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WEBSITE: http://rjpalacio.com
CITY: New York
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COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
LAST VOLUME: SATA 356
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/51184-the-publishing-veteran-behind-debut-novel-wonder.html
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born July 13, 1960, in New York, NY; married; children: Caleb, Joseph.
EDUCATION:Studied at Parsons School of Design.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer, art director and graphic designer. Worked as an art director with several major book publishing companies.
WRITINGS
Contributor to Village Voice and the New York Times Book Review; also the author of Pluto, 2015, Shingaling, 2015, and the Choose Kind Journal, 2019; contributor to the “Star Wars” series.
Wonder was turned into a feature film in 2017.
SIDELIGHTS
R.J. Palacio is an American children’s writer, art director and graphic designer. Born in the 1960s in New York City, she studied illustration at the Parsons School of Design. She had her early work published in the Village Voice and the New York Times Book Review, which led to her becoming an art director with several major book publishing companies. After designing thousands of book covers, she began writing children’s books herself, most notably her novel Wonder and several books from the same story universe.
In an interview in National Public Radio’s All Things Considered, Palacio shared her excitement and bewilderment with Michele Norris upon seeing that her books had sparked a so-called “Wonder” movement to encourage being nice. She confessed: “The ‘choose kind’ quote was not mine. It’s one that I heard a couple years ago, by [author and motivational speaker] Wayne Dyer, and I put it in there because I think it’s such a beautiful quote, and it’s so true. And it’s something that really resonates with kids, because they kind of get it right away.” Palacio acknowledged that sometimes it is good to get a reminder that “the important thing is to choose to be kind, not choose to be right.”
Wonder
Palacio published the New York Times bestselling children’s novel Wonder in 2012. Ten-year-old Auggie is about to attend his first day at a private middle school after being homeschooled. His parents worry about bullying, as Auggie has had twenty-seven operations to fix the “anomalies” on his facial construction. His appearance at school causes a commotion for his sister, his old friends, the parents of some of the students, and the school principal. The novel was adapted into a movie in 2017.
In an article in the London Guardian, Palacio discussed how she first got the idea for writing her debut novel. She recalled: “My sons and I saw a child with a facial difference, and my younger son was quite young and got frightened. It got me wondering what it must be like for that child, having to deal with reactions like that. How do you face a world every day that doesn’t always know how to face you back?”
In a review in Horn Book, Betty Carter claimed that “this novel is a heartbreaker, and one that for many readers may redefine bravery in the face of adversity.” Booklist contributor Daniel Kraus found that “much like Ilene Cooper’s similarly structured Angel in My Pocket (2011), Palacio’s novel feels not only effortless but downright graceful.” A contributor to Kirkus Reviews called the novel “a memorable story of kindness, courage, and wonder.”
365 Days of Wonder
In 365 Days of Wonder, Thomas Browne, the fifth-grade teacher from Wonder, offers his words to live by that are intended to raise people’s spirits. A contributor to Kirkus Reviews described the book as “a big collection of inspiring words that will appeal to the legions of fans awaiting more wonder in their lives.” Reviewing the novel in School Librarian, Rosemary Woodman said that it is “beautifully produced.” Woodman additionally noted that 365 Days of Wonder “is a brilliant book for all ages to dip into for wisdom and inspiration or even just to read from cover to cover.” Writing in School Library Journal, Cindy Wall took note of “the quality of the selections, the closure obtained from the added Wonder details, and the thought-provoking opportunities for teachers, parents, and students.”
Auggie and Me and White Bird
Palacio published the short story collection Auggie and Me: Three Wonder Stories in 2016. Julian, Christopher, and Charlotte narrate one each of the three stories in the collection that are linked by having Auggie as a peripheral character. Reviewing the novel in School Librarian, Nikki Heath claimed that “it is impossible to come away from her stories without thinking about the issues she explores in a completely different way.”
In 2019 Palacio published the graphic novel White Bird, which is also part of her “Wonder” stories. For a homework assignment, Julian interviews his grandmother about her experience as a French Jew in Vichy France in the 1940s. A contributor to Kirkus Reviews called it “a must-read graphic novel that is both heart-rending and beautifully hopeful.” The same reviewer admitted that it “will be most readily appreciated by Wonder‘s older graduates.” A Publishers Weekly contributor commented that “Palacio, a confident storyteller, has crafted a work whose classroom-friendly packaging belies a gripping human story.” Writing in School Library Journal, Mindy Rhiger insisted that White Bird is “sure to be popular among fans of Wonder and educators who want to connect past to present.”
