Thursday, September 10, 2020

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: 













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


© 2020, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

40 comments:

  1. I haven't read this one. It seems interesting. Enjoy your current read!

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  2. Hi there! I loved Wonder...! It was such a marvelous book. How wonderful that the kids read it in school. Clever choice. I haven't seen the movie yet, apparently it's also very good.

    Happy weekend and here's my Weekend Book Friends

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    1. Elza - I am enjoying it so far. My daughter seems to be enjoying it too. It does seem a good choice for school. Thanks for visiting!

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  3. I've heard many good things about Wonder but just haven't read it yet. It sounds like a thought-provoking read.

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    1. Melody - It really is. I love the narrative voice. Auggie is such a relatable and sweet character.

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  4. Both books sound good! I haven't read either one, but I did see (and love) the movie of Wonder.

    Enjoy! Here's mine: “UNFOLLOW ME”

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    1. Laurel-Rain - I look forward to seeing the movie once I finish the book. I am glad you liked it!

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  5. I really liked Wonder. I don't think my nine-year-old would quite be interested un it yet, but definitely want to read it with her later on

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    1. Jeane - It is really good. It is assigned reading in my daughter's 4th grade class, and so far she seems to enjoy it too. Thanks for visiting!

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    2. My kid just saw the book on my shelf, and remarked that it had been read to her in class! Apparently the fourth-graders here didn't read it themselves, because parts were censored out by the teacher. I'm trying to remember what parts would have been so objectionable . . .

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    3. I wonder which parts were censored. I haven't come across anything so far. Maybe I haven't gotten to any of those yet. I wish they'd read the book faster--it's hard for me to read it so slowly. I want to race through it. LOL

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    4. There's a scene at the end of a confrontation with some bullies in the woods during a field trip- I suspect that might be the part, but not sure. I'd have to read it again myself at this point. (I've read ahead of family that I felt were too slow in a read-together before- when I was a kid- and got in awful trouble for it when they found out I already knew the ending!)

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  6. This book was all the rage a few years ago. I even had a copy until I donated it unread. Maybe I'll circle back to it one day. This week I am spotlighting A Trace of Deceit by Karen Odden - a historical mystery. Happy reading!

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    1. Kathy - I've had to let go of plenty of books in the past for one reason or another. I know that I can always try the library if I change my mind someday. If you do decide to read Wonder at some point, I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for stopping by.

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  7. Such an important book--thanks for reminding me of it. Happy reading1

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  8. We loved Wonder, and there's also another book with viewpoints of other characters. We did that as an audiobook on our of our family roadtrips :) Thanks for sharing and enjoy your week!

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    1. Becki - I hadn't realized there was another book featuring other characters. I'll have to check that one out. Thank you for letting me know!

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    2. It's called Auggie and Me. Pretty good one too, but not quite at the same level as Wonder, IMHO.

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  9. I haven't read that one. I tend to read a lot f the same genre of books. Same for last year.

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    1. Mary - I have just always been a dabbler, going in and out of a variety of genres. I do have my favorites though. :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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  10. I have that particular Fredrik Backman book sitting on the floor of my bedroom right now waiting for me to read it. Only 5 years late. That's not too bad, right? ;D

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    1. Lark - I hope you like the Backman book if you read it. I did enjoy it. :-) Some of the books on my TBR shelves have been there much longer than 5 years, so I get it. LOL Thank you for visiting!

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  11. I've wanted to read Wonder for such a long time now. I really should get a copy soon! Happy weekend!

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    1. Freda - I hope you enjoy it if you do read it. I am really enjoying it!

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  12. I haven't read Wonder yet but I've always heard great things about it. That book beginning has definitely piqued my interest.

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    1. Suzanne - If you do read it, I hope you like it! I am enjoying it. :-)

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  13. Both Wonder the book and the movie are great. I hope you both enjoy!

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    1. Lauren - I can't wait to see the movie. The book so far is so good!

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  14. I thought Wonder was a great book so I hope you enjoy it. Reading it with your daughter is a wonderful idea. I just read The Journey a couple weeks ago and you're the first person I've "known" who also read it.

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    1. Helen - So far, I am enjoying it. I am glad her teacher made it required reading for her class so I had an excuse to finally pull it off my TBR pile. :-) I think you are the first person I've come across who has read The Journey too! Thank you for visiting!

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  15. I've not read Wonder but it sounds really good!

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  16. I have the audio for Wonder and have really been wanting to read it. I think it would be a good read aloud for my son right now. We see so many kids at the brain tumor clinic that have significant facial changes so I think he would connect to this quite a bit right now.

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    1. Katherine - Oh yes! I do hope you will read Wonder with your son. I think he'd especially be able to relate given your comment. I hope you both like it when you do read it.

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  17. I haven't read Wonder, but I've heard fantastic things about it. Hope you're enjoying it! Have a great week! :)

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