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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
RATING: 4 stars
This was shorter than I remembered it being lol but it was still just as good! It really made it clear that Julian wasn't some sort of evil villain- he was just a kid being an idiot.
The whole nightmares thing sounded a little far-fetched to me and a bit like it was trying too hard to make us sympathetic to Julian, though. I think the story would have been better off without it because it just felt cheap. But I did like his grandmother's backstory- it was kind of a harsh reality check for Julian and one he really needed. It was also sort of interesting to see firsthand how all the drama that we only heard about in Wonder actually happened with Julian and his parents.
But it also sort of amazed me that his parents weren't more mad at him? If I did any of the stuff Julian did to any of my classmates, my parents would be soooo furious. And his mom and dad were mad at the principal? Nah, I don't buy it.
Other than that, I'm mostly just annoyed they only had this short story on Libby and not all three, but I'll take what I can get for now lol.
This was shorter than I remembered it being lol but it was still just as good! It really made it clear that Julian wasn't some sort of evil villain- he was just a kid being an idiot.
The whole nightmares thing sounded a little far-fetched to me and a bit like it was trying too hard to make us sympathetic to Julian, though. I think the story would have been better off without it because it just felt cheap. But I did like his grandmother's backstory- it was kind of a harsh reality check for Julian and one he really needed. It was also sort of interesting to see firsthand how all the drama that we only heard about in Wonder actually happened with Julian and his parents.
But it also sort of amazed me that his parents weren't more mad at him? If I did any of the stuff Julian did to any of my classmates, my parents would be soooo furious. And his mom and dad were mad at the principal? Nah, I don't buy it.
Other than that, I'm mostly just annoyed they only had this short story on Libby and not all three, but I'll take what I can get for now lol.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The bully tells his side of the story! I thoroughly enjoyed this novella, which tells the story of ‘Wonder’ through the eyes of Julian, the bully. Not a POV character in the original book, Julian narrates this story with no filter. Palacio expertly takes a very unlikable character and gradually peels back layer after layer, showing readers that no person is truly bad OR good, and that we are often a product of our environment in addition to our own choices. I highly recommend this to anybody who’s a fan of the original book. You’ll walk away seeing Julian in a very different light.
An interesting look into the kid who was the little arse in the main book.
That said, I think his grandmothers story was what made this one. Without it, this book wouldn't have had the same effect - or been as interesting.
That said, I think his grandmothers story was what made this one. Without it, this book wouldn't have had the same effect - or been as interesting.
emotional
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
DNF @ page 30/113
The way Auggie is talked about... Nope. I don't actually care whether Julian learns anything or gets redemption or whatever, I don't want to read another page about how awful it is to have to spend time with a disabled person, specifically one with facial differences.
The way Auggie is talked about... Nope. I don't actually care whether Julian learns anything or gets redemption or whatever, I don't want to read another page about how awful it is to have to spend time with a disabled person, specifically one with facial differences.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
This story could have ensued in ugly crying but I held it together.
Okay, I kind of wish this was included in the plot of Wonder but then again, on its own, it held its own aura of wonderful.
The back story (spoilers ahead) of Julian and why he was a bully was really touching. You could actually see the concept that "all children are born innocent" and "nature vs. nurture" straight off the bat. In Wonder I kind of thought this kid was a bully by nature but as we see in this Julian chapter, his parents influence him a lot, especially his mom. I really loved the ending of this book. It really struck my heartstrings. It was a lovely after-thought, and I think if you're a fan of Wonder you should definitely read it. Takes less than an hour and totally worth it.
Okay, I kind of wish this was included in the plot of Wonder but then again, on its own, it held its own aura of wonderful.
The back story (spoilers ahead) of Julian and why he was a bully was really touching. You could actually see the concept that "all children are born innocent" and "nature vs. nurture" straight off the bat. In Wonder I kind of thought this kid was a bully by nature but as we see in this Julian chapter, his parents influence him a lot, especially his mom. I really loved the ending of this book. It really struck my heartstrings. It was a lovely after-thought, and I think if you're a fan of Wonder you should definitely read it. Takes less than an hour and totally worth it.
R.J. Palacio me maravilló con su primera novela "Wonder". Y reconozco que, cuando vi que había sacado estas novelas cortas de distintos personajes del primer libro, pensé que igual se había venido algo arriba y serían historias que no aportarían nada. Lo cierto es que reconozco que estaba muy equivocado.
La historia de Julian es la demostración de la inteligencia de una autora que es capaz de girarnos la tortilla, poner al abusador de protagonista. Y construir tan bien su personaje como para que también seamos capaces de empatizar con él. Mientras nos da, de paso, una lección sobre la importancia de aprender de los errores y ser capaz de reconocerlos para cambiar y madurar.
Es una novela muy cortita, sí, pero su contenido es tan importante y potente que yo os la recomiendo mucho leer si os gustó el primer libro.
La historia de Julian es la demostración de la inteligencia de una autora que es capaz de girarnos la tortilla, poner al abusador de protagonista. Y construir tan bien su personaje como para que también seamos capaces de empatizar con él. Mientras nos da, de paso, una lección sobre la importancia de aprender de los errores y ser capaz de reconocerlos para cambiar y madurar.
Es una novela muy cortita, sí, pero su contenido es tan importante y potente que yo os la recomiendo mucho leer si os gustó el primer libro.
"One mistake doesn't define you."
I mostly hated Julian in Wonder. But here when we get the story from his POV I could see how his actions were because of his parents and he never meant to be mean.
I loved the story Julian's grandmother shared and how well it connected everything.
" It is always brave to be kind."
I mostly hated Julian in Wonder. But here when we get the story from his POV I could see how his actions were because of his parents and he never meant to be mean.
I loved the story Julian's grandmother shared and how well it connected everything.
" It is always brave to be kind."
This was nice. The ending was good, but the first three-fourths of the story just seemed so repetitive. It was written almost as though the readers forgot what happened in [b:Wonder|11387515|Wonder (Wonder, #1)|R.J. Palacio|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1545695751l/11387515._SY75_.jpg|16319487]. I think this could have been shorter, but it's still not bad.