We’re All Wonders
In the picture book We’re All Wonders, Auggie does the things that all other kids like to do. His only problem is that he doesn’t look like other kids because of facial deformities. He hears the things that other kids say about him, but he also believes his mom that he is a wonder. Auggie takes this notion and considers everybody a wonder in their own way.
A contributor to Kirkus Reviews opined that “Auggie’s first-person point of view is too narrow to allow for the range of voices that made the novel so rich.” A Publishers Weekly contributor lamented that “the wistful nostrums and flat, decorative cartooning don’t fully do justice to her novel.” Writing in the Kids Book Review blog, Sarah Wallace remarked that “Palacio has created a poignant story and relatable character that will open conversations and welcome difference. I hope that schools embrace this book as it will introduce kids to difference, empathy and belief in self.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, February 1, 2012, Daniel Kraus, review of Wonder, p. 77.
Forbes, September 25, 2019, Rob Salkowitz, “Bestselling Author R.J. Palacio’s First Graphic Novel Grapples with All-Too-Relevant History.”
Guardian (London, England), September 16, 2014, “R.J. Palacio: I Remember What It’s Like to Feel Insecure, or Like I’m the Odd One Out.”
Horn Book, July 1, 2012, Betty Carter, review of Wonder, p. 126.
Kirkus Reviews, December 15, 2011, review of Wonder; August 15, 2014, review of 365 Days of Wonder; February 1, 2017, review of We’re All Wonders; July 15, 2019, review of White Bird.
Publishers Weekly, January 23, 2017, review of We’re All Wonders, p. 79; July 1, 2019, review of White Bird, p. 73.
School Librarian, December 22, 2014, Rosemary Woodman, review of 365 Days of Wonder, p. 233; March 22, 2016, Nikki Heath, review of Auggie and Me: Three Wonder Stories, p. 58.
School Library Journal, October 1, 2014, Cindy Wall, review of 365 Days of Wonder, p. 138; September 1, 2019, Mindy Rhiger, review of White Bird, p. 121.
ONLINE
All Things Considered, https://www.npr.org/ (September 12, 2013), Michele Norris, “How One Unkind Moment Gave Way to ‘Wonder.'”
Kids Book Review, http://www.kids-bookreview.com/ (April 8, 2017), Sarah Wallace, review of We’re All Wonders.
Penguin Random House Speakers Bureau website, https://www.prhspeakers.com/ (March 18, 2020), “R.J. Palacio.”
R.J. Palacio website, https://wonderthebook.com (March 18, 2020).
R. J. Palacio lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband, two sons and two dogs (Bear and Beau). Her debut novel, Wonder, has been on the New York Times bestseller list since March, 2012, and has sold over 5 million copies worldwide. The book’s message of kindness has inspired the Choose Kind movement, and has been embraced by readers, young and old, around the world.
A first generation American (her parents were Colombian immigrants), Palacio was born on July 13, 1963 in New York City. Her birth name is Raquel Jaramillo (Palacio was her mother's maiden name). Palacio attended The High School of Art & Design in Manhattan, and then majored in illustration at the Parsons School of Design. She spent her junior year at The American University in Paris, where she traveled extensively before returning to NYC with an eye toward making her career in illustration. Her early works appeared in The Village Voice and The New York Times Book Review, which eventually segued into her storied career as the art director of several major book publishing companies. She designed thousands of book covers for countless writers in every genre of fiction and non-fiction, including Paul Auster, Thomas Pynchon, Salman Rushdie, Louise Ehrdrich, Sue Grafton, and John Fowles (among many others).
In addition to designing book covers, Palacio illustrated several of her own children’s books that were published under her birth name, including Peter Pan: The Original Tale of Neverland; Ride Baby Ride; Look Baby Look; The Night Before Christmas; The Handiest Things in the world; and Last Summer. Palacio also invented a baby toy called The Bobo Glove, a portable, wearable, washable activity toy for infants.
