January chapter book of the month - Wonder by RJ Palacio

[RachelMumsnet]

January's chapter book of the month caused quite a stir at MNHQ on hardback publication last year. Our preview copy was passed around first to our children whose response was so overwhelming ('my favourite book EVER') that we read it and there wasn't a dry eye in the office. Our copy is now well-worn and dog-eared but we're delighted to offer 50 copies to mumsnetters and their children and announce Wonder by RJ Palacio as our January book of the month.

Read more about this WONDERful book on the Chapter book of the month page and if you are one of the 50 winners, do share your thoughts (and your children's) on the book on this thread.

Just discovered this. Fab idea. I've been looking for some ideas on good books for the children.

This has recently been added to the "to read" list, so looking forward to it.

With a son who is treated differently by his peers due to his disabilities I would be interested to hear the reviews on this thread.

Think that this a book that even my DS who doesn't like reading would like!

My 5yo DS is reading everything he can get his hands on at the moment. He might need a little help with this but I think he'd give it a go and it would be wonderful to broaden his horizons a bit too.

We've closed the forms this morning for the free books and will be selecting 50 names at random today and sending them over to the publishers. Good luck and do remember to post your thoughts up on this board when you've read the book.

This is a beautiful book - funny and heartwarming with a lesson we all need to remember: be kind. It is interesting reading how the author found the idea to write the book - it makes you think of times you haven't maybe behaved the best when faced with a someone with a disability. She writes mainly from the perspective of the little boy who has the facial deformity but also has chapters written from the perspective of his family and friends so that the reader builds up a full picture of how disabilities affect everyone involved.

My little girl loves books and I love these book reviews, they are fab. From a fellow bookworm.

Thank you, our book has just arrived. Now to decide which of my children gets to read it first . . . . . .

Our copy arrived today too. Thank you MN :)

Dd is delighted. She's just going to finish her school library book first before she gets started & she promises to give her thoughts.

This seems to have been a big hit with DD who seems to be reading a book every few days at the moment.

What age range is it suited to?

Dd is 11.

@Thewhingingdefective

What age range is it suited to?

I read it to my nine year old and my son (who was 13 at the time) and daughter (aged 12) both read it and loved it. It's also been sold as an adult book - so a big range.

Thanks. Will get a copy. :)

Dd is lending it to her friend. I've asked her to write a review.

I'm going to read it first, to make sure it's not too grown up for DD, but I think she'll be ok with it.

Read it first and found it to be touching and funny so recommended it to dd (9). She has been a reluctant reader until recently but I was determined to introduce her to that other world that reading opens up to you.

She absolutely loved it! She still refers to Augie occasionally and uses his situation sometimes to contextualise things.

my dd got this book at the weekend - all of her friends in her class have read this too. she is 9. She was reading parts of it out to me on the way to school this morning. I'll ask her to write a review.

I read this in one sitting, very thought provoking, and touching. Auggie brings out the best,and worst in people and this is addressed in a moving and sensitive way.I liked the different perspectives given which added to the overall theme that it really doesn't matter what you look like, everyone struggles with the same ideal, wanting to be accepted. Some care, more than others and this can cause further conflict as Jack found out. Some people need to learn acceptance,for others it comes naturally.And how powerful, and inspiring Auggie was,without realising it to many people,who, perhaps did not realise it themselves. It's in the final chapters that Auggie really thrives,enjoys all the things he should be and struggling with the same issues as his peers (embarrassing parents!) and the heartbreak,when I think he begins to understand that he is part of a family,not everything revolves around him. The underlying and important message is present throuought, and as a parent of a child treated,avoided and ridiculed by his peers for his difficulties, it goes someway to addressing the balance, for each act of meanness,there are, and always will be adults and children prepared to be 'kinder than is necessary', and as a parent and human being that is something I will always strive to be.

I finished reading it this evening. I admit to feeling quite tearful at August's journey from timid, bullied new kid in school to the successful, popular boy he becomes by the end of the novel.

On reflection, I don't think my daughter is quite ready to read it herself yet, but I shall certainly enjoy reading it to her.

I'm going to try and get around to reading this myself once I can prise it from dd.

She really enjoyed reading it and was delighted to get her free copy. She also lent it to a schoolfriend. She said she really thought a lot about what the main character looked like and it made her think.

I've just read this as has my 9 year old twin boys.All of us were blown away.I think it was fantastic and one of the best books I've read in a long time.

My nine year old loved it.

I read it after him and loved it too.

Tears fell....