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 Multicultural Books YouTube Channels with Diverse Representations Podcasts with Diverse Characters and StoriesCommon sense media reviewers.  Moving tale of facially different boy with inner beauty.  A Lot or a Little?What you will—and won't—find in this book. Wonder's greatest lessons are more emotional or be Wonder has a powerful way of reminding readers tha Almost all of the adults in Wonder are strong role Main character Auggie has a craniofacial condition Auggie's friend Jack Will punches another boy. Som Auggie's high school-age sister, Via, has a boyfri No curse words, but a lot of hate speech and insul Auggie and a couple of his classmates come across Parents need to know that Wonder is about 10-year-old August "Auggie" Pullman, who has a genetic facial difference. After being homeschooled, he enters school for the first time in fifth grade and has to cope with a range of reactions to his unusual appearance, as well as a lot of typical middle school drama… Educational ValueWonder 's greatest lessons are more emotional or behavioral than academic. But the book does go into some detail about genetics and the probability of a child developing physical differences like Auggie's. The novel also offers a telling look at middle school life and curriculum and a bit of information about the differences between middle school and high school culture. One of the teachers, Mr. Browne, teaches his students about precepts, and they discuss a new precept every month. Many of these are great life lessons from authors, spiritual leaders, and philosophers. Positive MessagesWonder has a powerful way of reminding readers that beauty is only skin deep. The novel also offers lessons about the dangers of responding to peer pressure and the importance of simple human kindness. The precepts that Mr. Browne teaches his students also introduce various meaningful ideas. Positive Role ModelsAlmost all of the adults in Wonder are strong role models for Auggie; his sister, Via; and their friends. Auggie's parents, in particular, are so loving, devoted, patient, and kind that their kids' friends wish they could join the Pullman family. Auggie's teachers and Mr. Tushman, the director of Beecher Prep, are caring educators who deftly ease Auggie out of some challenging situations but also let him find his own way socially. Auggie himself shows grace, as well as enough believable kid emotion to make him as convincing as he is admirable. Diverse RepresentationsMain character Auggie has a craniofacial condition, and the book centers around his experiences. He's a complex character with realistic kid emotions and flaws. The rest of his family members provide great examples of how to support a loved one living with a visible disability. Though the novel stops short of endorsing disability hierarchy, it does unfortunately use casual ableism when Auggie yells, "I'm not retarded!" (It's never explained to Auggie that this isn't acceptable.) As written by female author R.J. Palacio, women in the book, such as Auggie's mom and sister, have important roles. Characters' ethnicities aren't made clear, but physical markers include Auggie's brown eyes, Via's "olive skin and the bluest eyes," and Mr. Tushman's "blue eyes with white eyelashes," and there are supporting characters with blond and brown hair. A minor character is named Mrs. Garcia. Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update. Violence & ScarinessAuggie's friend Jack Will punches another boy. Some seventh-grade kids pick on Auggie and his friends, and physically assault them. Kids are pushed, bruised, and scraped, and a child's sweatshirt is torn; the violence in this scene is preceded by verbal abuse, which makes the physical attack especially disturbing. A family experiences the loss of a beloved pet. Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide. Sex, Romance & NudityAuggie's high school-age sister, Via, has a boyfriend, and they kiss a few times. Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide. No curse words, but a lot of hate speech and insults. Other children call Auggie an "alien," an "orc," and a "freak"; they slip notes into his locker telling him to "Get out of our school," and they pretend he has a contagious disease that they call the Plague. Auggie himself uses discriminatory language when he yells "I'm not retarded!" Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide. Drinking, Drugs & SmokingAuggie and a couple of his classmates come across some seventh-grade kids whom they observe smoking. It's not entirely clear whether they're smoking cigarettes or pot. Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide. Parents Need to KnowParents need to know that Wonder is about 10-year-old August "Auggie" Pullman, who has a genetic facial difference. After being homeschooled, he enters school for the first time in fifth grade and has to cope with a range of reactions to his unusual appearance, as well as a lot of typical middle school drama. Some kids use hateful language, and some people suggest that Auggie is mentally deficient. These situations are upsetting, as are other hardships that Auggie's family endures, including the loss of a beloved family pet. But goodness wins out, and readers should find it inspiring and uplifting. A high school couple kisses a few times, and Auggie observes some seventh-grade kids smoking, but it's not clear whether they're smoking cigarettes or pot. The book was adapted for the 2017 film starring Julia Roberts , Owen Wilson , and Jacob Tremblay . The audiobook version, read by Nick Podehl , Kate Rudd, and Diana Steele, was named a 2013 Notable Children's Recording by the American Library Association. Where to ReadCommunity reviews.