Since its publication on February 14th, 2012, Wonder has become a favorite of teachers and educators all over the country. It has been published in 45 countries, and has sold over 5 million copies worldwide. In addition to Wonder, Palacio has published 365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne's Book of Precepts (August, 2014), and Auggie & Me, ( October 2015), which includes print editions of the original e-book novelas: The Julian Chapter, Pluto, and Shingaling. Palacio's newest work, a picture book called We're All Wonders, which she both wrote and illustrated, introduces Auggie—and the themes of kindness and empathy and tolerance—to younger children. We're All Wonders comes out March, 2017.
A movie based on Wonder, starring Jacob Tremblay as Auggie Pullman, Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson, comes out November 17th, 2017.
FUN FACTS!
Date of Birth July 13, 1963
Place of Birth New York City
Grew up in Flushing (Queens) New York
Currently lives in Brooklyn, NY
Children 2 (Caleb and Joseph)
Dogs 2 (Bear and Beau)
Nationality American (Colombian ancestry)
Comment BubbleIce Cream
R J Palacio
R J Palacio livees in NYC with her husband, two sons, and two dogs. For many years, she was an art director and book jacket designer, designing covers for countless well-known and not so well-known writers in every genre of fiction and nonfiction.
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Science Fiction
Series
Wonder
1. Wonder (2012)
2. 365 Days of Wonder (2014)
The Julian Chapter (2014)
Pluto (2015)
Shingaling (2015)
Wonder Journal (2015)
Auggie & Me (2015)
White Bird (2017)
We're All Wonders (2017)
Choose Kind Journal (2019)
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Series contributed to
Star Wars (with Alexandra Bracken and Iain McCaig)
The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy (2015)
How One Unkind Moment Gave Way To 'Wonder'
September 12, 20135:01 PM ET
Heard on All Things Considered
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Wonder
Wonder
by R.J. Palacio
Paperback, 320 pagespurchase
In Wonder, R.J. Palacio tells the story of Auggie, a tough, sweet, 10-year-old boy, who was born with distorted facial features — a "craniofacial difference" caused by an anomaly in his DNA.
Palacio tells NPR's Michele Norris that the book was inspired by a real-life encounter with her own kids six years ago. They were at an ice cream store and sat next to a little girl with a severe facial deformity. Palacio's 3-year-old son cried in fear, so the author grabbed her kids and fled. She was trying to protect the girl but also avoid her own discomfort.
"I was really angry at myself afterwards for the way I had responded," she admits. "What I should have done is simply turned to the little girl and started up a conversation and shown my kids that there was nothing to be afraid of. But instead what I ended up doing was leaving the scene so quickly that I missed that opportunity to turn the situation into a great teaching moment for my kids. And that got me thinking a lot about what it must be like to ... have to face a world every day that doesn't know how to face you back."
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Palacio started writing the book that night. She says Auggie's character came to her fully formed. The book opens as he enters school and the story unfolds from several points of view — we get the perspective of his sister, his parents, his best friends, the do-gooders and the mean kids. One of Auggie's teacher challenges the kids: "When given the choice between being right, or being kind, choose kind."
And at the center of all these stories is the same challenge Palacio faced back at the ice cream store: how to confront the discomfort around difference; how to "choose kindness."
The book has made an impact. Wonder has been a best-seller, and the book has been embraced by towns, schools and the craniofacial community. The books has inspired readers to write songs, poems, chapters from different points of view; send cards; and even celebrate Auggie's birthday. Palacio is humbled by the reaction.
Interview Highlights
Before she published her first novel, Wonder, R.J. Palacio was a book jacket designer. (She says she didn't design the cover of Wonder but she absolutely loves it.)
Russell Gordon/Random House
On how surprised she was by the movement Wonder sparked
Little did I know — I mean the "choose kind" quote was not mine. It's one that I heard a couple years ago, by [author and motivational speaker] Wayne Dyer, and I put it in there because I think it's such a beautiful quote, and it's so true. And it's something that really resonates with kids, because they kind of get it right away. You know, sometimes because especially at that age, you're in an argument with a friend and you know you're right, [but] you need reminding that ultimately the important thing is to choose to be kind, not choose to be right.
