Wonder by R.J Palacio
Wonder-full, Wonder-struck, Wonder-boy
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| Author: R.J Palacio Format: Paperback Pub Date: 03/01/13 Price: £6.99 Publisher: Corgi Childrens |
I read Wonder last
year when it first came out in hardback and since then I have not read a
children's book that has matched it's ability to tug on each of my heart
strings. The story follows August
Pullman, known affectionately as Auggie, who
bravely bares the burden of having a terrible facial abnormality.
Straight from the
off I really liked Auggie as a character, he's smart, funny and caring, but
above all that he is an incredibly brave and tenacious character. Having
undergone 27 operations he says "I won't describe what I look like.
Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse" and from there we begin to
get to know Auggie .
Throughout his early
life he has been highly sensitive to people's reactions when they meet him.
Some stare openly, others shoot quick glances and talk in whispers, while
others do much worse. I'd like to say children can be cruel but sometimes it
can be adults who are the most insensitive and can inflict the most hurt.
Having this
experience as a yard stick, Auggie then gets to measure how hard life can truly
be; when he starts attending school.
Described as like a "lamb to the slaughter" the real test of
Auggie's character begins when he takes his first step into the playground.
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| Adult cover published by Transworld |
What follows is the
ups and down of Auggie's new life , the impact it has on him and the influence
he has on children and adults alike. Navigating through school is one of the
hardest things anyone can do, the politics, the clicks, the trends, and doing it
when singled out and labelled 'different' is an exceptionally difficult task.
But even at his lowest Auggie still manages to put on a brave face.
Wonder is a story
that lifts you to laughter and reduces you to tears. It is a fantastic read for
both adults and children alike, so much so that Transworld published an adult
version after RHCP did. Filled with kind messages and heart aching truths it is
one book that anyone will read in one sitting.
Don't judge a boy by
his face, a book by it's cover. Such a simple and age old sentiment that R.J
Palacio reinvents in a new and heartfelt way.
Genre: Fiction
Age Range: 11+
Award Info: Waterstones Children's Book of the Month
Uffish: R.J Palacio has worked for a publisher as an Art Director for more than 20 years designing book covers.
Rating: 9/10
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Flip
Not Just Some Freaky Friday
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| Author: Martyn Bedford Format: Hardcover Pub Date: 03/03/11 Price: £7.99 Publisher: Walker |
Like any average morning Alex wakes up in bed believing it to be like any other day, except it’s not his bed or home and worse, it’s not his life or body. Alex is then plunged into the existence of his new soul-operated-vehicle that is Phillip Garamond, AKA Flip, and all family, friends and girlfriends that come along with it. Alex soon learns there are advantages to being Flip, the good looks, muscles and popularity but all he can think about is getting home. What follows is Alex’s path both physically and mentally to try and return to his body and hopefully his life. Thwarted in many attempts, he is helped by the aid of another ‘psychic evacuee’, Rob, to get to grips with the situation and make a choice; to let go of himself or to fight for a life that could be dead.
This book did what I didn’t expect – it applied reality to the situation. A 14 year old boy finds himself in a body that is better looking and more popular then himself and instead of taking advantage he is actually consumed by wanting his own life back. What this book does is really delve into the topic of the self/soul/essence, or whatever it is that makes a person that person. It highlights the difficulty of not being able to be who you truly are and what teenager can’t identify with that?
I found Alex a wonderful and insightful character. The way in which he reacted to the situation was the key to hooking the reader into his plight and making them read on. However, I felt that the writing itself was fairly generic, telling me things rather than showing me them through dialogue or description. For example, from the writing alone I would never had known that it was set in Leeds or that Flip spoke with a thick northern accent. Which was slightly disappointing.
By no means is the concept of this book original but instead it is the reaction that is. It is because Alex freaked out showering in someone else’s body, that he still sucked at sports, that he didn’t want to kiss someone else’s girlfriend and that all that could satisfy him would be to wake up in his own asthmatic, pale, ginger haired body, that this book is so good.
Flip delivers a truly provocative and interesting read, taking the thoughts of a 14 year old boy into territories I didn’t expect it to go. It is a great thriller that builds the tension and develops the plot towards only one possible and terrible climax.
Genre: Fiction/Thriller/YA
Age Range: 12+
Shortlisted: 2011 Costa Children's Book Award
Uffish: Freaky Friday was in fact a book by Mary Rodgers first published in 1972
Rating: 8/10
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Small Change for Stuart
Small book. Small boy. Big adventure.
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| Author: Lissa Evans Cover: Temujin Doran Format: Hardback Pub Date: 05/05/11 Price: £10.99 Publisher: Doubleday |
Actually, small is a word too...well...small to describe this story filled with action, adventure and mind-puzzling intrigue. It is a book that happily warmed the edges of my heart with its wonderful characters, contraptions and secrets.
When Stuart is uprooted to the mundane town of Beaton he thinks his life couldn’t get any more boring. But with a little help from his great-uncle Tony he is soon set on a treasure hunt to find his lost workshop and inherit all its extraordinary contents. Thanks to his oblivious but somewhat charming parents, he is able to solve the clues and edge closer to the final location. However, his actions draw attention from the nosey Kingley triplets and the menacing Jeannie. Suddenly filled with danger and obstacles, Stuart is pulled further into the mystery of his uncle’s disappearance and the curiosity at the heart of it...
From the moment I saw the beautiful cover by Temujin Doran I knew what kind of story it would be. The idea of secrets being stored away all over the town of Beaton, safe inside their little hideaways for decades was wonderful.
The characters are well drawn and I have to say a well done to Lissa for the incredible speech of Stuart’s crossword creating father. However, I never had a real sense of threat from the antagonist, Jeannie. As the reader I didn’t feel that Stuart was in any real danger when he came up against her and even when cornered I was unconvinced, or unsure, of what punishment she might inflict.
The plot was engaging and never overly simple with twists and turns that even I didn’t see coming. I particularly enjoyed moments when Stuart’s quest was interrupted by adult frivolities, highlighting his lack of control as a child, and pushing the plot into a new direction.
Roald Dahl inspired characters and littered with riddles and fun.
Genre: Adventure/Fantasy/Fiction
Age Range: 7-11 years
Shortlisted: 2011 Costa Children's Book Award
Uffish: Worth buying the hardback, it'll be on your shelf a while
Rating: 7/10
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