Based on 59 parent reviews Read this! It’s awesome!What's the story. August "Auggie" Pullman is a fifth-grade boy with a craniofacial condition. His loving parents and sister have shielded him from many outside influences before WONDER begins, and he's been homeschooled up until that point. But at the start of the book, his mother has decided that it's time for Auggie to brave a group schooling experience. Auggie is upset and afraid to face the other kids' reactions to his appearance, but there's also part of him that wants to do "normal" things. The director of his new school, Mr. Tushman, introduces Auggie to a small group of students before school starts, thinking this will help ease the transition. While some of the students Auggie meets are accepting and kind, others are a bit put off by him, and still others are downright cruel. The novel follows Auggie's first year of middle school from beginning to end. It's a year in which Auggie experiences the best and the worst of human nature and a year of tremendous emotional growth for him. Is It Any Good?Auggie himself is a very convincing and poignant character -- definitely not just a device -- and his story is extremely moving and uplifting. Author R.J. Palacio writes Wonder in multiple voices, including Auggie's, some of his friends', and his sister's. The different points of view are mostly very well-realized and show the inner feelings of the different characters -- though a couple of aspects of Wonder don't ring fully true. Auggie's parents are almost too perfect to be believed, and the main mean kid in the novel is a bit too easily dispensed with. Talk to Your Kids About ...Families can talk about peer pressure and how it's portrayed in Wonder . Sometimes we feel pushed to reject someone -- even a friend -- because others don't like that person. How would you handle the situation that Jack Will faces? Why do you think some people are cruel to Auggie? If you wrote a precept -- like Mr. Browne's class does -- what would it be? Do you think Auggie's parents did the right thing in sending him to school? Why, or why not? In what ways does Wonder encourage compassion ? Which characters seem the most compassionate to you? Why is this an important character strength ? Book Details
Did we miss something on diversity?Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update. Suggest an UpdateOur editors recommend.  White Bird: A Wonder Story We're All Wonders Mockingbird Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key Zen and the Art of Faking ItBack-to-school books, back-to-school movies, related topics.
Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.  The Shortlist New York City and Its Discontents, in 3 New Books“The Sense of Wonder,” “Vintage Contemporaries” and “All the Beauty in the World” take on the many dramas of Gotham. Credit... John Gall Supported by
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Some of the most memorable fiction about sports centers on elite athletes with a penchant for the philosophical. They’re the main players in Chad Harbach’s “The Art of Fielding” (2011) and Don DeLillo’s “End Zone” (1972), and also in Matthew Salesses’s new novel, THE SENSE OF WONDER (243 pp., Little, Brown, $28). The book focuses on the fractious relationship between two New York Knicks teammates and the larger issues of race, class and fidelity that they — and the friends and lovers in their orbit — must reckon with. Won Lee, a Korean American point guard and one of this novel’s two narrators, has the distinction of being the N.B.A.’s only Asian American player. “New York signed me as a marketing strategy,” Won muses early in the book — but his career abruptly takes a turn for the better when the team’s star player, Paul “Powerball!” Burton, injures his back and Won emerges as a formidable figure on the court. His rise to stardom alters his relationship with the sportswriter Robert Sung, a high school teammate of Powerball!’s who had dreamed of basketball stardom before an injury ended his career. Won observes that Sung “acted as if his life was still conditional,” which anticipates the ways in which Sung’s insecurities and resentments begin to curdle into something toxic. Much of this novel is about perception — including, but not limited to, the racist microaggressions Won experiences from fans and team staff members alike. The novel’s second narrator, Carrie Kang, brings those questions of perception into sharp focus. She and Won are in a relationship for much of the novel, but it’s her job as a producer of K-dramas, one of which is about a basketball player, that plays out as a kind of remixed version of the conflicts in Won’s and Carrie’s lives. The dual narration allows Salesses to subtly illustrate the ways his characters’ lives do and do not overlap. From Carrie’s chapters, the reader learns that her sister is struggling with a cancer diagnosis — a subplot that doesn’t come up at all in Won’s chapters. It reflects their differences — and what each of them has going on outside of their respective careers. And while there’s plenty of rumination on basketball in an age of celebrity, it’s far from the only concern in this ambitious, expansive work. Dan Kois’s VINTAGE CONTEMPORARIES (317 pp., Harper, $27.99) opens in 1991, not long after a young woman named Em has moved to New York City. Em is short for Emily, though she adopts the diminutive only after she befriends another Emily at the restaurant Veselka. The latter notes that “it would be pretty confusing that we were both named Emily” if they were characters in a story — one of a few winking, metafictional moments scattered throughout the book. We are having trouble retrieving the article content. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in . Want all of The Times? Subscribe . Advertisement 
Book Reviews on...The sense of wonder, by rachel carson, recommendations from our site. “It’s a beautiful piece.” Read more... The best books on Science and Wonder Caspar Henderson , Journalist Other books by Rachel CarsonThe sea around us by rachel carson, silent spring by rachel carson, our most recommended books, war and peace by leo tolstoy, on liberty by john stuart mill, middlemarch by george eliot, nineteen eighty-four by george orwell, the confessions by augustine (translated by maria boulding), republic by plato. Support Five Books Five Books interviews are expensive to produce, please support us by donating a small amount . We ask experts to recommend the five best books in their subject and explain their selection in an interview. This site has an archive of more than one thousand seven hundred interviews, or eight thousand book recommendations. We publish at least two new interviews per week. Five Books participates in the Amazon Associate program and earns money from qualifying purchases. © Five Books 2024  The Space Between Certainties in “The Sense of Wonder”