On Auggie's friend Summer
Summer is a character who is in the fifth grade and befriends Auggie almost from the instant she meets him. There's no one sitting with him at lunchtime, and she feels sorry for him. So that's why she's motivated to sit down with him, but she soon realizes that he's just a great kid, he's a fun kid, he's really funny. ... So she might've felt sorry for him the first day, but after that she decides to sit down with him at lunchtime — that's their little time together — because she really just likes his company.
Next Month's Book
For October, we'll be reading Plunked by Michael Northrop. It tells the story of sixth-grader Jack Mogens, who must work to overcome his fears after he gets hit by a pitch in a baseball game. Please send us your questions for Northrop. You can also tweet your questions to @nprbackseat.
On the difference between Summer and Charlotte, another girl at the school
So, Summer epitomizes that idea of choosing to be kind. Charlotte, on the other hand, is a character who is asked to befriend Auggie and she does, but in a very distant way. She never really goes out of her way to be friends with Auggie. She's friendly enough, but always kind of from a distance. She'll wave at him, she'll say "Hey Auggie," she's not one of the kids that's mean to him, but she never really pushes herself to do anything other than be friendly. So to me she kind of symbolizes the whole notion of ... there's a difference between being nice and choosing kind. ... I wish with all my heart that I could say that I would have been like Summer but, if I'm completely honest, I would say I was probably more like Charlotte when I was that age. I probably would have been nice — I know I was never mean — but I don't think I went out of my way to be as kind as I could have been.
Hear Another Interview With Palacio
'Wonder' What It's Like To Have Kids Stare At You?
AUTHOR INTERVIEWS
'Wonder' What It's Like To Have Kids Stare At You?
On an email she got from a 91-year-old woman
She wrote to say that, you know, she's had a wonderful life, but when she read Wonder she was reminded of something that had happened to her in a lunchroom when she was 13 years old, where some girls were somewhat cruel to her. I read it to kids when I speak to them, because it reminds them just how much their actions are remembered by people, and do you want to be remembered eight decades later by someone for an act of unkindness or an act of kindness? Your actions are remembered, and you have the power to not only make someone's day but to change someone's life.
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On how Wonder has unexpectedly made Palacio an advocate for children born with craniofacial differences
In a way it's a beautiful thing for me, because it seems like a chance for me to do over that one unfortunate situation that happened in front of the ice cream store. There's a certain act of atonement here, and the fact that maybe I'm helping this little girl, without her knowing, in some way because of Wonder — really, there's a nice little irony that is pretty special for me.
R. J. Palacio
#1 New York Times bestselling author of Wonder
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RJ Palacio
“I honestly don't believe that empathy is something that can be taught. It can only be inspired.”
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Photo Credit: Heike Bogenberger
R.J. Palacio took the children's literature world by storm with the publication of her debut novel, Wonder, a #1 New York Times bestseller that has sold over 1 million copies in North America. All who read it are determined to embrace the book's theme of choosing kindness in their own lives.
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ABOUT R. J. PALACIO
In 2012, #1 New York Times bestselling author R. J. Palacio became one of the most in-demand authors in children’s literature after the release of her debut novel, Wonder. Praised by the New York Times as “rich and memorable,” the book was hailed as an instant classic upon its publication and has maintained its popularity since then. Wonder has also been adapted into a film starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, and Jacob Tremblay, which was nominated for an Academy Award.
R. J. Palacio was an art director and graphic designer for more than 20 years, while waiting for the perfect time to start writing her own novel. When she had a chance encounter with an extraordinary child in front of an ice cream store, she realized the time had come to tell Auggie’s story.
In the spring of 2012, Wonder inspired a movement based on the importance of empathy and acceptance known as Choose Kind. At ChooseKind.tumblr.com, users can pledge to choose kind; watch the trailer for Wonder; download educational resources; and read about Wonder and R.J.Palacio. The home page features a weekly spotlight of a reader, classroom, or community that has responded to the story.
Wonder has been the recipient of numerous starred reviews, awards, and accolades, including several “Best of 2012” lists. With over 700,000 copies of Wonder sold, Palacio continues to travel the country speaking about the novel that has inspired countless children, educators, and families. Over 100 schools and communities have chosen Wonder for their One Book, One Read programs, including citywide reads in Santa Monica, CA; Fairfield, CT; Memphis, TN; Naperville, IL; and others.
Her most recent book, the graphic novel White Bird, brings the world of Wonder to a new and thrilling format: the graphic novel.
