by R.J. Palacio
Hennepin County Library hardcover 303 pages
genre: YA realistic fiction
Written as a companion book to Wonder (*not* a sequel), this book explores three young people whose lives intersected with Auggie's in some way.
Julian - the "bully" of Wonder - has an interesting back story. My favorite part was the scene with his grandma and his realization of a bigger picture. Great stuff! I also marked the page when Mr. Tushman talks to the three youngsters who are going to be Auggie's welcome buddies. As he leaves the room, Jack says, "I don't know what the heck karma is and I don't know what the heck mitzvah is!" Kids are so great at agreeing even when they don't comprehend!
The second story - Pluto - is about Auggie's childhood friend Christopher. There are some really poignant moments in the midst of Christopher's carelessness, selfishness, and cluelessness. His parents are divorcing. He wants to be in the jazz band with some older boys, but doesn't want to be cruel to the irritating younger kid. My favorite moment is when he wants to go back to the hospital to give his stuffed toy to the boy with the cleft palate who's all alone.
Shingaling is the third story, told from Charlotte's perspective. There's too much girl drama and friendship stuff, but it's definitely realistic. I tagged the part that says, "Funny how all our stories kind of intertwine. Every person's story weaves in and out of someone else's story." I love that! Human experience is full of individuals' stories, but they intertwine. Palacio is a gifted storyteller.
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