Wunder

Geschrieben von R. J. Palacio

Erzählt von Boris Aljinovic, Nina Petri, Julia Casper und 5 weiteren

Der zehnjährige August leidet an einem Gendefekt. Sein Gesicht ist stark entstellt, seit seiner Geburt musste er oft operiert werden. Eine Schule hat er nie besucht. Trotzdem ist August es gewöhnt, angestarrt zu werden. Und jetzt soll er in die fünfte Klasse kommen. Natürlich ist es sein sehnlichster Wunsch, dort nicht weiter aufzufallen. Doch das ist gar nicht so leicht, wenn man so witzig, klug und großzügig ist wie August. Ein unvergesslicher Roman über einen ganz besonderen Helden.

• Sprache: Deutsch
• Herausgeber: Silberfisch Audio
• Erscheinungsdatum: 21. März 2014
• ISBN: 9783844907094

R. J. Palacio

R.J. Palacio lives in New York City with her husband, two sons, and two dogs. For more than twenty years, she was an editorial director, an art director, and a graphic designer working on books for other people while waiting for the perfect time in her life to start writing her own novel. But one day several years ago, a chance encounter with an extraordinary child in front of an ice cream store made R.J. realize that the perfect time to write that book had finally come. Learn more about the author at RJPalacio.com. R. J. Palacio is available for select readings and lectures. To inquire about a possible appearance, please contact the Random House Speakers Bureau at [e-mail].

Rezensionen für Wunder

[beth.clarke · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

My son, who will enter 5th grade this fall, told me I had to read this book. It makes me quite proud that my son loves this story. Wonder is full of compassion for others and how to be "a little kinder than necessary." Every fifth grader should read this book. They'll identify with one of the characters and learn a little about themselves as the story unfolds. As a teacher, I loved Mr. Browne's Precepts. I may even work a few of these into my lessons. Wonderful book, R.J. Palacio!

[mhanover10 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

I enjoyed this book. It's really good for middle school kids about how to accept people no matter what they look like and if they are really different than you because inside we are all the same.

[zabetreading · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

This and other reviews can be found on Reading Between Classes

Cover Impressions: I love the mysterious nature of the image here and the incorporation of the title.

The Gist: August Pullman was born with a facial deformity that invites stares and begs questions whenever he goes out in public. Having been home-schooled for most of his life, Auggie is about to embark on his first year of middle school. Wonder chronicles his year as a fifth grader as he tries to show is classmates that he is just an average kid, despite his appearance

Review:
Wonder is honest and thought provoking. For a book that follows a fifth grader, albeit a very unique fifth grader, it has a remarkable level of depth. It presents emotional moments, but in a way that is palatable for a general audience. Perhaps my main criticism is that it did not go quite far enough. I was waiting for the heart wrenching moment that would cement Wonder in my mind, but it never happened. It was a sweet novel, with some sad moments and some insight into the world of a child that is just trying to fit it - but I don't really feel that I will remember this book in a year's time.

The novel was written in sections, each one from the perspective of a different character. I enjoyed this, particularly when the sections over-lapped and was able to see the same actions through a different point of view. The one caveat, was the section from Justin, Via's boyfriend. There was a distinct lack of punctuation that I found frustrating (is the boy allergic to capital letters?) and distracting. It left me wondering why his section was given this treatment when the chapters from the fifth grader's POVs were perfectly written?

To be honest, even despite these few flaws, Wonder was well on its way to a 5 star rating until I hit the ending. In the last 1/4 of the novel, an incident occurs in which August's bullies come to his aid. From this point on, everyone loves him (in a very patronizing, pat on the head kind of way). Even his main tormenter is suddenly made unpopular and eventually changes schools. It all seemed a little too sunshiney for me.

No tears here, but I do admit it was a sweet, touching book that may convince the reader to take a look at how they can show kindness every day, and what a difference that kindness can make.

Teaching/Parental Notes:

Age: 12 and up
Gender: Both
Sex: None
Violence: Kid Fighting: Shoving, Punching
Inappropriate Language: None
Substance Use/Abuse: Smoking

Notable Quotables:

When discussing whether or not they should be dating: "'Yeah, I agree,' said August. 'Which is kind of a shame, you know, what with all those babes who keep throwing themselves at me and stuff?'"