Children's books
RJ Palacio: I remember what it's like to feel insecure, or like I'm the odd one out
The author of Wonder talks to group site members DKH Loves Reading about the inspiration for Wonder, the new Julian chapter and what's next on the cards
DKH Loves Reading
Tue 16 Sep 2014 08.00 BSTFirst published on Tue 16 Sep 2014 08.00 BST
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RJ Palacio
RJ Palacio, the author of Wonder, talks to group site members DKH Loves Reading.
Nancy: What inspired you to write Wonder in the first place?
My sons and I saw a child with a facial difference, and my younger son was quite young and got frightened. It got me wondering what it must be like for that child, having to deal with reactions like that. How do you face a world every day that doesn't always know how to face you back? How does bullying make you feel?
Bullying is terrible, and it's something that I think people do when they feel really insecure about themselves.
Emilie, Ondine, Coco and Isabel: Is August or any of the other characters based on a real person that you know or knew when you were a child?
All the kids in the book are somewhat loosely based on people I know or knew growing up. Not specifically one person, though, but a composite of people.
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Tahirou: How did you choose the name August for the main character?
It's always been a named I've loved. If I'd had a third son, I think I might have called him that. Adam: Have you ever felt a little like August feels in the book?
Yes, definitely. Even though I don't face the same challenges Auggie faces, I remember what it's like to feel a little insecure, or like I'm the odd one out. We all have experienced that feeling to some extent or other, I think. Summer: I'm called Summer, where did you get the name Summer from?
I knew a little girl named Summer who was one of the sweetest kids I've ever known. I bet you're like that, too!
Toni and Abdulhayy: How long did it take you to write Wonder?
It took me about a year and a half to complete my first draft.
Max and Alana: What were your influences in writing the book?
My older son had just finished 5th grade when I started writing, so middle school was very fresh in my mind, and a lot of the things that happened in the book were drawn from real life.
Naja and Malachai: Why and how did you want to be an author?
I've always loved to write, and I adore reading, so I think becoming a writer was in the cards for me. Finn and Tahirou: Was there anyone who inspired you to become an author?
My mom. She believed that I would be a writer someday. She was convinced of it. Group questions: It's quite unusual to publish an extra chapter to a book after it's been published. Why did you write the Julian chapter?
I had purposely avoided writing from Julian's point of view in Wonder because the book's focus is August Pullman, and I felt like Julian's story took away from that. So I didn't want to include Julian in Wonder. But I also knew Julian had a story to tell on his own, and that his story would shed some light on his character. Hence the additional chapter.
What do you hope the Julian chapter adds to Wonder?
I think it's always important to remember that everyone has a story to tell, and though we shouldn't forgive Julian for all the meanness he brought to Auggie, we also need to find some compassion for the things he was going through which brought him to that point. I don't believe there's such a thing as an "unredeemable" kid, not at that age certainly, and I knew Julian had another side to him that was worth exploring.
Can you tell us more about your new book (365 Days of Wonder) on the precepts?
In Wonder, Mr Browne uses precepts as a way of introducing his students to lofty concepts having to do with the way they interact with the world. I decided to publish a book that includes one of his precepts for every single day of the year. They're quotes that are meant to inspire, motivate, and remind readers that human beings are capable of so much good. As Thomas Browne said, "the wonders we seek around us are already within us". What message do you hope people will take away after reading Wonder?
I hope that readers will feel inspired to really be kind to one another, to remember that we're in this world together.
What's your next book going to be about?
I'm working on two other short ebooks in the Wonder world, and then moving on to something completely new (which is still top secret!).
Sep 25, 2019,12:23pm EST
Bestselling Author R.J. Palacio’s First Graphic Novel Grapples With All-Too-Relevant History
Rob Salkowitz
Rob SalkowitzSenior Contributor
Hollywood & Entertainment
WHITEBIRD Cover
White Bird, an original graphic novel by best-selling author R.J. Palacio, released October 1, 2019. COURTESY ALFRED K. KNOPF
There’s never a bad time to inspire young people with stories about the power of kindness in the face of cruelty, but some historical moments lend that project more urgency. Clearly international best-selling author R.J. Palacio believes now is such a time. Her latest book, White Bird: A Wonder Story, out on October 1 from Alfred A. Knopf Books for Younger Readers, builds out the world of Wonder with a story of hope, survival, sadness and loss set in France during World War II.
