Author: phamhuonghp175

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“Wonder” is a children book written by Raquel Jaramillo, under the pen name of R J Palacio. The book was published on February 14, 2012 and adapted into a movie in 2017. Additionally, the book has also been translated in to 29 languages.

The main character Auggie was born with extreme facial abnormalities and was homeschooled until fifth grade. Auggie is a brave kid who went through twenty-seven surgeries within ten years and grows up every day as a wonder in life. He knows his condition and how bad people react when seeing him. Fortunately, he is optimistic enough to think himself as a normal kid and “the only reason I am not ordinary is that no one else sees me that way”. His parents finally decide to send him to a private school, Beecher Prep, where he starts the fifth grade. He is bullied at school by the way he looks. In return for this, he has a wonderful family and really good friends who willing stand by him no matter what, it strongly helps him overcome hurt to move on.

I like the way the author builds the story. She lets her characters tell their stories, thoughts and feelings. The story is narrated by Auggie and other characters in his life. It makes me feel warmer inside and be grateful to people for their kindness. It can bring you a lot of laugh and bring tears to your eyes, too. A very beautiful book.

Auggie reminds me of a discussion I stumbled upon in a forum long time ago that was “Is it acceptable to abort a baby with birth defects?”. Perhaps it depends on what kind of defects and how serious it is but what we wanted to discuss was extreme ones with high medical needs. What if parents weren’t prepared well for it and what if children couldn’t overcome all those difficulties and adapt to the society. It would be unbearable sufferings for both parents and babies. Truthfully, Auggie had a bad luck when he was born with a congenital malformation, but he was lucky enough to have such a great family, true friends and lots of kind people around him. Although it is impossible to have a happy ending for all stories and we have to face more things in life, but I believe those stories like Auggie’s make us stay positive and want to be a person who makes contribution in someone’s good life.

“There are always going to be jerks in the world, Auggie,” she said, looking at me. “But I really believe, and Daddy really believes, that there are more good people on this earth than bad people, and the good people watch out for each other and take care of each other.”- Wonder –

It would be easy to say bad words to others whom you don’t like, but you would never know how much those words could hurt them. What I also realized that was even you could easily hurt someone by your carelessness no matter what you mean it or not.

“Sometimes you don’t have to mean to hurt someone to hurt someone.” – Wonder –

The author was inspired by Natalie Merchant’s song with the same name, which is about a child born with birth defect. She wrote it after her three-year-old son reacting badly to a girl with severe facial deformity. She realizes that this occurrence could give a valuable lesson. The full story behind the book, you can find it here: https://wonderthebook.com/about

This is a motivational and inspirational book. I have read some books written by authors who are Holocaust survivors and the most common feature is their strong vigor and determination to get through tragedies or hardships. Yet they soon realize their meaning of life.

For me, Erica Miller is like the “great wall” that would never collapse. Her mantra is “Don’t tell me I can’t do it” and she cherishes life with all its challenges. There may be always obstacles or adversities we have to overcome from time to time but the important thing is the way we face and make efforts to settle them. No matter what or how family, friends or others contradict her decision, she still pursues it. She knows what she wants to accomplish and persist with all her strength.

Five her rules of life also are five chapters of the book and they are demonstrated clearly through her life, from a child to an adult. An admirable life.

One of her rules is “Live life today. The past is gone. The future might never be.” I have applied this rule to my life and I enjoy my life more than ever. Though it took me many years before I could realize it, I am glad that I did. I wasted a lot of time to just regret the past things or worry the future. I am sure that sometimes I still do but I can cut it short and come back to my reality. Let the past be morals and smooth our rocky roads. Let the future be obvious targets to head to and achieve. Live an audacious life in here and now.

I want to take a note here to remind myself:
– Trust but always verify. It would never waste effort to look into something for yourself. You may fail to achieve what you set out to do, but you can feel the reward for your hard work.
– Life is gift, a journey both smooth and rocky.
– Hurt brings opportunity for healing. Cherish it all.
– Disappoints make the joy of accomplishments so much greater.
– Always depends as much as possible on the one person whose desires you understand best: you. No more wait for others to take care of you. Choose to be the heroine of your life.