Wonder (Wonder, #1) in Crazy Challenge Connection

Jun 05, 2014 Srividya Vijapure rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-owned, srividyas-2014-challenge

This is one book that I have been wanting to read for a long time, ever since I was told about it. When a book gets rave reviews from all corners, I am usually skeptical as I always feel that it won't live up to the expectations that I have created in my mind. However, with Wonder and Auggie, I must say that it totally surpassed all expectations that I had built in my mind. If there was a rating more than 5, I would give it to this book. As it is in my mind it deserves a full 10! That's how much This is one book that I have been wanting to read for a long time, ever since I was told about it. When a book gets rave reviews from all corners, I am usually skeptical as I always feel that it won't live up to the expectations that I have created in my mind. However, with Wonder and Auggie, I must say that it totally surpassed all expectations that I had built in my mind. If there was a rating more than 5, I would give it to this book. As it is in my mind it deserves a full 10! That's how much I loved this book.

Well how do I go about describing my experience with Auggie.. it was poignant, sweet, funny, sad and totally profound. How often as humans have we met people who are not 'normal' as we like to call them and how often have we turned our faces away or looked at them with pity, although we like to call it sympathy? Very often right? My first thought on reading this book was my age old argument with friends - Is outer beauty that important? And what exactly is beauty or looks in any case? I really don't understand the importance attached to it, never have and I guess I never will. However, despite that, I am sure inadvertently though I could have been one of those people who have reacted with surprise while in such situations. I can't really deny that. Reading this book, however, has changed me in that fundamental manner, where I know from now on at least, I will just be like Auggie's parents for whom the child is a wonder, the best thing that could ever happen to them!

While taking this journey along with Auggie and the other narrators, I could relate to each and every one of them. That is what made this book really or doubly special. It had different viewpoints and each was something that you could relate to. I loved the way the author wrote the book, it was realistic and had no fancy frills to either augment or detract the importance of the subject at hand. Via's reaction, Miranda, Justin, Summer, Jack and last but definitely not the least Auggie himself made this a wonderful journey, one I will never forget but will always cherish.

The parts regarding bullying in school brought back memories of my daughter's first day in school this year and thereby bringing tears to my eyes. She had stopped going to school towards the end of last year and would not tell me why. This year, on the first day, despite being apprehensive, she agreed to go. When she got back, the first thing she told us happily was that a particular girl was no longer in the bus with her! That's when I realised just how much she was bullied towards the end of last year.

The words written by the author "Sometimes you don't have to mean to hurt someone to hurt someone" is so true and is just what my daughter always wanted to tell me but I needed an Auggie to understand.

However, I believe in what Justin says "The universe takes care of all its birds" and this resonates in how things change for Auggie, giving me hope as a mother and as a human.

I have but one lesson to take with me from this book and it is something that all of us should strive towards. When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind - Bravo Dr. Wayne W.Dyer and bravo the author for putting such a wonderful sentiment in such a simple manner.

Definitely recommend this book to all!! Its a MUST READ!! ...more

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Jan 13, 2018 Beth rated it it was amazing

Shelves: on-my-kindle, ugly-crying, young-adult-fiction, middle-grade, read-in-2018

I'll post my review later when my cheeks stop hurting from smiling so much ...more

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Jun 14, 2014 Joi rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya-to-be-read

My eyes have no more water left. I was crying from the first page to the end. Some were happy tears, and some were sad tears. I loved this book.

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Jun 19, 2016 Zaza rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: jeunesse, lu-en-2016, roman-choral

★2.5★

Un livre au résumé prometteur mais hélas, au final on a quelque chose qui manque un peu de profondeur. La multiplication des POV est une bonne idée à la base mais certains n'ont que peu d'intérêt, et celui que j'aurais voulu voir le plus développé (celui de Via) est beaucoup trop court à mon goût. Ratée aussi c'est fin dégoulinante de bons sentiments. :/ Vu le sujet, j'aurais préféré un truc plus sombre, ce n'est parce que c'est un livre jeunesse qu'on ne peut pas avoir quelque chose d'un p ...more

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Dec 31, 2016 L.M. rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-childrens

I read this twice, first on my own and then with a group of 4th graders. Unfortunately the 4th graders didn't take it seriously (imagine that!) I thought it was wonderful and hopefully even though the kids didn't get into it like I did maybe some part of it will stick with them. ...more

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