Like Margaret Atwood, Ta-Nahisi Coates, Michael Chabon, and other globally-reputed contemporary literary figures, Palacio has decided to expand her story into the medium of comics. That’s not just a creative decision; it’s also good business, considering how graphic literature has come to dominate the best-seller charts and library shelves, especially in the red-hot segment of Young Adult and Teen books.
R.J. Palacio
Author and graphic novelist R.J. Palacio HIEKE BOGENBERGER
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But unlike most prose authors delving into the world of graphic novels, Palacio is not working with a cartoonist to realize her vision pictorially. She drew White Bird herself, drawing on her training in illustration at Parsons School of Design. It’s an interesting and unusual choice, particularly given the sensitivity of the material. By and large, it is a successful one. Palacio, assisted by inker Kevin Czap, is a good enough cartoonist to stay out of her own way and make good storytelling choices. The drawing is appealing, professional and easy to read, giving plenty of breathing room for the story itself.
That’s appropriate because the story is extraordinarily powerful. It begins in the present day, with young Julian – who first appeared as the bully in Wonder, but now regrets his misdeeds – facetiming his grandmother Sarah to interview her for a class project. His grandmother, after some misgivings, relates the story of her experience growing up in France in the 1930s, when her life is upended by the Nazi occupation in 1940.
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As the vice of fascism and anti-Semitism tighten around her village, Sarah and her parents, who are Jewish citizens of France, are separated. Sarah goes into hiding with one of her classmates, a polio-stricken boy named Julien who had previously been the victim of slights and taunts from Sarah and others at the school.
White Bird does not shrink from depicting the terror and violence of the Nazi occupation for younger readers, and respects the ability of those readers to handle strong material. It also serves to introduce the historical events of the Holocaust to many young people who might not have encountered it in school, as is the case for an alarmingly large number of Americans under 18.
But White Bird isn’t just a cautionary tale about the destructive power of intolerance – an important message in the current political environment, to be sure. It is also full of moments when the personal and communal connections between human beings transcend the social dynamics fomenting hatred and violence. Kindness in this book saves lives, and also costs lives. That’s a powerful sentiment whether expressed in prose or pictures, and one that older readers could benefit from as much as younger ones.
It will be interesting to see if Palacio’s move to a more visual medium shrinks, holds or expands the massive global audience that Palacio has built, starting with Wonder, its sequel Augie and Me (where Julian’s grandmother was introduced), and several Wonder-related tie-ins have already built.
Palacio will accompany the release of White Bird with an international book tour, starting with an appearance on a panel on graphic nonfiction and memoirs at New York Comic-Con on Thursday, October 3.
Palacio, R.J. WHITE BIRD Knopf (Young Adult Fiction) $24.99 10, 1 ISBN: 978-0-525-64553-5
A grandmother shares her story of survival as a Jew in France during World War II.
As part of a homework assignment, Julian (Auggie's chief tormentor in Wonder, 2012) video chats with Grandmere, who finally relates her wartime story. Born Sara Blum to a comfortable French Jewish family, she is indulged by her parents, who remain in Vichy France after 1940. Then, in 1943, after the German occupation, soldiers come to Sara's school to arrest her and the other Jewish students. Sara hides and is soon spirited away by "Tourteau," a student that she and the others had teased because of his crablike, crutch-assisted walk after being stricken by polio. Nonetheless, Tourteau, whose real name is Julien, and his parents shelter Sara in their barn loft for the duration of the war, often at great peril but always with care and love. Palacio begins each part of her story with quotations: from Muriel Rukeyser's poetry, Anne Frank, and George Santayana. Her digital drawings, inked by Czap, highlight facial close-ups that brilliantly depict emotions. The narrative thread, inspired by Palacio's mother-in-law, is spellbinding. In the final pages, the titular bird, seen in previous illustrations, soars skyward and connects readers to today's immigration tragedies. Extensive backmatter, including an afterword by Ruth Franklin, provides superb resources. Although the book is being marketed as middle-grade, the complexities of the Holocaust in Vichy France, the growing relationship between Sara and Julien, Julien's fate, and the mutual mistrust among neighbors will be most readily appreciated by Wonder's older graduates.