 No book has influenced how I approach book reviews more than Craft in the Real World by Matthew Salesses. The book challenges the lens many readers use, one shaped by white, Western values, and is a call not only to make space for diverse storytelling, but to evaluate it on its own terms. And, while I can’t remember if Salesses makes this argument directly, one takeaway for me is when we do so, actively seeking work outside of our own cultural experiences, we become more thoughtful readers, writers, and people. So when I watched an online event for the book and the interviewer and Salesses talked about K-dramas as an art form, I decided I needed to check some out. Regrettably, a year later, I still haven’t, and now feel woefully unqualified to review his new novel, The Sense of Wonder , which heavily features K-dramas. Which is not to say you need to be familiar with K-dramas to enjoy this novel. Quite simply, it’s an enjoyable, if at times painful, read. It opens with an uncomfortable joke that starts, “An Asian American basketball star walks into a gym.” But before the joke is delivered, the narrator—Won Lee, who for the purposes of the novel is the first Asian American in the NBA—warns us, “It’s the dirtiest joke I know, because it’s the truest.” I won’t share the rest of the joke, but let’s just say this short two-paragraph opening does a lot. Yes, it establishes Won’s voice and some of the novel’s conflict, but it also acts a bit like a content warning of what’s to come. If you can’t guess, Won will be on the receiving end of heinous racism. Sharing this story, and the microphone, is Won’s girlfriend, Carrie Kang, a studio producer attempting to bring K-drama to the American entertainment industry, which is not enthusiastic about embracing anything different. The novel is divided into seven sections that mostly go back and forth between Won and Carrie’s perspectives, with one interlude—Part Three: K-drama, For the Love of Your Future Self , which offers a quick overview of the genre for the uninitiated (yes, unfortunately, that includes me), as well as a K-drama tale that feels in conversation with what’s happening between Won and Carrie. And we’re told where K-drama shines is “in the tension between certainty and wonder.” That line holds the crux of the novel. It’s why all the K-drama references and stories are essential, and why other story threads—Carrie’s sister’s battle with cancer; Won’s strained friendship with a sports reporter; his relationship with teammate and NBA legend Paul Burton, who is widely known by the nickname “Powerball!”; and Powerball!’s marital drama—are indispensable. In all these stories, much like in life, we see the push and pull between what’s certain and what’s not, what holds a sense of wonder. Wonder has a few definitions, and can be used as both an adjective and a verb. It’s a feeling of surprise, of being a phenomenon; it’s the act of pondering, of marveling, of being surprised. Salesses leverages these shifting meanings throughout the novel, as well as in its title. When Won, who spends most games on the bench, gets playing time during Powerball!’s absence, he rises to stardom and a reporter calls him “Won-derkid.” The media then begins calling the subsequent winning streak “The Wonder.” Talent itself is a wondrous thing, as are opportunity, luck, and the phenomenon of any streak of fortune. One touch I’d be remiss not to mention is the care Salesses put into chapter titles—themselves a marvel these days when most novel chapters are simply numbered. Their presence feels special, and like an invitation to take the work deeper. And the titles are often clever: one is “And at the End of the Story Is the Telling of It,” and another shares the title of Salesses’ 2020 novel, Disappear Doppelgänger Disappear , which was a PEN/Faulkner finalist.  Fate Never Sleeps in “Goodnight Tokyo”Clever is an apt word to describe The Sense of Wonder , as it’s so richly layered. By merging the worlds of sports and entertainment (and the ways the two overlap), the novel astutely captures the tension between the public and personal lives of sports stars. It manages to be both funny and heartbreaking, and as entertaining as I imagine a K-drama is. I suspect a familiarity with the genre will lend the reader a wider lens to view the novel, but even without such context, The Sense of Wonder is a sharp, delightful read. And the book gave me the impetus to finally watch K-dramas, which I suspect will only bring greater appreciation for this wondrous world Salesses built.  FICTION The Sense of Wonder By Matthew Salesses Little Brown and Company Published January 17, 2023  Rachel León is a writer, editor, and social worker. She serves as Daily Editor for Chicago Review of Books and Fiction Editor for Arcturus. Her work has appeared in The Rumpus, BOMB Magazine, The Millions, Electric Literature, Los Angeles Review of Books, the Ploughshares blog, Split Lip Magazine, and elsewhere. She shares her anxiety and wide-eyed optimism to encourage other writers in the newsletter Pub Cheerleaders, which you can find at: https://pubcheerleader.substack.com Leave a Reply Cancel replyGhosts, womanhood, and intrigue in “mystery lights”.  The Translator’s Voice — Mara Faye Lethem on Translating Pol Guasch’s “Napalm in the Heart” Delving Into the Absurdity of Class and Parenthood in “Plays Well With Others” © 2021 All Rights Reserved. Discover more from Chicago Review of BooksSubscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive. 