cars and bicycles, but more about walking to little shops and taking the subway to further places.

I was very impressed with this book. It was inspired by a chance encounter the author (R.J. Palacio) and her sons had with a child with a facial deformity, because she was so disturbed by her and her sons' reactions to the child and could not stop thinking about how the child had to live with other people's shock and horror daily. August has always been cocooned by his close-knit family, but his parents decide he should enroll in school in the fifth grade. He reluctantly, though also a little excitedly, agrees. At first most students steer clear of him, though he does make a few friends and a few others are especially mean to him. After some serious bumps in the road, he is more and more accepted and even embraced by his peers. A turning point occurs when he is bullied by kids from another school during a field trip, and his classmates vigorously defend him as one of their own. It's probably a pretty rosy portrayal of this situation, but it wasn't maudlin and it easily could have been. Kids will spend time thinking about what it must be like to have to live with a very apparent deformity and how it can deprive a person of a normal life.

R.J. Palacio has written a warm, uplifting story About a boy named Auggie. He has serious birth defects. This book will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next.

Wonder, the story is every bit as wonderful as the title suggest. A heart touching book about a boy named August and the challenges he has and is facing as he grows up and embarks on a journey to start going to school in the 5th grade. August is just like any other kid except his face is distorted causing people to always look at him and not in the nicest ways. I love this book for tons of reasons. But two alone stand out. One reason is the point of view from which the book was written. The other being that the book makes the reader think and ask questions, it pushes them to make connections and think about how their actions and words can do wonders or hurt.The use of first person in the book is the reason you become so immersed in it while reading. The reason I love the point of view in this book is because it not just from one person’s point of view. You get to see the story not only from August’s eyes but also his sister Via, his friends, Summer and Jack, His sister boyfriend, Justin, and Miranda, August’s sister best friend. This strengthens the story and lets you see into the mind of all the characters. It lets you get to see how they think and how they feel about August and what they are doing. For example, when August is narrating “But I’m kind of use to how I look by now. I know how to pretend I don’t see the faces people make.” Or when Via talks “I’m always going to be the sister of a kid with a birth defect: that’s not the issue. I just don’t want to be defined that way.” Then there is Jack, “The thing is, there are always going to be kids like Julian who are jerks. But if a little kid like Jamie, who’s usually a nice enough kid, can be that mean, then a kid like August doesn’t stand a chance in middle school.” All of these examples help you see how by writing in first person helps you make a personal connection to the character by getting the reader to think how the character is thinking. By being able to get a glimpse into the characters mind. This style of writing lets you get to know the characters and by doing this lets you believe in them. I love this book because it makes you think, rethink, and then think again. It presents a topics that kids can relate to: bullying, name calling, choosing friends, the ups and downs of school and its social aspects. But does it in a way that challenges our perspectives. It pushes us to look our life and ask big questions of ourselves like: Are we as kind to others as we can possibility be? Or what kind of person do we want to be? And what would we like to be remembered for? The book does this in many ways. For example, one of August’s teachers’ buts up a precept at the begging of the school year that says, “When given the choice between being right or being kind, Choose kind.” Another example is when the principle is giving an end of the year speech and he says, “But the best way to measure how much you’ve grown isn’t by inches or the number of laps you can now run around the track…Its what you’ve done with your time, how you’ve chosen to spend your days, and whom you have touched this year.” These types of quotes are little messages to the reader.This book at its core is about Kindness, that your actions whether intentional or not, have consequences good and bad. Its message is that everyone has something they need to over come. It could be a disability or bullying but with family, love, support, and kindness we can overcome them and shine.

I guess this one is a 2.5 for me. I expected a lot of heartwrenching moments and this book to be a tearjerker that was very beautifully written. Sadly it didn't meet any of my expectations. While a lot of people find this book amazing, I beg to differ. It didn't stir anything in me if not a little simpathy. And I mean little. I find the protagonist's optimism a bit annoying. Sorry. I'm not jaded. This book isn't for me, I guess. Maybe the reason why I didn't really feel anything so much is because I've read the best of all tearjerking and heartwrenching book that everything that's not as good as it just doesn't touch me at all. I'm kind of disappointed in my inability to say I love this book. I wanted to love it but I just don't. Full review later. Now I'm back to studying for finals.