A must-read graphic novel that is both heart-rending and beautifully hopeful. (author's note, glossary, suggested reading list, organizations and resources, bibliography, photographs) (Graphic historical fiction. 12-16)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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MLA 8th Edition APA 6th Edition Chicago 17th Edition
"Palacio, R.J.: WHITE BIRD." Kirkus Reviews, 15 July 2019. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A593064496/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=71072fcc. Accessed 8 Mar. 2020.
White Bird
R.J. Palacio. Knopf, $24.99 (224p) ISBN 978-0-52564-553-5
Branded as "A Wonder Story," Palacio's well-paced graphic novel debut expands upon a story introduced in Anggie & Me-Grandmere's tale of her childhood in German-occupied France. Asked by Julian, Wonder's bully, to recount the story of Julien, a boy impacted by polio who helped her hide from Nazi soldiers as a child, Grandmere reluctantly agrees. Cruelly teased by schoolmates, Julien becomes Sara's protector after Nazis invade their progressive school. The two make a sympathetic duo as Sara's once-charmed life gives way to an existence of survival. Palacio elaborates on her previous books' themes, including empathy, bullying, and othering, and a twist toward the end challenges assumptions about who "belongs" in a society. Final panels, which show contemporary Americans protesting family separation at the U.S./Mexico border, tether the story to current events. The volume's visual style is at its most distinctive in its evocative settings and poetic moments, such as woods that sparkle with bluebells and the titular white bird soaring through time and space. Palacio, a confident storyteller, has crafted a work whose classroom-friendly packaging belies a gripping human story. Further resources include a glossary and suggested reading list. Ages 8-12. (Oct.)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
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"White Bird." Publishers Weekly, vol. 266, no. 26, 1 July 2019, p. 73. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A592983577/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=fa610186. Accessed 8 Mar. 2020.
Palacio, R.J. WE'RE ALL WONDERS Knopf (Children's Picture Books) $18.99 3, 28 ISBN: 978-1-5247-6649-8
Auggie, from the bestselling novel Wonder (2012), returns as a picture-book protagonist.Though Auggie tries to do the normal things other kids do--ride a bike, eat ice cream, play ball--he doesn't look like other kids. Though it takes knowledge of previous installments in the Wonder series to understand that Auggie has serious facial deformities and has had many corrective surgeries, it is clear what Auggie endures from other kids: "Sometimes they stare at me. They point or laugh. They even say mean things behind my back. But I can hear them." His mother tells him he's a wonder; in fact, "we're all wonders," Auggie informs readers. But with no characterization and little in the text beyond inspirational messages, it's not clear what makes Auggie a wonder; he wants to be taken as he is, but readers--unless they have read the other volumes--never come to know him. Borrowing the now-iconic stylized image of a nearly featureless, one-eyed, white Auggie from the original hardcover edition and employing colorful, digitally rendered art, this edition pulls the heartwarming spirit from Wonder but little of the substance. Auggie's first-person point of view is too narrow to allow for the range of voices that made the novel so rich. Palacio has perhaps mined the same material once too often. A feel-good volume lacking the wonder of Wonder. (Picture book. 5-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC
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"Palacio, R.J.: WE'RE ALL WONDERS." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Feb. 2017. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A479234700/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=d5a45136. Accessed 8 Mar. 2020.
We're All Wonders
RJ. Palacio. Knopf, $18.99 (32p) ISBN 978-15247-6649-8
Dispensing with the plot and multicharacter perspective of her much-lauded middle grade novel, Wonder (which also inspired the "Choose Kind" antibullying movement), Palacio focuses this picture book spin-off on the reflections of her hero and narrator, Auggie. "I just don't look ordinary," he says, and while what makes him so isn't specified, readers can see the difference between his single-eyed, featureless face (based on Tad Carpenter's cover illustration for the original novel) and Palacios drawings of other kids. The love of Auggie's mother ("She says I'm a wonder!"), the companionship of his dog, Daisy, and his pretend play as an astronaut all help the boy momentarily escape the taunts of his peers. But he also holds out the hope, which the penultimate spread seems to affirm, that "people can change the way they see" and learn to appreciate the sentiment expressed in the title. Younger children need to hear Palacios important message, but the wistful nostrums and flat, decorative cartooning don't fully do justice to her novel. Ages 4-8. Agent: Alyssa Eisner Henkin, Trident Media Group. (Mar.)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
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"We're All Wonders." Publishers Weekly, vol. 264, no. 4, 23 Jan. 2017, p. 79. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A479714247/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=b8cde541. Accessed 8 Mar. 2020.