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THE SENSE OF WONDERby Matthew Salesses ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 17, 2023 A smart, very meta take on love, sports, race, and media. Romance and drama bloom around the NBA’s sole Asian American player. For his fourth novel, Salesses takes some inspiration from the real-life story of Jeremy Lin, the Taiwanese American basketball player whose brief but phenomenal run for the New York Knicks in 2012 sparked a “Linsanity” craze. Here the player is Won Lee, an underappreciated Korean American point guard for the Knicks who capitalizes on a star player’s injury to lead a winning streak that the media punningly dubs the Wonder. Salesses alternates narration between Won and his girlfriend, Carrie, who’s a producer for K-dramas, Korean soap operas that have complex plots but operate within fairly rigid tropes As the Wonder inevitably fizzles, various dramas intensify, making the story a kind of K-drama itself. Won and Carrie are enmeshed in conflicts with an Asian American sports journalist manipulating the "Wonder" narrative, the injured Knicks star (nicknamed Powerball!), and both of their partners; accusations of infidelity abound. Woven among these troubles are a few of those K-drama tropes, not just boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl, but more abstract matters of fate. (“K-drama shines,” Salesses writes, “in the tension between certainty and wonder.”) In time, Carrie tries to get a basketball-themed K-drama off the ground, which creates its own set of complications. Salesses’ story is admirably multilayered, blending smarts about basketball, television, and the varying shades of anti-Asian racism, though he's less persuasive in arguing that incredible plot twists—convenient deaths and resurrections, stock setbacks, and heartfelt reunions—are more true to life than the tropes suggest. Still, Salesses takes his source material from both basketball and TV seriously, and his storytelling is crisp while avoiding easy frothiness. Pub Date: Jan. 17, 2023 ISBN: 978-0-316-42571-1 Page Count: 256 Publisher: Little, Brown Review Posted Online: Oct. 26, 2022 Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2022 LITERARY FICTION | GENERAL FICTION Share your opinion of this book More by Matthew Salesses  BOOK REVIEW by Matthew Salesses  Awards & Accolades  Our Verdict  New York Times Bestseller by Kristin Hannah ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 6, 2024 A dramatic, vividly detailed reconstruction of a little-known aspect of the Vietnam War. A young woman’s experience as a nurse in Vietnam casts a deep shadow over her life. When we learn that the farewell party in the opening scene is for Frances “Frankie” McGrath’s older brother—“a golden boy, a wild child who could make the hardest heart soften”—who is leaving to serve in Vietnam in 1966, we feel pretty certain that poor Finley McGrath is marked for death. Still, it’s a surprise when the fateful doorbell rings less than 20 pages later. His death inspires his sister to enlist as an Army nurse, and this turn of events is just the beginning of a roller coaster of a plot that’s impressive and engrossing if at times a bit formulaic. Hannah renders the experiences of the young women who served in Vietnam in all-encompassing detail. The first half of the book, set in gore-drenched hospital wards, mildewed dorm rooms, and boozy officers’ clubs, is an exciting read, tracking the transformation of virginal, uptight Frankie into a crack surgical nurse and woman of the world. Her tensely platonic romance with a married surgeon ends when his broken, unbreathing body is airlifted out by helicopter; she throws her pent-up passion into a wild affair with a soldier who happens to be her dead brother’s best friend. In the second part of the book, after the war, Frankie seems to experience every possible bad break. A drawback of the story is that none of the secondary characters in her life are fully three-dimensional: Her dismissive, chauvinistic father and tight-lipped, pill-popping mother, her fellow nurses, and her various love interests are more plot devices than people. You’ll wish you could have gone to Vegas and placed a bet on the ending—while it’s against all the odds, you’ll see it coming from a mile away. Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024 ISBN: 9781250178633 Page Count: 480 Publisher: St. Martin's Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2023 Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2023 FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP | GENERAL FICTION | HISTORICAL FICTION More by Kristin Hannah  by Kristin Hannah  More About This Book  PERSPECTIVES  BOOK TO SCREEN  SEEN & HEARD  by Elin Hilderbrand ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 11, 2024 Though Hilderbrand threatens to kill all our darlings with this last laugh, her acknowledgments say it’s just “for now.” A stranger comes to town, and a beloved storyteller plays this creative-writing standby for all it’s worth. Hilderbrand fans, a vast and devoted legion, will remember Blond Sharon, the notorious island gossip. In what is purportedly the last of the Nantucket novels, Blond Sharon decides to pursue her lifelong dream of fiction writing. In the collective opinion of the island—aka the “cobblestone telegraph”—she’s qualified. “Well, we think, she’s certainly demonstrated her keen interest in other people’s stories, the seedier and more salacious, the better.” Blond Sharon’s first assignment in her online creative writing class is to create a two-person character study, and Hilderbrand has her write up the two who arrive on the ferry in an opening scene of the book, using the same descriptors Hilderbrand has. Amusingly, the class is totally unimpressed. “‘I found it predictable,’ Willow said. ‘Like maybe Sharon used ChatGPT with the prompt “Write a character study about two women getting off the ferry, one prep and one punk.”’” Blond Sharon abandons these characters, but Hilderbrand thankfully does not. They are Kacy Kapenash, daughter of retiring police chief Ed Kapenash (the other swan song referred to by the title), and her new friend Coco Coyle, who has given up her bartending job in the Virgin Islands to become a “personal concierge” for the other strangers-who-have-come-to-town. These are the Richardsons, Bull and Leslee, a wild and wealthy couple who have purchased a $22 million beachfront property and plan to take Nantucket by storm. As the book opens, their house has burned down during an end-of-summer party on their yacht, and Coco is missing, feared both responsible for the fire and dead. Though it’s the last weekend of his tenure, Chief Ed refuses to let the incoming chief, Zara Washington, take this one over. The investigation goes forward in parallel with a review of the summer’s intrigues, love affairs, and festivities. Whatever else you can say about Leslee Richardson, she knows how to throw a party, and Hilderbrand is just the writer to design her invitations, menus, themes, playlists, and outfits. And that hot tub! Pub Date: June 11, 2024 ISBN: 9780316258876 Page Count: 384 Review Posted Online: March 9, 2024 Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2024 FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP | GENERAL FICTION More by Elin Hilderbrand  by Elin Hilderbrand 
