Those of you who have read the book will wonder how I was ever able to put it down. I am wondering this myself. I had started this book in early spring, but graduate classes, other commitments, and books to be read for lessons took precedence.
I decided to start the book back at the beginning. I'm not sure I looked up for the next few hours. Without reservation, I let the story wash over me, allowing both laughter and tears to flow. I am not sure the last time I read a book cover to cover in one sitting.
This book is the real thing, a full seven course meal of story, from soup to nuts -- well, in this case character, setting and plot, etc. There are so many wonderful, moving, thought-provoking aspects to this book. I love Auggie. I love his family. I love his friends. I love their relationships. Courageous, brave, true and fallible -- these words define the characters in this book and make it the power house that it is.
A funny thing happened...
Here’s the short and skinny: I spent some minutes talking
with a lovely woman (a friend of a friend) while visiting an author in one of the
publishing house exhibit booth. Our conversation was
ranging, but did rest, for a time, on the book Wonder.
Fast forward to the afternoon, where I head to a different publishing house booth for the Wonder signing. (You know where this is going.)
You can imagine my surprise when I discovered that the very nice and lovely woman I had spent some time speaking with that morning was no less than R.J. Palacio. Needless to say, this produced a good laugh for us both.
Fast forward to the afternoon, where I head to a different publishing house booth for the Wonder signing. (You know where this is going.)
You can imagine my surprise when I discovered that the very nice and lovely woman I had spent some time speaking with that morning was no less than R.J. Palacio. Needless to say, this produced a good laugh for us both.
What does this say about me?
(Don't answer that! Probably quite a lot.)
But here's what I was thinking: I had had this book in my possession for almost 4 months and had never looked at the back jacket to see what the author looked like.
I don’t actually have an answer to this question.
I think I so love being at this wonderful intersection of stories and readers that I do not always focus on the actual who of the story. I know the author's or illustrator's name and works and I traditionally know a good deal of biographical history and creative back story or inspiration, but not always.
(Don't answer that! Probably quite a lot.)
But here's what I was thinking: I had had this book in my possession for almost 4 months and had never looked at the back jacket to see what the author looked like.
I don’t actually have an answer to this question.
I think I so love being at this wonderful intersection of stories and readers that I do not always focus on the actual who of the story. I know the author's or illustrator's name and works and I traditionally know a good deal of biographical history and creative back story or inspiration, but not always.
My interest is in the magical moment when young reader and story meet. It is a beautiful place.
I am eager to experience that moment with my students and this book. Stay tuned.
"My interest is in the magical moment when young reader and story meet. It is a beautiful place." Love that.
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