"Shall we make a new rule of life ... always to try to be a little kinder than necessary?"

[carlathelibrarian · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

I wanted to read this book before seeing the movie. I was expecting a sad story but was pleasantly surprised. August (Auggie) was going to school for the first time in grade 5. He did not want to go, but his parents convinced him it was time and that his mother, who had home schooled him, was not able to teach him what he needed to know. This is the story of the great courage and character it took for this boy to face the harsh, often cruel and judgmental world of school, one day at a time, and not only survive, but grow. It is a very moving story and probably a good one for middle-school children to read to learn more about what it feels like to be so different on the outside yet only desiring to be seen as normal and to be accepted. The ending was a bit too happy for me. Having taught in the school system, I know it is not that easy to change people's perceptions. I liked that they included Olivia and how Auggie's facial anomaly effected her life as well. It is hard to be the sibling of a child with a physical or developmental issue. It is important that parents read this book as well. It is true that a lot of the things that were said or done to Auggie and Jack were condoned by adults in a way by allowing it and supporting it. A book that all ages could learn something from.

[heatherlinc · Bewertung: 2 von 5 Sternen]

This book should have been a real success, but it wasn't. Overall, it was just flat. Whilst I felt sorry for August struggling to be accepted in his new school, I didn't really connect with him. He was a strong character, but something was missing to make him engaging. Also, the author used a number of voices to give their points of views, but some were weak and sounded the same, and others were missing (August's parents for example). The author's message wasn't subtle - in fact I thought it was too heavy handed, especially near the end. I was hoping this would be an inspirational book similar to "The Running Dream" and "Whisper" but it just didn't deliver.

[cougargirl1967 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

A great book, I enjoyed it more than the movie! Seeing many sides to the story gave it so much more depth.

[jothebookgirl · Bewertung: 2 von 5 Sternen]

Auggie is ready to start 5th grade but Auggie has never been to school. He was borned with a deformed face and has had many surgeries but still people who see his face are repulsed. His mama has home schooled him but he is a regular 10 year old boy who likes friends and video games. Auggie has a sweet and understanding nature and is very intelligent but nobody ever stops to talk to him to find out that he is a real person. His dad comments that sending Auggie to school is like sending a lamb to slaughter. He doesn't know what that means but he finds out all in the fifth grade at school.

Quote from The Guardian: "This is an incredible book. The story-telling is marvellous, the styling superb and the honest, raw truth is: heart-breaking.

It offers up a harsh critique of our society and, finally, subtle praise for those people who dare to break out of the mould and stand up for what they believe in."

My Opinion:Will this be the Newbery winner come January 2013? I bet it will.

[howifeelaboutbooks · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

Wonder is one of those books I heard so much about - people loved it, the beautifully simplistic cover was posted everywhere around the Internet, libraries, bookstores. I knew I wanted to read it, even though I didn't actually know what it was about. So I started with the first page and was absolutely drawn in. August Pullman got a bad mix of genes from his parents, which resulted in a cleft jaw, ears that weren't fully formed, drooping eyes, and more. He had been homeschooled by his mother, but once he turned ten, she thought it was time for him to start "real" school. The book deals with Auggie's fifth grade year, all the lessons he and his family learns, and all the people he encounters. Auggie is the main narrator, but many chapters are narrated by his old sister, Via, her boyfriend, and August's friends at school. I thought the book was great because it was so interesting, and after a time, you forgot what August looked like, just as those who knew him did, until someone new came into the scene with their reactions. It seemed very honest in the way it addressed how the public in general reacts to people who are different from them. Honest without a hint of judgement, just acknowledging that most people initially react to such a thing, then hitting home the point that all the world needs is kindness. Or, to be more specific, a little more kindness than is necessary. I especially loved August's sense of humor about himself, and Mr. Browne's monthly precepts - it makes me want to be an English teacher, just to use his idea!