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Author Interviews'the sense of wonder' combines the author's love of basketball and korean dramas. NPR's Leila Fadel talks to Korean-American author Matthew Salesses about his new novel which draws from his own experience of trying to fit in, while feeling like an outsider. Copyright © 2023 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record. Matthew SalessesThe sense of wonder. Publicity: Lena Little | [email protected] Esquire Best Books of 2023 (So Far) The New Yorker Best Books of 2023 USA Today 20 Most Anticipated Books of Winter Salon 22 Books We’re Looking Forward to in 2023 Philadelphia Inquirer Best New Books to Kick Off 2023 Los Angeles Times Best Books of January Esquire January 2023 Book Club Pick Vulture 30 Books We Can’t Wait to Read This Winter Chicago Review of Books 12 Must-Read Books of January 2023 The Orange County Register Most Anticipated of 2023 Powell’s Picks of the Month Book Culture’s Most Anticipated Books of January Apple Books’s Staff Picks of January “What Salesses does here is a remarkable feat of artistic prowess that somehow blends the themes of K-drama with the spectacle of sports drama in a way that resets our frame of reference for the Korean American experience. Indeed, it’s a move that doesn’t seem entirely possible until you see the jump yourself.” ― Ron Charles, The Washington Post “A brilliant and scathing chronicle of two Asian Americans as they try to find their place in contemporary sports and media…Salesses fills the page with all the bold, kinetic confidence of an athlete striding onto the court.” ― Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Matthew Salesses’s new novel is so freaking good I can’t stand it. Blistering, confident, full of swagger and heart, it is also an exhilaratingly smart treatise on race and our collective imagination that lays bare our limitations before blasting joyfully past them. A must read!” —Catherine Chung, author of The Tenth Muse and Forgotten Country “What a pleasure to read work that spits off the page, fiction that vibrates and twitches with life. The Sense of Wonder is exactly that kind of book, one that refuses to let you forget about it, a novel that wants you to remember its story long after the initial read is done. This is a wildly physical book, the beating heart of it smashed up against the ribcage of the binding, thumping hard, demanding attention. I have never read anything like it. Matthew Salesses is a genius and The Sense of Wonder is a genuine marvel.” —Kristen Arnett, author of With Teeth and Mostly Dead Things “Sharp, funny, and searingly original, The Sense of Wonder is a tour de force from one of the most inventive writers working today.” —Kirstin Chen, author of Counterfeit “When Won is signed by the New York Knicks, it seems at first that his dreams are coming true, but instead he is drawn into a world rife with high-stakes rivalry, subterfuge, and corrosive racism. THE SENSE OF WONDER is equal parts a love letter to the intricate art form of basketball; a blade-sharp page-turner that delves deep into the rotten heart of America; and an ode to kdrama and the liberating power of love. Matthew Salesses brilliantly upends expectations on every page and, by the end, a powerfully new kind of story surfaces. THE SENSE OF WONDER is revelatory and original and I absolutely loved this novel.” —Laura van den Berg, author of I Hold a Wolf by the Ears 
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DescriptionFrom the author of PEN/Faulkner finalist Disappear Doppelgänger Disappear and Craft in the Real World comes a " a smart, very meta take " (Kirkus Reviews) on the ways Asian Americans navigate the thorny worlds of sports and entertainment when everything is stacked against them.
You May Also Like Newsletter Signup Matthew SalessesAbout the author. Learn more about this author By R. J. PalacioThis novel is a heartwarming tale of kindess and empathy and a boy with a facial deformity making friends and growing to self-acceptance.
Bottom Line"Wonder" is a heartwarming and impactful novel that emphasizes the importance of kindness and acceptance. While it can be predictable and didactic, its strong character development and powerful themes make it a memorable read, particularly for young audiences. The book’s message of empathy and inclusivity resonates long after the final page, making it a valuable addition to contemporary young adult literature. Rating [book_review_rating]Continue down for the complete review to Wonder  Article written by Ebuka Igbokwe Bachelor's degree from Nnamdi Azikiwe University. It is bad enough that August Pullman is born with a disfiguring disease that deforms his face, makes hearing difficult, and has him needing twenty-seven surgeries before the age of ten to give him a chance at life. It is undoubtedly worse to have him begin school and face discrimination at the hands of his classmates, Julian in particular. Thankfully, he has his family and a couple of friends like Summer and Jack Will, who care for and support him. R. J. Palacio , the author of ‘ Wonder ,’ was inspired to write this novel from experience in her life. She stopped at an ice cream stand on a trip to see an out-of-town friend with her two sons. Sitting with her mother, there was a girl with a facial deformity. Her younger son began to cry. Palacio hurried her children away. Reflecting on the incident, she believed she could have handled it better. It also made her wonder what sort of life the little girl faced if this reaction was typical. In “ Wonder “, August Pullman has Treacher-Collins Syndrome , a congenital craniofacial disease that leaves him deformed, and frequent hospitalization keeps him out of school. But he is finally ready to begin school in the fifth grade. He has received shocked stares and discrimination based on his looks, but this happens differently in school. However, he makes a few friends, like Summer Dawson and Jack Wills, and he has the understanding, empathy, and support of family and perseveres. School bully Julian Albans is particularly malicious, calling him names and instigating classmates to avoid him and treat him as a pariah. Soon enough, however, more of his classmates recognized him for the bright, funny, and brave boy he