The main characters of the story are August, his parents, and his sister Via. August is a fifth grade boy who has the extraordinary challenge of growing up with a face that has several abnormalities. Of course, along with “Auggie’s” physical challenges, come social and emotional roadblocks as well. He is a child that has been homeschooled up until the fifth grade. He has very few friends, and although he feels “ordinary”, he knows that others will never see him as ordinary. Auggie often uses humor to deal with his pain. He has a great deal of character, and a heart of gold. His older sister is very protective of him. While she realizes that her parents (specifically her mother) have always put Auggie’s needs first, she is not bitter about the family dynamics. While Auggie has his first experience with school, Via is also in a transitional year- her first year of high school. Their parents are loving and supportive, and they are experiencing the typical struggles of watching their children grow up too fast in a world that can be very unkind. This book is written from several different points of view, which is one reason I think it is so unique and engaging. The author switches back and forth between Auggie, his sister, and a couple of their friends’ points of views. It aided in my understanding of each character and how he, or she, viewed the main character Auggie. I loved that the book was very simply written. Because it is a book that is leveled for middle school aged students, it was a quick read, and the characters speak very plainly about their feelings and the events in their lives. Auggie graduated the 5th grade, after not even believing that he would ever be able to attend school. While other students received awards for academics and sports, Auggie was the recipient of the “Henry Ward Beecher medal”. This medal’s purpose was to recognize greatness. The director of the school made a very moving speech about how Auggie had been so strong, and attracted the hearts of others purely by being himself and showing great character. The last sentence of the novel struck a chord with me as well. As Auggie’s family is walking home after graduation, his mother thanks him and tells him that he truly is, a “wonder”. I have always called my son my little wonder….

This book has changed my life my life style it changed everything even my perspective its an amazing book.

Everyone should read this book at least once. Always choose kindness.

“Fate smiled and destiny laughed as she came to my cradle…” (a quote from the song “Wonder” by Natalie Merchant) opens this poignant, coming of age book about August, a fifth grade boy with a facial disfigurement that makes “ordinary kids run away screaming in playgrounds”. As a result of the need for multiple surgeries for his craniofacial deformity, August has been home-schooled through the fourth grade and has very few friends. Pressured by his parents to attend a selective prep school, August, scared and unsure of himself, struggles with misunderstandings and isolation at the hand of his fellow students. Finally realizing who he is and who his true friends are, August triumphs as those around him learn “to be a little kinder than is necessary”. This realistic fiction book’s short, conversational chapters- peppered by lots of humor, makes this difficult subject easier to handle. A book of self-realization, understanding, and acceptance this inspiring bestseller is a must read for all middle school students.

Read this extraordinary and brilliant book in one setting. A great reminder for all to "choose kind."

In my opinion, this is an extraordinary book. The characters, prose, and overall message of the book was really outstanding. This book is about 10 year old August, who has a facial deformity, who is going to a mainstream school for the first time. Throughout the story, the reader is introduced to various characters that August encounters at different times. In order to understand the different characters better, Palacio changed the first person point of view as the story progressed. This way, the audience is able to see different perspectives of the same event as well as understand how and why a character feels a certain way towards August. It was great to see the perspectives of August, his friends, and his sister. In addition, I believe the author captured the certain voice of each character very well. She had written it in a way that was exceptionally engaging and believable. Overall, this book’s big idea was to accept others, and yourself, for the way that they are. Everyone should embrace their differences because that is what makes them unique. It is a great message to portray and I believe Palacio did an excellent job in doing so.

