Book Review: Wonder by R. J. Palacio

Wonder is the first book by author Raquel Jaramillo, under the pen name R. J. Palacio.

I’d heard a lot of great things on Bookstagram about this one, and rave reviews about the movie.

Of course, I’m a READ IT FIRST kind of girl. I hate going to movies based on books if I haven’t read the book, because I feel like seeing the movie first ruins the experience of reading the book.

So, I picked it up.

Here’s the cover of Wonder, which I quite like (and was adamant about getting instead of the new movie one that just came out – more on that in another post):

This is the synopsis of Wonder from Goodreads.

“‘My name is August.
I won’t describe to you what I look like.
Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.’
Ten-year-old August Pullman wants to be ordinary. He does ordinary things. He eats ice-cream. He plays on his Xbox. He feels ordinary – inside.
But Auggie is far from ordinary. Born with a terrible facial abnormality, he has been home-schooled by his parents his entire life, in an attempt to protect him from the cruelty of the outside world. Now, Auggie’s parents are sending him to a real school. Can he convince his new classmates that he’s just like them, underneath it all?
Narrated by Auggie and the people around him whose lives he touches, Wonder is a frank, funny, astonishingly moving debut to be read in one sitting, pass on to others, and remember long after the final page.”

Finally, here’s my review of Wonder!

Wonder feels like an honest telling of what goes on at school. I teach grade 8 and 10 at a secondary school, and although a 10-year-old like Auggie would attend elementary school, I think I’ve spent enough time working as a teacher (and more time than I would have liked as a substitute in elementary schools) that I can say that with confidence.

The things that occur in the book are heartbreaking, partly because they are sad and mean and horrible, but also partly because they are real and possible and probable. And that is an important moral truth.

However, I love how hopeful this book is. The tagline for the movie release was #choosekind, and that was clear throughout the story. I especially liked the precepts that Auggie’s English teacher introduced each month. In my opinion, it is the Social-Emotional lessons that are the most important part of a teacher’s job. The things students learn through those types of activities are what make them positive, caring, and contributing adult citizens.

Other Noteworthy Stuff

Not only is Wonder a heart-warming tale of resilience, kindness, and hope, but it is also a harrowing cautionary tale. It demonstrates the kind of hatred and meanness that young people are capable of if they are not taught kindness. It’s an important lesson that needs to be taken seriously, for adults and children alike.

Also, this is the first time I’ve cried reading a book in as long as I can remember. It was wonderfully cathartic. I won’t tell you what made me cry because it would be a spoiler. But any book that can make me cry is certainly worth a read. It really is a wonder.

Finally, I really loved the different perspectives in this story. It starts out from the perspective of August, but switches to other characters in the story that are a part of his life. It definitely adds to the story for it to switch around like that.

Overall, 5/5 stars.

I definitely recommend Wonder! One caveat: I based this rating on the fact that this is a book intended for young(ish) readers.

Happy reading!

– Paperback Patronus

Monthly To Be Read List: January 2018

I got a lot of books during Black Friday sales that I’m really excited about, so I had a pretty ambitious To Be Read (TBR) stack for December, and I’m doing the same for January.

Without further ado, here’s it is, pictured with the beautiful book lamp my husband got me for christmas! It opens like a book and is insanely satisfying.

Harry Potter: A History of Magic – The British Library
The Invention of Wings – Sue Monk Kidd
Caraval  – Stephanie Garber
Rebel of the Sands – Alwyn Hamilton
#GIRLBOSS – Sophia Amoruso
Lily and the Octopus – Steven Rowley
The Wonder – Emma Donoghue
The Hate U Give – Angie Thomas
Braving the Wilderness – Brené Brown
I’ll Give You the Sun – Jandy Nelson
The Graduate – Charles Webb
Station Eleven – Emily St. John Mandel
This Song Will Save Your Life – Leila Sales
Suicide Notes From Beautiful Girls – Lynn Weingarten

Where I’m at, and what I’m looking forward to!

As it’s already January 6, I’ve finished three of these! I read Harry Potter: A History of Magic first, Caraval second, and Rebel of the Sands third. Reviews upcoming for all of them! Out of the three, I enjoyed Rebel of the Sands the most! I think my next read will be #GIRLBOSS! I’m feeling some non-fiction.  I think my most highly anticipated reads of this month are The Hate U Give and Station Eleven, which both come highly recommended from friends and Bookstagram alike.

