The first time I saw the cover of this book, one thing suddenly came into my mind – The Fault in our Stars. The blue cover made me think that this is probably some sort of TFIOS derivative. After its huge success, both as a book and as a film, it’s not impossible.
But Wonder made all the difference in the world. It is no TFIOS, it doesn’t actually have the slightest hint of being a we’re-both-dying-so-let’s-make-forever-within-numbered-days kind of story. It is about a boy named August (TFIOS’s guy is Augustus), who suffers from a birth anomaly of being practically deformed.
It is a marvel how authors make research for the sake of writing an extraordinary plot. I haven’t even Googled the kind of deformity August has, but you get the picture. Anyway, I like the way the book was written. It showed the point of view of each of the characters involved in August’s life. It gave ideas about what goes on in their minds, and why they love, hate, and are reluctant to be friends with August, giving the readers the chance to understand the way they feel, and putting the audience into the shoes of whoever character they could relate to the most.
Though very ideal (but certainly not impossible), the kind of family that August has is also something that I love about the story. They are so attached to one another, and they have this value that most families nowadays seem to lack. I guess that’s where August and his older sister, Via, got their sense of positivity and kind-heartedness. I even found myself laughing when August’s dad made fun of Mr. Tushman‘s name. In the end, the kids at August’s school were able to look beyond his physical appearance and ended up liking him.
This book is not about bullying, but about handling oneself in a new world with awareness of its cruelty and unkindness. August didn’t push himself for the kids to be friends with him. He was just being himself, fun to be with, and nice. There might be times that he’s hurting inside, and questioning the universe why he had to be ugly (it’s natural, he’s just human), but with the help of his wonderful family, he was able to get through it.
Another book that will tell us once again that there’s more than the eye meets. This novel is full of realization about kindness, friendship, positivity and genuine concern. And I am reminded of what Exupery said, “What’s important is invisible in the eye.”
