“Wonder” by R.J. Palacio

When “The One and Only Ivan” won the Newbery Award there was a good deal of chatter that this book, “Wonder,” should have won.  Ironically, “Wonder,” which is a very good book with a plethora of starred reviews and raves, came up empty at award season … not even winning a Schneider Award, which it is aptly suited for.  My take is this:  “Wonder” is terrific.  “The One and Only Ivan” is terrific.  Both pull at your heart-strings a-plenty.  Both humanize protagonists who are ostracized and stared at.  “The One and Only Ivan,” however, is a more literary book, and the Newbery has always been an award about literary quality – and notably not about popularity or even stories that are particularly engaging (I refer to “Criss-Cross” here…among others).  Nonetheless, I agree that this book should have been given some award somehow.  “Wonder” is the story of August, a boy born with tremendous facial deformities.  After a childhood spent in multiple surgeries and lengthy recovery periods, he enters a public school for the first time in the 5^th grade.  As imagined, Auggie’s road is a little rough, given his looks and middle school mentalities.  The book is not a “downer” however, and is very much about perseverance – Auggie’s spirit is indefatigable, and his determination to live his life clearly makes him a “Wonder.”  This could almost be a regular old “school story.”  Auggie’s reflections, and the interactions around him, are not substantially different from the many tales of pre-teens trying to fit in.  Told in short chapters (our reading teacher used it as a read-aloud), the point of view is mostly that of August, but from time to time the POV switches to others around him.  I use the term “around him” very literally.  Like all children with significant health issues, the siblings tend to be ignored.  Auggie’s sister notes that he is the sun, while she and the rest of the family orbit around him.  Each “part” that signals a change in narrator recreates the cover image of a face with one eye – changing the hairstyle or other details to indicate different people.  It visually highlights the fact that each person talking is reflection of Auggie’s world.  The only flaw in the book, IMHO is that there are some minor inconsistencies in these break-out sections and some questions left unanswered.  If judges were picky (they would have to be) this small issue may have kept the book out of medal contention last winter.  Who knows?  Set in New York city, this 11 year-old boy seems more mature than average, but that fits given the setting and the trials he has had to endure.  With tremendously supportive parents, the story  is very warm and fuzzy.  On the whole, it is a feel-good tale.  There is even an amusing appendix, complete with a “precepts” assignment given by one teacher.  The only lasting mystery is R.J. Palacio, who is the author but the name is a pseudonym.  Is it possible that this is the real sister of the fictional “August”?  Possibly.  In any case, the novel is told with love, and that shines through every page.  Enjoy.

“The False Prince” by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Mmm.  Yummy.  This was one I stayed up late at night to finish, and unlike so many of the series books I preview, I am eagerly awaiting a chance to read the next installment.  Classified as a fantasy, it is fairly un-fantasy-like.  Neither a wizard nor a dragon graces these pages … no magic or mythical beasts here.  Instead, count on palace intrigue, action, mystery and a twist or two you may or may not see coming (I did, but it didn’t ruin the story).  Sage is one of four orphans taken by a nobleman to train for a ruse that could topple this medieval kingdom (yeah, it’s not hard to guess at, given the title).  Told heavily in first person, internal narrative, the story is dark but not too dark.  Sage has serious attitude but it isn’t off-putting.  He is clever and quick – I enjoyed his efforts to “play” the adults around him and his refusal to bend to the will of others.  His iron will, not unlike my own, made him a very strong, real character.  The tale moves slowly, but not too slowly, making me ache to read the next chapter.  The writing is good without being overly literary.  Yes, I'm using a lot of qualifiers here -- to be honest it is hard to say exactly why I liked it so much (many student readers do, too).  Showing up on a good number of “recommended” booklists this year, I think the the characters are engaging and the story well-told.  It’s simply “good” with only one flaw in the entire book (IMHO).  The ending, both wrapping up threads from this round and preparing for the next in the series, seemed a little rushed and slightly convenient … but there were lots of hints along the way, so readers shouldn't be surprised.  “Runaway King,” book two of this series, is already out.  I may have to use the public library to get it – I can’t wait to see what happens next.