In my opinion, the book "Wonder" is a great chapter book for young readers. The first thing I liked about this book was that it was about an issue that a lot of readers can relate to. Bullying is something that has affected a lot of children, especially in a school setting, and I think that this book does a great job of creating a realistic character with realistic bullying problems in school. I also liked how this book used references that students would understand like "light sabers" and "Jimmy Neutron" which really helps the reader to visualize and think about certain situations or people with more detail. Another thing I liked about this book was that it gave the perspective of different characters in the story and what they were thinking about the same situations as Auggie, the main character. It was interesting to read what each different character brought to the story as their opinions and personal stories were portrayed as well. The big idea of the story was that you should accept and love yourself for who you are, to make sure your friends are always going to be there for you, and to stand up for yourself.

The book Wonder by R.L. Palacio is an enjoyable and educational book. I enjoyed reading this book because it can be a great resource in teaching bully prevention. One reason I liked this book so much was it structure. Having been written in different perspectives, this book allowed the reader to witness all sides of the story. Seeing the whole story from different sides gave me a deeper understanding of the situation. Having the different perspectives from August, Via, Summer, Jack, Justin, and Miranda allowed me to see an entire picture rather than one biased one. It gave me the opportunity to form my own thoughts by using information from each source. I feel like this book is a huge discussion opener. This book can be used to make students aware of the effects of bullying. This type of discussion/lesson is essential in classes today since bullying has become easier and more prevalent. It also allows students to realize how people with differences: black, white, foreign or disabled are not much different than them. The most heart wrenching part of this book for me was the Halloween costume incident. When Julian shows up to class as Darth Sidious, it is his way of bullying August; August is hurt and plays sick to avoid school because of this. I feel like the big idea in this book is to focus on those who are different. It shines a light on those people who feel isolated because of a difference. It also teaches readers that despite a dissimilarity everyone is entitled to be treated equally and cared for. Everyone has feelings and this book highlights just that.

A 10 year old boy named August was born with facial deformities which have been worked on over time through plastic surgery. He grew up being homeschool by his mother out of his parents' fear of how others would treat him in public school. They decide to enroll him in a public school when he enters 5th grade. This story is empowering and eye opening to how students can feel in a school setting and how peers can treat one another. It did a wonderful job in conveying a unique experience from a child's point of view. The author conveyed August's perspective through visuals and his interactions with his peers. August would always notice the color or condition of people's shoes because his head was always down and hiding behind his bangs. This revealed his poor self-image and low confidence through his head hanging down. The author also conveyed August's perspective through dialogue. The dialogue or inner monologue shared his innermost thoughts which revealed his mindset and how he approaches life. For example, the author says, "“It's what you've done with your time, how you've chosen to spend your days, and whom you've touched this year. That, to me, is the greatest measure of success.” This is the kind of mentality August is surrounded with and inspired by. This shows that he has aspirations and dreams despite the types of looks and remarks he directly or indirectly receives. This book is filled with many life lessons, positive messages, authenticity, and realistic situations. The big message is to embrace who you are and the right people will love you no matter what.

This book is absolutely lovely. Any reader (maybe 3rd grade an above) would love this story. My children are not huge fans of realistic fiction, and they absolutely adored reading about Augie and his family. It is sweet, uplifting, and has a critical message, yet it doesn't feel preachy or overbearing at all.

Middle school sucked for me. You may think I'm exaggerating, but I'm really not. During the entirety of middle school, I never had any real friends. I may have looked normal, but I was still definitely an outcast. I cannot imagine going through what Auggie went through. His strength of character to be able to face that situation is incredible.

Part of why he could survive the experience was just Auggie. He's a smart kid and really loved the learning part of school. When people stop to notice, he's funny. Having gotten to fifth grade and maintained a fairly positive attitude despite the staring and the people screaming at his visage is just courageous. In addition to his own strengths, he was lucky enough to have supportive people in his life. His parents and sister would do absolutely anything for him; their family is so loving and happy. Plus, he made a couple of friends to stand by him on the first day of school, Jack and Summer.

This book nearly made me cry. Multiple times. For those who don't know, this is pretty rare. Unlike one of my friends who I will refrain from naming, tv shows and books are not constantly making me cry. The tears that threatened were caused both by sadness and happiness, which is pretty awesome.

