Where Is Your Bookmark? (Then & Now - And a Peek into Wonder)

Mouse is reading Wonder (Wonder #1) by R.J. Palacio for school right now, and I thought I would read along as well since I had never read it, but have been meaning to. Plus, I hear the movie is good, and I had been putting off seeing it because I had yet to read the book. 

I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse. 

August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. Wonder, begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. [Goodreads Summary]

A weekly meme where readers share the first sentence of the book they are reading and say what they think. Hosted by the amazing Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader.

I know I'm not an ordinary ten-year-old kid. I mean, sure, I do ordinary things. I eat ice cream. I ride my bike. I play ball. I have an XBox. tuff like that makes me ordinary. I guess. And I feel ordinary. Inside. But I know ordinary kids don't make other ordinary kids run away screaming in playgrounds. I know ordinary kids don't get stared at wherever they go. [opening of Wonder]

My initial thought: I have heard so many wonderful things about this book that it is hard to go into it without high expectations. I do love this introduction. It lets the reader into the heart of the August, our main character, instantly. And while we may not be in his exact position with his same problems, how often have we, as children and as adults, felt out of place? There's something very relatable about August right from the very start.

A weekly meme in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. Hosted by the wonderful Freda of Freda's Voice.

"She's very pretty," Mom said.

"Yeah, I know," I answered, "We're kind of like Beauty and the Beast."

I didn't want to see Mom's reaction. I just started running down the sidewalk after the rock, which I had kicked as hard as I could in front of me. [excerpt from page 56 of Wonder]

My thoughts: I have not yet reached this point in the book yet, but I do want to know more about this girl and Auggie's feelings toward her. I really like the narrative voice in Palacio's novel. She really brings August to life.

Have you read Wonder? If so, what did you think? What are you reading today?

A weekly meme in which readers look at what they were reading 

last year at this time and compare it to what they are reading now.  

Hosted by the great Maria from ReadingMaria.

My daughter is reading more on her own these days than with me. She has also moved away from reading picture books like the one below. I am so excited that she has entered the realm of middle grade books because there are so many I have fond memories of that I hope she will read and enjoy too. But I also am excited about exploring new books with her, like Wonder.   

I am pretty sure that when I added Wonder to our personal library my daughter did not have much interest in it. I, however, really wanted this one for her (and me) because I want to expand her world. That was also the reason The Journey by Francesca Sanna ended up on my shelf, despite my daughter's not being sure about it. It was an opportunity to introduce my daughter to a way of life or experience that is different from her own. 

It was this week last year that she and I read The Journey together, the story of a young refugee girl and her family's flight from their home country in search of a new place to call home.

The artwork is really what made this book for me; the story it tells and the emotions it draws out. Admittedly, some of the darker images scared my daughter a bit, but this proved to be a great discussion starter about immigration and the plight of refugees. Wonder is proving to be its own discussion starter as well. And while it took her teacher to jump start us reading Wonder, I am grateful to finally be doing so.

What was the last book you read this past year around this time? How does it compare to what you are reading now? Have you read The Journey? If so, what did you think?

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A glimpse into what I was reading 5 years ago: 

My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman

 I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading and are up to!

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