It’s highly possible that you think there’s no way I’ll finish all of these…

You might be right, but I’ve already read three and I read 15 books in December! I’d bet on myself for this one.

Now that I’ve shared this with you, I’m off to keep working on all the reviews I need to post thanks to my warp-speed holiday break reading spree!

– Paperback Patronus

My Favourite Reads: 2017 Wrap-Up

It’s the fifth day of 2018, and I’m ready to talk about my favourite reads of 2017!

This year was probably my best reading year ever.

I read 105 books, and I really enjoyed almost all of them. That made it difficult to choose favourites. So, I decided to pick one per month and then add some honourable mentions. I’ll also give each book a little blurb, because I didn’t start posting my reviews on here until November. I’ll link my review if there is one.

Here we go!

Title links take you to Amazon, and the links underneath are to my reviews, if applicable.

January: Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo and Me by Ellen Forney

This is my favourite graphic novel of all time. It’s a stunning, true memoir of the author’s experience with Bipolar Disorder, medication for it, and her relationship with her psychiatrist.

February: For Today I Am a Boy by Kim Fu

This is a book I had heard nothing about when I picked it up, and it was a haunting story of coming of age  as a transgender person.

March: Caliban’s War by James S. A. Corey

This is the second book in the futuristic sci-fi saga called The Expanse. I recently wrote a review of Nemesis Games, the fifth book in the series. Clearly I’m enjoying it, having read four of them this year.

April: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

This is another great sci-fi with some pretty fantastic 80s references. And it’s coming out as a feature film this year!

May: everything I never told you by Celeste Ng

This was a haunting story of family and growing up.

June: The Paper Magician by Charlie N. Holmberg

The Paper Magician was a really interesting, unique take on magic, and I’m hoping to read the second book in the series, The Glass Magician, this year!

July: On Beauty by Zadie Smith

A “The Breakfast Book Club” choice, On Beauty was a chuckle-worthy and deeply moving story of a multiracial family and their feud/relationships with another such family.

August: Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Illuminae is quite possibly the most original book format I’ve ever read. Pieced together from case files, text conversations, letters, reports, images, etc., it is an exciting story of futuristic political and physical battles, family, friendship, and love.

September: A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin

The fourth installment in the Game of Thrones series, A Feast for Crows was an excellent fantasy read. My only beef is that as the fifth book follows different characters, I will not get to follow along with these characters’ stories until Martin finally publishes book 6!

October: It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

This was a story of depression that was incredibly realistic and heart-warming.

November: Another Day by David Levithan

Another Day is the sequel to Every Day, which is one of my favourite YA contemporary books. This sequel definitely did not disappoint.

December: Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

I have read everything John Green has written solo, and this is hands-down my favourite. A story exploring anxiety and the meaning of life. Check out my review if you’re interested.

Honourable Mentions!

Some books didn’t quite win out as best of each month, but they were awesome and I have to recommend them on here! In no particular order…

One

the sun and her flowers; milk and honey – both by rupi kaur

Simultaneously heartbreaking and uplifting poetry and illustrations. I recently reviewed the sun and her flowers!

Two

The Smell of Other People’s Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock

A beautiful story of intertwining narratives set in small-town Alaska and Canada. Also the most recent review I’ve posted on my blog!

Three

The Break by Katherena Vermette

Another “The Breakfast Book Club” choice, this was a harrowing story of connected Métis voices in Winnipeg.

Four

Warcross by Marie Lu

This was a really exciting story, similar to Ready Player One, but also with an interesting speculative fiction/warning feel. My review is also on the blog!

Five

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

This book was incredibly inspiring and I definitely agree with Gilbert’s premise about creative ideas.

Six

When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

This was a crushing story of hope and perseverance in the midst of debilitating illness.

Seven

The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking

This is now my Bible.

Eight

scrappy little nobody by Anna Kendrick

A hilarious look into the life of a wonderful woman.

Nine

Renegades by Marissa Meyer

A fun superhero/sci-fi novel about family, revenge, and justice. I wrote a review for it in December.

Well, there you have it! My favourite reads of 2017. I hope you enjoyed this list and you take some inspiration from it for your next read (or several)!

– Paperback Patronus