[robinsonstef · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

Wonder by R.J. Palacio was one of the best books I have ever read. I instantly liked the main character, Auggie, and my heart went out to him. Getting to know him was fun because he is just like a lot of kids I know and I love his sense of humor. Auggie’s story made me think about how the students at my school would treat someone who looked so different from everyone else. The book was broken into sections and we got to learn about Auggie’s fifth grade experience through the eyes of some of the other characters. At first I thought I wouldn’t like this, but it actually turned out to be quite fascinating. I liked the change in perspective and it really made me think about how everyone close to him felt. If the author had only told the story from Auggie’s point of view then I really wouldn’t have been able to see the whole picture. I think anyone from 4th grade and up should read this remarkable book. If everyone read it they would know how important it is to be kinder than necessary. I know, if starting today, we were all a little kinder- the world would be a better place for everyone. When you read this book you will laugh out loud and you will cry. You will discover what it means to be a better person and you will find out some universal truths. You will learn how to deal with the mean people you encounter. One thing is for sure- you will not be the same person when you get to the end of the book. You will be better!

[gypsysmom_1 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

I have not seen the film that is based on this book but I'm sure it got lots of attention when it came out. Who wouldn't want to like a story about a child with a horrible facial deformity who overcomes all disgust and bullying by just being a nice kid. The book has a very positive message about self-esteem and kindness and being a friend so it would be a good choice for a school literature course. As a rather jaded senior I found it a little too pat. I read it because it was chosen by my book club for our December 2018 read. It probably was a good choice for this festive time of year.August Pullman lives in New York with his mother father and older sister. He was born with severe facial deformities which necessitated many surgeries and hospital stays. Because of this his mother home schooled him until he turned eleven. Then he was enrolled in a nearby private school in Grade 5. It would be an adjustment for any child to start attending school for the first time and August (Auggie) at first doesn't want to go. The principal arranges for him to have a tour of the school with three of his future classmates as guides. Two of the kids are okay but Julian is one of those kids who puts on a good face for adults but is cut-throat in his treatment of classmates. From the first he picks on Auggie and his mistreatment escalates throughout the school year. August does manage to attract some friends including one of the boys who first showed him the school, Jack. There is also a girl, Summer, who befriends him in the cafeteria the first day. A few others are somewhat friendly but Julian is doing his best to turn the class against Auggie. There are the usual crises culminating in one huge fracas while the class is on a nature retreat. Meanwhile Auggie's sister, Olivia, is trying to handle her own friendship problems at a new school. She figures that her parents have enough to handle with Auggie so she doesn't tell them anything. She doesn't exactly resent Auggie but she does feel that her life gets a lot less attention than his. Despite his facial deformities it seems to me that August is a pretty lucky kid. His parents are caring and wise and, obviously, pretty well off. The book never discusses what the father does for his job but the mother used to be a graphic designer who stopped when August was born. They must have good medical coverage though to be able to afford all the care August has needed. Also both of their children go to private schools which cannot be cheap. The facial deformities don't seem to have much in the way of side-effects other than the obvious. I was reminded of the movie Mask about the life of Rocky Dennis while I was reading this book. Rocky had a much harder life and he died very young. His story, to me, seemed much more realistic.

[startwithgivens · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

Two days and effectively three sittings is all it took for me to read this book. I absolutely loved the telling of a unique fifth-grade experience. Middle school is difficult for everybody and each individual faces their own challenges, and I really liked how real every character in the story felt. I also really enjoyed that antagonists came in to forms of both parents and children. I liked that friendships were broken and repaired. I like that the characters suffered loss. I like that the characters experienced joy. There was nothing about this book that I felt was unreal or untrue to a child's experience- craniofacial abnormality or not. I strongly recommend reading this book before seeing the movie, and even if you have no intention on seeing the movie I think this book is an important read for anybody who ever will or has ever interacted with an individual with a visible deformity.