Kids are cruel. Never once have I doubted this, having been the victim of some verbal bullying myself as a child. Being surprised or scared at an unfamiliar face is unfortunate, but really cannot be helped; that response is instinctual. What is absolutely awful is the way that people continue to judge him, refusing to get to know Auggie's amazing qualities. Just because he's ugly, they do things like pretend that if they touch him they'll get The Plague. Like ugliness is catching. It's not like Auggie has a transmitable disease.

Even worse than kids, who know what they're doing but at least have ignorance as some amount of an excuse, are the parents. One parent in particular tries to get Auggie kicked out of the school, because she feels like he's brought the level of the school down, even though he's a trillion times smarter than her son. This same mother photoshopped Auggie out of the class photo.

Anyway, I'll stop with that now, because, really, you should read the book for yourself. I also want to mention that the method Palacio used to tell the story was highly effective. The narrative begins and ends with Auggie's perspective. In the middle, you hear from classmates, his sister, and some of his sister's friends. By bookending the story with Auggie, you're really able to see how much he has grown, and the other people's perspectives reveal how much he touched their lives too.

This is a story of courage and resilience. 10-year-old Auggie was born with severe facial abnormalities. Up until now he had been home-schooled and protected but it is time for Auggie to step out into the world and attend a regular private middle school. Avoided and bullied, Auggie has a hard time finding acceptance amongst his peers; however, with the support of his teachers and his close friends Summer and Jack, and with his determination and courage, things begin to turn around. A highly recommended read for all ages. The characters are well-developed and real. By the end of the book you will both laugh and cry.

==========This precept means that we should be remembered for the things we do. The things we do are the most important things of all. They are more important than what we say or what we look like. The things we do outlast our mortality. The things we do are like monuments that people build to honor heroes after they’ve died. They’re like the pyramids that the Egyptians built to honor the pharaohs. Only instead of being made out of stone, they’re made out of the memories people have of you. That’s why your deeds are like your monuments. Built with memories instead of with stone.==========Sometimes I think my head is so big because it is so full of dreams. —John Merrick in Bernard Pomerance’s The Elephant Man==========

A really great book about the capacity for human kindness and strength. There were some editing errors and I thought some of the dialogue needed polishing, but overall this was beautiful.

This book was terrific.

This book definitely has a powerful lesson to teach children. I did feel the writing was rather simplistic for me, which pulled me out of the story a bit, but I didn't deduct from my rating due to that. It wouldn't be fair, given the age level this is written for and the fact I'm an adult reader. It's just an important point for other adults who might care to read it, particularly as it's something that I usually have no issue ignoring.That being said, Wonder has a great story to tell about a young boy with a facial deformity so severe that it horrifies people and makes some even run away screaming. After being taught by his mother at home for his early school years, the decision is made that he should attend a regular school so that he can advance beyond the point where his mother can help him. This book is the story of his first year at school, and it certainly isn't easy.One interesting element is that the narrative voice changes several times in the book, though some of those voices are done better than others. But, we as readers get to hear the perspectives of August's sister, some of his friends, and so on. Each one does add to the story, and provides good insight into where the character is coming from, but the shifts in character do also seem to interrupt the flow and jar the reader a couple times, or at least that was my experience. It is clear as you read the book why it was done though, as it offers information and insight that August is not privy to, often thankfully so.In any case, I definitely recommend this as a book to read with early-elementary up to middle school aged kids, when they can really learn from it. I say to read it with them because there is a lot to talk about in the book and having those discussions is really important.

We are nearing the end of this fabulous book. It made us both cry again last night. Read it, preferably aloud to your child.

