After being published five years ago, fans are overjoyed to discover that the novel, “Wonder”, by R.J Palacio is finally being brought to theatres. It follows the story of a ten year old boy born with genetic deformities, August Pullman who longs to be ordinary. He knows deep down that he’s just like everyone else, but after 27 surgeries, his facial abnormalities make people see him in a way he wishes they wouldn’t. This moving, heart-felt novel written by New York Times Bestseller, R.J Palacio, receives 4 out of 5 stars.

The book goes on to tell of the challenges that Auggie faces with being unordinary. He is used to the stares and crude comments made by kids and adults when he walks by, but he is terrified when his parents tell him they’ve decided to stop homeschooling him and enroll him into middle school at Beecher Prep. They persuade him to give it a try and hope he is accepted by the students and teachers at his new school. Palacio does a great job at developing Auggie’s character. She goes into detail about his personality and explains his emotions well. The author also does a good job at making readers feel what the characters are feeling throughout the book. Palacio doesn’t ever go into full detail about what Auggie’s face really looks like. However, many readers believe it’s because she wants to make the reader’s paint their own pictures in their imaginations. You’ll often find yourself laughing periodically throughout the novel as the author includes funny remarks by all of the characters.

This story is a great and impactful read for kids and adults 10 years and older. It is an uplifting and amusing novel that will make you want to embrace life more and the people in it. The author does a great job at pulling your emotions out of each page and does nothing but encourage the moral of the story which is that it’s okay to be different, that it’s not about what’s on the outside, but what’s on the inside that matters the most.

Overall, this book is a must-read that will make you laugh and cry. It gives readers a better understanding of what people go through if they don’t feel like everyone else. Palacio’s novel shows Auggie’s best and worst experiences with human nature and a year of emotional growth for him and others he is surrounded by.