was. The central premise of “ Wonder” is emotionally charged and unique. The story follows August Pullman, a young boy with facial deformities, as he navigates the challenges of attending public school for the first time. This premise immediately captures readers’ attention and sets the stage for a narrative exploring themes of acceptance and empathy. The plot is emotionally engaging and uniquely portrays individuals’ difficulties with visible differences. For example, when August first arrives at school, he encounters a range of reactions from his classmates, from curiosity and fear to outright bullying, particularly by Julian, who leads a campaign to ostracize him. The novel’s trajectory is somewhat predictable, as readers anticipate that his peers will eventually accept August. This predictability is exemplified in the novel’s climax when August wins the Henry Ward Beecher medal, a symbolic moment that marks his acceptance and recognition by his school community. While the plot is heart-warming, it can also feel idealized. Conflicts are often resolved in a manner that might not reflect the complexities of real life. For instance, the reconciliation between August’s sister, Via, and her friend, Miranda, is handled quickly, with little exploration of the underlying issues that caused their estrangement. Similarly, August’s transformation from an outcast to a beloved figure at school happens rapidly, which might strike some readers as overly optimistic. Wonder explores several significant themes, including kindness, acceptance, bullying, and the challenges of living with a disability. The novel strongly emphasizes the power of kindness, as seen in the way characters like Summer Dawson and Jack Will choose to befriend August despite the social risks involved. Summer’s decision to sit with August at lunch on his first day is a pivotal moment that sets the tone for the novel’s message about the importance of empathy. The theme of acceptance is central to the novel, as August struggles with his desire to be seen as “ordinary” despite his extraordinary appearance. This theme is reflected in August’s words when he says, “I know I’m not an ordinary ten-year-old kid… I do ordinary things. I feel ordinary inside. But I know ordinary kids don’t make other ordinary kids run away screaming in playgrounds.” Palacio’s treatment of themes like kindness, social acceptance of those living with disabilities, and bullying in schools in “ Wonder ” shows a keen feeling for contemporary social issues. Interestingly, she handles the issues with faith in our humanity as the best address for them, rather than advocating for policy intervention by the government or school disciplinary bodies. Being kind is Palacio’s simple solution; she trusts it will make a significant impact. However, the treatment of the themes of “ Wonder ” can be a bit on the nose and lack subtlety. For example, the precepts introduced by Mr. Browne, such as “When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind,” are moralizing. The message is driven with the force of a crusader, and the characters are only vehicles for delivering a piece of moral instruction. The book can also be criticized for romanticizing the fact of living with disabilities to tell an inspirational tale. “ Wonder ” excels in presenting characters from diverse backgrounds. The range of characters , each with their personalities and perspectives, enriches the storytelling and allows readers to gain insights into different lives and experiences. August is a compelling protagonist whose internal struggles and outward challenges make him relatable to readers of all ages. His growth from a shy, insecure boy to a more confident individual is one of the novel’s most rewarding aspects. This transformation is highlighted in moments such as when August bravely decides to attend the school’s nature retreat, despite his fears of being ostracized. Supporting characters like Via, Summer, Jack, and Julian add depth to the story. Via’s perspective provides insight into the challenges of siblings of children with disabilities. Her internal conflict is poignantly expressed when she reflects on the need to step out of August’s shadow and be seen as more than “the sister of the boy with the deformed face.” Jack Will’s character undergoes significant development as well. Initially, he befriends August out of a sense of duty. Still, he eventually comes to genuinely care for him, as seen in his defense of August during the altercation with older students at the retreat. Jack’s journey from being influenced by peer pressure to standing up for what is right adds another layer of complexity to the novel. Julian, the primary antagonist, is somewhat less developed. Although his role as the school bully is essential to the plot, his motivations are not explored in depth, making him appear more as a symbol of cruelty than a fully realized character. His actions, such as starting the “Plague” game to avoid touching August, are extreme, but his character lacks the nuance to explain why he behaves this way. Palacio’s writing style in “ Wonder ” is accessible and engaging, making it an enjoyable read for a wide audience. The use of multiple narrators, including August, Via, Summer, Jack, and Miranda, provides a well-rounded perspective on the novel’s events. This multi-narrative structure allows readers to understand the impact of August’s presence on those around him, and it adds depth to the story by offering insights into each character’s inner world. The first-person narrative is conversational, which creates a sense of intimacy between the characters and the reader. August’s voice, in particular, is authentic and relatable, filled with humor and resilience despite his hardships. For example, his self-deprecating humor is evident when he quips, “I’m used to not fitting in. The way I see it, I’m not ordinary and neither are you.” However, the dialogue can sometimes become overly didactic, especially in scenes where characters deliver moral lessons. Mr. Tushman’s speech at the end of the novel, for instance, while uplifting, reads more like a sermon than a natural conversation. This can detract from the realism of the interactions. The novel’s structure, divided into sections narrated by different characters, effectively maintains the reader’s interest and provides a comprehensive view of the story. The pacing is generally well-balanced, with moments of tension, such as August’s first day at school or the confrontation at the nature