[leafinglight · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

Grade 5-8. This book follows ten-year-old August "Auggie" Pullman as he starts middle school at a new school. While this is a big step for any child, it is especially eventful for Auggie as he has been homeschooled due to his severe facial deformities. Despite his winsome personality and quirky sense of humor, he does not fit in with many of his peers who cannot see past his differences. As the story continues, Auggie experiences both emotional and physical pain, overcomes adversity, and slowly begins making friends. This touching story is tole in honest first-person prose, but is not entirely conveyed from Auggie's point of view. Rather, Palacio allows other characters--many of whom have personal struggles of their own--to raise their narrative voices. Auggie is a model character who is brave without being self-righteous, and who is really just a boy trying to find his place in the world among people who don't really think he belongs. Highly Recommended.

[anita.curry · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

R.J. Palacio has written a warm, uplifting story About a boy named Auggie. He has serious birth defects. This book will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next.

[mattm50 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

In the book "Wonder", a young child named August (Auggie) struggles with going to a new school as well as making new friends all while "suffering" from extreme facial and physical deformities. Throughout the book we follow Auggie not just through his own eyes, but through the eyes of the people closest to him. Throughout it all we learn that it is not Auggie's deformities that make him "suffer", but how the people around him react to him that do. Auggie is normal boy who is bullied and treated horribly for things out of his control. One thing in particular that I liked about this book was the inclusion of other's perspectives. While Auggie is no doubt the main protagonist of the book, it was interesting to see his effect on other's lives not only through Auggie's eyes, but through others as well. The things that Auggie does and the things that happen to him are not just seen through Auggie's own perspective. We see them through other characters persepctives which help broaden our understanding of who Auggie as a character is. One last thing I loved about this book were the quotes at the beginning of the chapter characters perspectives. Each had subtle meaning which helped shed light onto the coming character's perspective.

[reinadecopiaypega · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

I just finished reading Wonder and was not sure if I was going to just rate it, or rate it and write a brief review. I decided upon the latter.

I enjoyed the book a lot, though many times throughout I wondered how realistic a feeling, behavior or sentiment expressed through words were.

It stirred up a lot of things from my own life and past too. I too have been called a ' freak ' by a Franciscan brother no less. I have been called many awful names in the streets too, very lousy names to call a person who is not skinny ( fat ass, fat pig, fat cow - I was moo'ed at once, and a couple of other things so awful and impossible to write on this website as the language and sexual nature of the verbal assault are too extreme ), so I know all about being a black sheep and being a victim of nasty name calling.

It also stirred up memories of my childhood, nearly 50 years ago, when in my school they kept all the very profoundly retarded children, all in wheelchairs on the ground floor so as to avoid steps, and my combination of not understanding why I was so different from them and what was ' wrong ' with them, why were they drooling, why can't they walk or talk ? Whenever I was on an errand for a teacher, it was always with trepidation and fear that I had to go past that row of classrooms, as a 7 or 8 year old with no knowledge of birth defects, it was pretty scary, but I also felt pity, as I remember never laughing at them, pointing or staring, quite the opposite, I remember breathing in, as the smells of urine, cheap food, etc was overwhelming to me, besides all the wheelchairs and drooling.

Since I have OCD which manifested itself quite early in my life, I can see the pity comes from my empathy for people and animals, but my OCD gives me a horror of all that those classrooms had.

I loved Auggie, Summer and Jack.

A

[pattyhoward · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

This book is absolutely lovely. Any reader (maybe 3rd grade an above) would love this story. My children are not huge fans of realistic fiction, and they absolutely adored reading about Augie and his family. It is sweet, uplifting, and has a critical message, yet it doesn't feel preachy or overbearing at all.

[ndange1 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

I liked this book for three reasons. First I loved the characters in the book. They were well described. I especially like August's character. He is well developed in the chapters where he is speaking, but is also still developing when other characters in the story are sharing from their perspective. The second perspective the reader encounters is Via. Via describes what her brothers facial deformities look like. That was very interesting to read and finally get a description of what his face could possibly look like. Also, Julian's mom was someone I absolutely hated. I never thought I could feel so much hate towards a character. The author did a wonderful job of developing her into an atrocious character. Second, the plot was well organized. The story begins with August going to school for the first time. He then encounters the problem of middle school and how difficult it could be for someone even without the facial deformities. He learned in the past children can be cruel, but sometimes they don't mean it. In this story, Julian was not being mean by accident. He was deliberately making fun of him. Lastly, this book pushes the reader into thinking about a hard topic- judging people before you know them. This coincides with the big idea of this book. Just because a person may look a different way than what a person is used to seeing it does not mean they know the person who appears different. In this story August was just a normal kid going to middle school, but looked different than others. Because of this, students judged before they knew him. People need to understand not to judge just because of looks. This book is excellent and I highly recommend it.

