Currently reading.... 3 Books!

Yep. I'm reading 3 books right now. I'm totally reading only for sheer escapist pleasure and I'm reading what strikes my fancy at the moment.

Right now:

Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie. This is a book where I know exactly what's going to happen. That's why I'm reading it. I want to see the uppity social neo-Puritan in the story fall on his butt. I want to see the girl and the guy fall in love despite their obvious differences and to be able to let go of their baggage. I want the nice girl in the town to find her dreams. I will get what I want and I will vicariously enjoy their triumph and ups and downs. Escapist non-literature at its best.

Castle Corona by Sharon Creech. Again, I'm pretty sure I know what's going to happen, but the journey is fun to go along with. This is a simple story with interesting little undertones.

Crown of Embers by Rae Carson. Just started this one... a sequel to the really cool book, A Girl of Fire and Thorns. I liked Fire and Thorns so much because the protagonist, Elisa, isn't a girl that needs saving. She is mentally strong, smart and not thin or pretty. An usual heroine in today's world indeed!

Booktalk: Wonder

** Note: I've also released this post for the El Paso Public Library to use for its blogs**

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Wonder is a very interesting read—it zips along and you’ll find yourself rooting for all of the characters who have a voice in the book.  In Wonder, we meet August “Auggie” Pullman who was born with a very serious health issue and face deformity. When he’s 10, he goes to school for the first time and even attends a 3 day camp away from home with his class-mates. Auggie’s experiences are both familiar and unusual. Many people have been teased or treated as an outcast like Auggie is in the book, but Auggie’s problems are made even worse because of his facial deformity which is very serious.  He looks very different from other people and it takes some special kids to allow themselves to see past Auggie’s looks and become friends with him.

Auggie’s family is very interesting and we get to know them very well. In fact, many of the characters—even characters that seem minor—in the story are fully developed and we get to know them better through their own narration. Via’s part of the story fleshes out the experiences of siblings of children with special needs. Via is a great character: strong, but not perfect.

This book is an excellent read for all ages. The reader comes to understand a lot about how kids feel embarrassed being friends with someone who is different and how it feels to be bullied and singled out. I think the story will also especially appeal to kids that are reluctant to read. The chapters are very short and the characters are easy to identify with—many of us have felt the way they felt at one time or another!

After reading the story, which follows Auggie’s first year at Middle School, I really felt different. That’s the part of the story that is really a “wonder.” I felt like Auggie was real and the people who loved and supported him were real, too.  I also felt more hopeful about other people. The story really shows how we can all help make differences through small (and big) acts of kindness and bravery in our everyday lives.

Very much recommended!