In my opinion, this book is absolutely wonderful for many reasons. First, I believe that there were many eye-opening issues throughout the story that children should be aware of and may even find relatable in some way. The book presents the issues of bullying, what is “normal” or “ordinary,” and how people of all ages treat those with disabilities. I truly enjoyed the various messages that were displayed throughout this heartfelt book. Next, I enjoyed the book because of the various perspectives that were presented in first person from the different characters. The different perspectives were significant because they gave the reader an inside view of the thoughts and feelings of each character. The different perspectives include those of the main character Auggie, his sister Via, his friends Summer and Jack Will, Via’s friend Miranda, and Via’s boyfriend Justin. Each character’s perspective provided that character with a voice, allowing for the reader to make connections and brings new points of view to light. The various perspectives allowed for the author to develop the plot and present conflict and emotion. I enjoyed that this book was a very easy read and would be a great book for young readers. Each chapter was only about two to three pages and the breaking up of the short chapters makes it flow very nicely. Finally, this book definitely pushes the readers to think about tough issues. In today’s society bullying is such a huge issue in schools. I think that this book allows for children to see what it might be like to have a disability or deformity and the inner challenges that one may face. I believe that the message of this book is to present people with the idea of treating others the way that you want to be treated and to always be kind to others because you may not know what they are going through.

This was a fantastic book!! Auggie is a fifth grader who has been getting homeschooled due to medical issues. He decides to go to school. He also has facial distortions. This is the story of how his year goes. I really liked how the author told Auggie's story from the point of view of others as well as from Auggie's point of view. The theme of kindness and how to treat others makes this book one to use with my students.

A lot of people will be flocking to the cinemaplex to catch the movie version of this book, but let me encourage you to read it as well. My 7 year old son and I just finished it together and it's about as close to perfect a book as I've come across in years. Wonder is the story of Auggie, a young man with multiple hereditary health issues that leave him with facial deformities, and his first year of school which is 5th grade. The story is told through the view of several of the characters therefore causing the reader to consider events from multiple perspectives. The only knock I would have on this book is that the character of Summer, who is the first student to be kind to Auggie, kind of recedes into the background during the second half of the book. Which is a shame because her story was every bit as interesting as Auggies. But that's a minor quibble and I encourage everyone to read this book. It's one for the ages.

"I know I'm not an ordinary ten-year-old kid. I mean, sure, I do ordinary things. I eat ice cream. I ride my bike. I play ball. I have an XBox. Stuff like that makes me ordinary. I guess. And I feel ordinary. Inside. But I know ordinary kids don't make other ordinary kids run away screaming in playgrounds. I know ordinary kids don't get stared at wherever they go."Oh, what a treat of a book! In August Pullman, Palacio has created one of the most loveable and memorable characters in modern children's literature. August is ten years old, and is a completely normal little boy in every way but one - he was born with severe facial disfigurement. The book opens as his mother tries to persuade him that it might be time to go to 'real school' for the first time. August has always been loved, protected - and taught - by his family, but during his year in the fifth grade of Beecher Prep, life is going to be very different. Auggie's story is pretty irresistable reading. Switching between various viewpoints as the book progresses, including Auggie himself, his sister Via and his friends Jack and Summer, the author deftly explores the effects of Auggie's disfigurement on his life and the lives of everyone around him. It's a clever device that allows the reader to not only get inside Auggie's head as he faces the trials and tribulations of school life, but also to get the wider picture of how other people are coping, what people are saying, and how his new friends react to the pressure being placed on them by the less savoury characters at school.It should come as no surprise that while Palacio offers much to smile, laugh and chortle over in this novel - it is lightly written, quite amusing and her children's voices are spot-on - there were also parts that made me frown, parts that made my eyes open wide with horror, and parts that made me tear up with indignation. It's a sad fact of life that a lot of kids (and a lot of parents) are relentlessly cruel to people who are perceived to be 'different' - and that's exactly what makes this book so important. I'd go as far as to say that it should be required reading for every child. From start to finish the emphasis is on kindness and courage. Palacio doesn't steer away from moral gray areas - her characters make mistakes along the way and things aren't always as they seem - but ultimately she shows very clearly how bullying and insensitive behaviour can have a harmful ripple effect on people's lives, and how strength, friendship, compassion and good humour are always the better choices. I finished the book with tears in my eyes, a smile on my face - and a little place in my heart reserved for Auggie. Highly recommended!