retreat, interspersed with quieter, more introspective scenes. However, the narrative occasionally slows down, particularly during lengthy dialogues or when certain moral themes are reiterated. For instance, while meaningful, the scenes involving Mr. Browne’s precepts can feel repetitive, slowing the story’s momentum. The setting of “ Wonder ” primarily focuses on Beecher Prep, a typical middle school that serves as the backdrop for August’s challenges and triumphs. The school environment is portrayed with authenticity, capturing the dynamics of preteen social interactions, cliques, and the struggles of fitting in. This setting is relatable for the novel’s target audience and evokes memories of school life for older readers. Palacio’s attention to detail in depicting the school’s atmosphere, from the cafeteria to the hallways, adds to the novel’s realism. The nature retreat setting also provides a significant turning point in the story, where August’s classmates begin to see him in a new light, further solidifying the novel’s themes of acceptance and friendship. One of the strengths of “ Wonder ” is its character development, particularly with August, whose growth from insecurity to self-acceptance is compelling. Also, the multi-narrative structure enriches the story by providing diverse perspectives, deepening the reader’s connection with the characters. The novel’s themes of kindness, acceptance, and empathy are positive and powerful, offering hope and guidance to kids. On the minus side, the plot can be predictable, following a familiar arc of an ugly duckling turning into a beautiful goose, and it is very formulaic. While impactful, Palacio’s treatment of themes can be overly didactic, with moral lessons presented in a way that leaves little room for interpretation. Finally, some characters, especially the antagonist Julian, feel underdeveloped, serving more as symbols than fully realized individuals with believable motives. “ Wonder ” profoundly impacts its readers by highlighting the importance of kindness, acceptance, and empathy in the face of adversity. The novel encourages readers to look beyond outward appearances and embrace the humanity in everyone, making it a poignant and relevant read for all ages. Its success in fostering discussions about inclusivity and kindness, particularly through the Choose Kind movement, underscores its significant cultural and social impact. Despite its predictability and didactic approach, “ Wonder ” is a memorable and powerful novel that resonates with worldwide readers. Wonder: A Message to Choose Kindness Book Title: Wonder Book Description: 'Wonder' by R. J. Palacio follows the story of August Pullman, a ten-year-old boy with facial disfigurement, as he faces the challenges of attending a regular school for the first time. Through August's and other characters' experiences, the novel explores themes of empathy, acceptance, and how kindness has the power to transform people and society, and leaves readers with the profound message of the importance of seeing people beyond their pyhysical appearances. Book Author: R. J. Palacio Book Edition: First Export Edition Book Format: Paperback Publisher - Organization: Alfred A Knopf Date published: July 1, 2014 Illustrator: Tad Carpenter ISBN: 9780553509977 Number Of Pages: 315
Wonder Review ‘ Wonder ‘ by R. J. Palacio is didactic but relatable, and tells about disability in a warm and inviting tone, easy prose and with personable characters. This makes for a very pleasant read for children.
Join Our Community for Free! Exclusive to Members Create Your Personal Profile Engage in Forums Join or Create GroupsSave your favorites, beta access. About Ebuka IgbokweEbuka Igbokwe is the founder and former leader of a book club, the Liber Book Club, in 2016 and managed it for four years. Ebuka has also authored several children's books. He shares philosophical insights on his newsletter, Carefree Sketches and has published several short stories on a few literary blogs online.  About the Book Discover literature, enjoy exclusive perks, and connect with others just like yourself! Start the Conversation. Join the Chat. There was a problem reporting this post. Block Member?Please confirm you want to block this member. You will no longer be able to:
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Follow the author The Sense of Wonder: A Novel Paperback – February 20, 2024From the author of PEN/Faulkner finalist Disappear Doppelgänger Disappear and Craft in the Real World comes a " a smart, very meta take " (Kirkus Reviews) on the ways Asian Americans navigate the thorny worlds of sports and entertainment when everything is stacked against them.
Editorial ReviewsAbout the author, product details.
About the authorMatthew salesses. Matthew Salesses was adopted from Korea. He is the author of the Amazon bestseller, THE HUNDRED-YEAR FLOOD, the national bestseller, CRAFT IN THE REAL WORLD, and the PEN/Faulkner Finalist DISAPPEAR DOPPELGÄNGER DISAPPEAR. His writing can be found in Best American Essays 2020, NPR, The New York Times, The Guardian, VICE.com, and many other publications. His previous books include I'M NOT SAYING, I'M JUST SAYING (a novel); DIFFERENT RACISMS: ON STEREOTYPES, THE INDIVIDUAL, AND ASIAN AMERICAN MASCULINITY (essays); and THE LAST REPATRIATE (a novella). In 2015, Buzzfeed named him one of 32 Essential Asian American Writers. He has taught for Tin House, Kundiman, and One Story, among others. Customer reviews
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COMMENTS
A 1965 Review of The Sense of Wonder. From the original review in the Alamogordo Daily News (NM), December 19, 1965: ... but for the parent of small children I can think of no more exciting experience than reading and examining this new book— The Sense of Wonder. The title is exceptionally apt, and the text is both stimulating and delightful.
The Sense of Wonder. Rachel Carson, Nick Kelsh (Photographer), Charles Pratt. ...more. 4.40. 3,266 ratings443 reviews. Want to read. Kindle $3.99. Rate this book. First published more than three decades ago, this reissue of Rachel Carson's award-winning classic brings her unique vision to a new generation of readers.
Whatever a soul is, the author goes a long way toward soothing it. A very welcome instance of philosophy that can help readers live a good life. 7. Pub Date: Feb. 18, 2020. ISBN: 978--300-25093-. Page Count: 200. Publisher: Yale Univ. Review Posted Online: Nov. 24, 2019. Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2019.