[dknight0918 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

I listened to the audiobook. I really enjoyed how they used different voices for the different character sections. I hope the movie is at least half as good as the book. I just want to give August a big old hug. Highly recommend this one to people of all ages.

[waeschle · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

This book was terrific.

[terris-7 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

I absolutely loved this book! It would be very good for 4th grade through Middle School. But I would recommend it to everyone!! We could all learn to be kinder to each other :)

[marshahawkins · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

Even though I found myself feeling so sad at times while I read this book, I'm so glad I did. Palacio takes the reader from bystander to feeling like a part of the Pullman family. Just as the title says, this little boy, despite his deformity is a wonder. But it also made me wonder how I would treat someone with such a startling deformity. This is a fantastic novel and could be crucial in helping ourselves and our children learn empathy.

[celerydog_1 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

This has been flying off the library shelves since I bought it (in Cairo airport :-)) in November. Nobody has had a bad word to say and most of us have wept with joy towards the end of the story.With a reading age guide of 10+, this book requires some maturity in both outlook and reading stamina. Older readers have been as engaged as the younger ones - quite an achievement. The principal characters are credible, with none noticeably acting outside of the reader's expectation. That is not to say that the characters are bland: they all show 'growth' by the end of the book - though I might argue that it is the reader who grows the most, as this book makes you question your own beliefs and your response to differences between people. The reader sees most of the characters in 360 degrees, as the book is narrated by the ensemble. This device amplifies the character-driven storytelling. This book shines. I think of it in the same category as 'The Book Thief' and 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time' - a cross-over from YA to adult fiction. I highly recommend everyone to read this book.

[lkilpa1 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

In my opinion this was a touching book. The main reason I like this book is because the characters are well developed. Throughout the book we see character development no only from Augie but from the other family members as well. I also loved that the point of view changed each chapter. This really kept my attention and kept me interested. I also enjoyed that this book pushes readers to think about normal, every-day experiences from a different perspective. It really opened my mind to what life is like for those with a physical deformity. The message of this story is made pretty clear. Through the story, the main character, his classmates, and the reader all learn how to accept differences.

[janarose1 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

Imagine being born with facial deformities. Not only are you forced to have multiple surgeries, but people stare at you, are frightened by your face and whisper about you behind your back. August is a very special looking child but inside his is just an everyday ordinary kid. When his parents decide that he would go from home school to a regular school, August is scared and apprehensive. This is a story of courage, acceptance and kindness.Overall, I really enjoyed this book and its message. The book begins with Augusts’ point of view and then switches to various people in his life. My only criticism is that at times the author repeated events from multiple points of view, which became a little tedious. I think this book is very appropriate and valuable for middle and high school students.

[cybro-1 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

Interesting book! For me, at first the different voices took time to get used to. At the beginning of the book I only wanted to listen to August's perspective. Later in the book all the different perspectives gave me the big picture. They explained their feelings. For example, Via missed her Mothers attention and loved her brother; Jack, Auggie's friend thought Auggie was funny and enjoyed his company; Auggie was very sensitive and brave. Wonder is really a wonderful book. I recommend this book for anyone 4th grade and up. Especially for boys.

