Imagine you are a ten-year-old boy. You probably love "Star Wars." You live with a loving family, including a beloved dog. You have a wry sense of humor. Like many, you are nervous about starting a new school for fifth grade. I remember fifth grade. I happened to move to a new town with a new school where I knew no one. It is hard to fit in, to find the kids who are nice enough to talk to you, the outsider. R.J. Palacio's debut young adult novel, Wonder, introduces us to an unforgettable character in unique circumstances, who is embarking on a journey that begins in such a new school.

Meet Auggie. He is about to start fifth grade at Beecher Prep. Unlike me, though, Auggie has never been to school before; he was homeschooled by his mom. The reason for homeschooling was not a philosophical one; his older sister Via has been in school her whole life. Auggie spent the first part of his life undergoing facial surgery after facial surgery, IVs, and pain after being born with severe facial abnormalities. Despite all of these surgeries, Auggie still does not look "normal." As he says, "I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse." He has grown up with other children crying in fear of him and adults trying to hide their disgust and pity upon seeing him.

So, not only is Auggie starting a new school (in what may be one of the hardest grades socially known to undergrad life), but he has no friends, and he has to contend with truly standing out and being noticed.

Wonder is the story of Auggie’s fifth-grade year told from the point of view of eight people in his life, including Auggie, his older sister, and several classmates. What we get is a portrait of these lives – the good, the bad, and the ugly, as they say. As one would expect, Auggie is subjected to bullying, both obvious and hidden, including a "game" of The Plague where his classmates avoid touching him in fear of "catching" whatever he has. It is truly heartbreaking, especially when you see this ugliness in some of the parents of Beecher Prep. On the other hand, there are the people who love Auggie and are friends with him because, as his classmate Summer says, "He’s just a kid." He’s another ten-year-old just like any other.

Auggie's resilience will have you cheering for him. Wonder will make you laugh, and it will also leave you in tears. In the end, Auggie reminds us all what true beauty is.