Wonder (the book) // Favorite Things

A few weeks ago, I read RJ Palacio's debut novel,Wonder. (Thanks for the recommendation, Becky). For a week or two, I recommended this book to everyone I talked to. I even ordered a copy for my grandmother. It is a raw and fantastic story about a ten year old boy named Auggie Pullman. Auggie was born with a severe facial deformity, and like most kids his age, craves a normal life.Wonder takes place during Auggie's fifth grade year, which is his first at public school, and in junior high, no less. The book is written for a middle school audience, but I think that the story has pretty universal appeal. Told from his point of view most of the time, Auggie's sister Via, his friend Summer, a child from school, and others also get a chance to narrate. I was actually surprised how well this story telling method worked--the transition is pretty seamless.Palacio calls her story "a meditation on kindness."  I think it is safe to say that the story will make you laugh, will make you cry (perhaps a lot), and will make you want to be a better person. I've thought a lot about kindness and goodness, especially in the wake of the horrific events in Boston last week (and that seem to happen far too frequently all over the world)--I think the message of this book is timely and one the world needs to hear.Near the end of the story, Mr. Tushman, Auggie's principal, makes a moving speech.  He says, in part, “If every single person in this room made it a rule that wherever you are, whenever you can, you will try to act a little kinder than is necessary--the world really would be a better place. And if you do this, . . . someone else, somewhere, someday, may recognize in you, in every single one of you, the face of God. . . . or whatever politically correct spiritual representation of universal goodness you happen to believe in.”Do you have a must read book on your list? I'd love to hear about it.