[kelli_via · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

 I really enjoyed the novel Wonder by Palacio. I liked this book for many reasons. First, this book was from the point of view of many of the characters. I specifically liked this because when a problem arose from one character’s point of view you got to hear the other characters reasoning behind it from their point of view. For example, when conflict arose between Jack and August. We knew why August was mad at Jack and then we heard Jacks point of view and he had no idea why August was made at him and he was actually very upset at the two of them not being friends. My favorite part when they switched characters’ point of view was in the beginning when it went from August to Oliva. We got to see how Oliva felt about August always getting the attention from their parents because he needed it more. For example, when Oliva said “My worst day, worst fall, worst headache, worst mean thing has been nothing compared to August.” (p. 83) It was an inside look at Oliva’s perspective and I thought that was interesting. I also liked this book because the story is realistic and relatable. For example, the characters in the story act and talk the same as their age group would and the characters are people you would actually meet. For example, there are going to be people that look like August and there are going to be people who act unkindly towards others like Julian. There was also text and Facebook conversations between Jack and August which was in a slang and represented how the kids actually would have texted. Lastly, I enjoyed this book because it pushed the reader to think about their own experiences and issues. For example, it mentioned how when August was on the street and people would try not to look or immediately leave the scene and how it made August and his family feel. That allowed the reader to think about if they have ever done that to someone by accident and how to improve themselves for future occurrences. I think the message of the story was well captured towards the end of the novel when the principle mentioned how important it is to be as kind as you can be towards others. The message of kindness is important because being kind to someone can make a huge difference in their life, just like how August’s friends’ kindness made a difference in his life.

[kabdo1 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

I fell in love with this book almost instantly as I began to read it. The main character August, despite his facial deformities, overcomes the ridicule and judgment of fellow classmates along with their parents. Your heart goes out to this young boy as you read about his internal struggle of coming to terms with how he looks and changing the hearts of those around him. I was truly amazed at the strength and resilience of this young boy. Although it was a fictional story, it reaches the hearts and minds of all as we look at how we treat those with any kind of deformity. Judging a book by its cover is the main idea of this book. August proves that he is more than just a different face. His brilliance shines through his academics, friendships, and overall qualities as a person. He manages to even touch the hearts and minds of adults. He teaches them that even young children can impact the lives of adults and change their perceptions of those who are different from themselves. I think this book was beautifully written as it shows a variety of different perspectives. We get an insight of how almost all the characters feel and think throughout the book. I thought that this form of writing was brilliant for such a subject. It's nice to take a look into the minds of people who see a person for either only their deformities or beyond what they physically see.

[jdwalker-1 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

This is a wonderful book that all middle school aged children (and their parents) should read! The book is about Auggie who is a boy that was born with severe facial deformaties. Auggie has been home schooled his entire life and his dad thinks that it is time for him to go to a real school. While attending school Auggie faces the natural brutality of being a middle school aged student and then some. Many of the students are not able to get past Auggies looks to see what a good person he is. Auggie does make two good friends, Jack and Summer. He also makes a few enemies that are unwilling to accept him for who he is. This is just a great story of learning about how to do the right thing. The story is told from multiple perspectives so many students will be able to find a character to relate too. There are many excellent and worthy messages that are embedded in this book. Again, a great read!

[elliepoole · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

Oh my gosh...this was a really,really,really,really fantastic book. I read it on one week. It was so awesome. And I felt really felt with the characters and the emotions they were feeling. It was really awesome!!!!!!!

[debra_armbruster · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

A truly excellent book! In a nutshell: A boy with severe facial anomalies begins attending school his 5th grade year.On its most basic level, this is a coming of age story. Multiple characters encounter people/decisions/events that they had not known before, and grow (or stagnate) as the result. Okay. Middle School is hard. Fine. But when you are a kid who doesn't look like anyone else, or you are related to or seen hanging around with the kid who doesn't look like anyone else, your year might be a little bit tougher than most.What I enjoyed so much about _Wonder_ was that Palacio wrote about the events of Auggie's first year at Beecher Prep from multiple perspectives. Auggie's voice was not always my favorite, but more than that, had Palacio not switched up now and then, the story would have begun to drag before her message was fully delivered. Via's section was almost more painful to read than Auggie's first section because, for the first time, the focus had been shifted off of him and onto Via's life as the sister of a child with special needs. Her constant sacrifices (large and small), and her shame over wanting to preserve her identity as someone other than "the sister" read with such authentic feeling!The message of acceptance and kindness runs throughout, but not in a heavy-handed or pandering way. Intelligent and thoughtful, _Wonder_ is a must-read .