Per my review at Baltimore Reads: 
 The first day of school can bring forth many feelings - excitement, anticipation, dread, nausea, etc. It is especially difficult to walk through the hallways if you're the "new kid" with the added pressure of adjusting to new environments, teachers, and classmates. Now imagine having to go through the "new kid" initiation as a ten-year-old boy normal in every aspect except the one that counts the most for first impressions: appearance. 
 R.J. Palacio's Wonder stars August Pullman, a boy born with a genetic mutation that has resulted in various facial deformities. Homeschooling was the only way to keep August on track while he had countless surgeries to correct these deformities, but as the first day of fifth grade draws near, his parents agree that it is time to give mainstream schooling a shot. August is understandably against this decision at first, but after a visit to Beecher Prep, the local middle school, he accepts his fate and shows up with the rest of the boys and girls his age on the first day of school. Wonder chronicles August's experiences during his fifth-grade school year, which span from extremely heartbreaking to incredibly uplifting. 
 Despite his abnormal experience, August is just like any other ten-year-old. He loves Star Wars, video games, and his dog Daisy. Mentally he is just as capable as other kids his age. Yet gaining the acceptance of his classmates is complicated by the fact that it is almost impossible to initially see past all his facial deformities. Kids are afraid to even touch him (a horrible game called The Plague spreads which requires anyone who comes in contact with August to immediately wash themselves). And yet, as the school year progresses, so does the maturity and humanity of August's classmates as they begin to see the real August beneath his mask. 
 What I enjoyed most about Wonder was that Palacio approached the situation from various perspectives. August's voice is obviously given a large chunk of the narrative, but readers also hear from his sister Olivia, his friends Jack and Summer, Olivia's boyfriend Justin, and Olivia's friend Miranda. While August has to walk around with his deformity every day, other people are also affected by his misfortunes. His sister's needs have been constantly overshadowed by her younger brother's. His friends take a big risk by accepting the school "freak." These alternate voices add even more depth to the emotion that August's story produces. 
 Children and adults alike could learn a lot from Wonder. It is a story of facing your fears, standing up for those you love, and learning to accept those who are different from you. August Pullman proves that it is never easy overcoming obstacles, but it is possible with a little bit of courage and a lot of help and support from those around you.