The Sense of Wonder Rachel Carson, Nick Kelsh HarperCollins, $20 Review by Karen Austin ... The "wonder book", as Carson called it, began as an essay published in 1956 in "Women's Home Companion". ...
The Sense of Wonder. Hardcover - April 21, 1998. by Rachel Carson (Author) 4.7 481 ratings. See all formats and editions. First published more than three decades ago, this reissue of Rachel Carson's award-winning classic brings her unique vision to a new generation of readers. Stunning new photographs by Nick Kelsh beautifully complement ...
Our review: Parents say ( 59 ): Kids say ( 273 ): Auggie himself is a very convincing and poignant character -- definitely not just a device -- and his story is extremely moving and uplifting. Author R.J. Palacio writes Wonder in multiple voices, including Auggie's, some of his friends', and his sister's. The different points of view are mostly ...
100 Best Books of the 21st Century: As voted on by 503 novelists, nonfiction writers, poets, critics and other book lovers — with a little help from the staff of The New York Times Book Review.
THE SENSE OF WONDER follows Won and Carrie as they chronicle the human and professional tensions exacerbated by injustices and fight to be seen and heard on some of the world's largest stages. An incredibly funny and heart-rending dive into race and our "collective imagination that lays bare our limitations before blasting joyfully past ...
This site has an archive of more than one thousand seven hundred interviews, or eight thousand book recommendations. We publish at least two new interviews per week. Five Books participates in the Amazon Associate program and earns money from qualifying purchases.
So when I watched an online event for the book and the interviewer and Salesses talked about K-dramas as an art form, I decided I needed to check some out. Regrettably, a year later, I still haven't, and now feel woefully unqualified to review his new novel, The Sense of Wonder, which heavily features K-dramas.
THE SENSE OF WONDER. A smart, very meta take on love, sports, race, and media. Romance and drama bloom around the NBA's sole Asian American player. For his fourth novel, Salesses takes some inspiration from the real-life story of Jeremy Lin, the Taiwanese American basketball player whose brief but phenomenal run for the New York Knicks in ...
This sparks the imagination and creativity. Strongly recommend this book to anyone seeking an escape from stress, or simply seeking a place to share discoveries with another human being. Any hospital healing garden, botanical garden or backyard can become a place to experience the sense of wonder she so vividly describes.
It's called "The Sense Of Wonder," with his protagonist, Won Lee, being dubbed The Wonder when he goes on a winning streak for the New York Knicks. Won Lee is the only Asian American in the NBA.
Chicago Review of Books 12 Must-Read Books of January 2023 ... The Sense of Wonder is exactly that kind of book, one that refuses to let you forget about it, a novel that wants you to remember its story long after the initial read is done. This is a wildly physical book, the beating heart of it smashed up against the ribcage of the binding ...
March 11, 2023. Matthew Salesses' The Sense Of Wonder uses basketball and k-drama to discuss many topics such as gender, race, the complexities of relationships, and the role media plays in creating certain narratives. The story follows Won Lee a Korean American basketball player who gets drafted into the NY Knicks.
Chicago Review of Books's 12 Must-Read Books of January 2023 ... The Sense of Wonder is exactly that kind of book, one that refuses to let you forget about it, a novel that wants you to remember its story long after the initial read is done. This is a wildly physical book, the beating heart of it smashed up against the ribcage of the binding ...
First published more than three decades ago, this award-winning classic brings Rachel Carson's unique vision to a new generation of readers. The Sense of Wonder relates Carson's intimate account of adventures with her young nephew, Roger, as they enjoy walks along the rocky coast of Maine and through dense forests and open fields, observing ...
Sharona Ben-Tov in her book The Artificial Paradise: Science Fiction and American Reality [20] explores science-fiction's (SF) 'sense of wonder' from a feminist perspective. Her book is a "thought-provoking work of criticism that provides a new and interesting perspective on some basic elements in science fiction," including the 'sense of wonder'.
The New York Times Book Review "Throughout The Sense of Wonder, Salesses refuses to shy away from frank discussions of race or racism, even as he centers the hopes and fears, frustrations and professional triumphs, of his protagonists. Salesses also declines to bench a complex formal device that would, in the hands of a lesser writer, dissolve ...
Book Title: Wonder Book Description: 'Wonder' by R. J. Palacio follows the story of August Pullman, a ten-year-old boy with facial disfigurement, as he faces the challenges of attending a regular school for the first time. Through August's and other characters' experiences, the novel explores themes of empathy, acceptance, and how kindness has the power to transform people and society, and ...
Francesco Dimitri. 'Philosophy begins in wonder,' said Plato. Descartes agreed that 'wonder is the first of all emotions'. Wonder is the impulse behind all scientific and philosophical endeavour, art and spirituality. It is the most fruitful human sense: fuelling our creativity; firing our curiosity; inspiring us to hope and to dream.
This sparks the imagination and creativity. Strongly recommend this book to anyone seeking an escape from stress, or simply seeking a place to share discoveries with another human being. Any hospital healing garden, botanical garden or backyard can become a place to experience the sense of wonder she so vividly describes.
The New York Times Book Review "Throughout The Sense of Wonder, Salesses refuses to shy away from frank discussions of race or racism, even as he centers the hopes and fears, frustrations and professional triumphs, of his protagonists. Salesses also declines to bench a complex formal device that would, in the hands of a lesser writer, dissolve ...