In my mind, getting made fun of during school is almost like a rite of passage and if you didn't get made fun of, consider yourself lucky.
Imagine though that you are so incredibly deformed that kids, parents and even teachers either stare too long at you or look away in fear. Remember the Cheese Touch in Diary of a Wimpy Kid, well according to the other kids at school, you have the Plague, which is much worse but basically the same thing.
That is exactly what it is like being Auggie, the main character in Wonder by R.J. Palacio. Auggie has severe facial deformities due to an extra chromosome. He has had so many surgeries that he was homeschooled until fifth grade when his parents decided it was the right time to start school.
Auggie attends a private school in New York City where he is met daily with fearful glances. The teachers and some of the kids have learned to accept his differences. However, kids can be cruel and its a wake-up call to realize how cruel as you read this book. Even parents, who you would think should set an example are cruel.
Auggie handles these challenges with courage. Middle school isn't easy for the best of us but Auggie takes each day one step at a time. He has a small group of friends but it isn't until he attends an overnight school camp trip that he realizes that friends and supporters may come from the least likely classmates.
Wonder is a absolutely fabulous book. Not only does the author present Auggie's perspective but she shows us the views of his sister, sister's boyfriend and friends. These perspectives show us how everyone has to deal with Auggie's needs. By the end of the book I was nearly in tears.
We all need to be a little more accepting. A little nicer. A little more caring. This world and especially our schools would be a better place.
Although this book is geared towards tweens, I would recommend everyone read it. Even adults. It might teach you a lesson that you hadn't thought about since grade school days.
Try it. You may be surprised.
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