Palacio, R.J. 365 DAYS OF WONDER Knopf (Children's Fiction) $14.99 8, 28 ISBN: 978-0-553-49904-9
Thomas Browne, fifth-grade teacher from Palacio's best-selling Wonder (2012), returns in a companion volume offering a collection of inspiring precepts. Precepts are "words to live by, to elevate the soul, that celebrate the goodness in people," and Mr. Browne uses them to teach such classical virtues as wisdom, justice, courage and temperance. He believes his students are still kids, "so why should we let you roam wild in the uncharted territory of middle school without just a little bit of guidance?" At the beginning of each month, Mr. Browne writes a new precept on the board, students copy it in their notebooks, discuss it in class, and write paragraphs and essays inspired by the precepts. This volume includes a year's worth of Mr. Browne's precepts chosen from 10 years of teaching, as well as some submitted by young people in a contest held by the author. Each precept is credited, and most take up one page; occasional variations in background and typeface keep the visual presentation moderately interesting. Though the cumulative effect of so many inspiring words can be deadening, like being trapped in a Hallmark card shop, the intention is good, and Mr. Browne's essays at the end of each month add a much-needed adult perspective on the need to guide young people in the ways of kindness and empathy. A big collection of inspiring words that will appeal to the legions of fans awaiting more wonder in their lives. (acknowledgments, list of contributors) (Anthology. 8-12)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2014 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Palacio, R.J.: 365 DAYS OF WONDER." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Aug. 2014. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A378247527/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=1ee3311a. Accessed 8 Mar. 2020.
Wonder
by R. J. Palacio
Intermediate Knopf 316 pp.
2/12 978-0-375-86902-0 $15.99
Library ed. 978-0-375-96902-7 $18.99
e-book ed. 978-0-375-89988-1 $15.99
"The universe was not kind to Auggie Pullman." Auggie was born with a facial anomaly: his face sags; his eyes are asymmetrical, below the expected placement, and bulging; his oversized nose protrudes; and he lacks ears, eyebrows, eyelashes, and cheekbones. Having been homeschooled all his life, this fifth-grader is now entering school for the first time--going, as his dad says, "like a lamb to the slaughter." Auggie is used to people looking away, or even recoiling, when they see him, and he's well aware of some of the names he's called: "Rat boy. Freak. Monster. Freddy Krueger. E.T. Gross-out. Lizard face. Mutant." First novelist Palacio shows readers Auggie's feelings and, in various chapters from multiple narrators (his sister and various classmates, for example), how others react to him. But there's also a lot of telling; as in, we're told Auggie is a lot of fun. What we're shown is that he makes a host of self-depreciating remarks, but these comments don't a fun guy make, and they render his characterization fairly one-dimensional. As Auggie seeks friends, we are told how desperately he wants them but little, beyond being the object of kindness, of what he might offer in return. Still, this novel is a heartbreaker, and one that for many readers may redefine bravery in the face of adversity. BETTY CARTER
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2012 The Horn Book, Inc.. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Sources, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.hbook.com/magazine/default.asp
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Carter, Betty. "Wonder." The Horn Book Magazine, vol. 88, no. 4, July-Aug. 2012, p. 126. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A294900434/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=8b836a5e. Accessed 8 Mar. 2020.
Wonder.
By R. J. Palacio.
Feb. 2012. 320p. Knopf, $15.99 (9780375869020); lib. ed., $18.99 (9780375969027). Gr. 5-8.
Kids' books about befriending somebody different" could fill a library. But this debut novel rises to the top through its subtle shifting of focus to those who are "normal" thereby throwing into doubt presumptions readers may have about any of the characters. Nominally, the story is about 10-year-old August, a homeschooled boy who is about to take the plunge into a private middle school. Even 27 operations later, Auggie's face has what doctors call "anomolies"; Auggie himself calls it "my tiny, mushed-up face" He is gentle and smart, but his mere physical presence sends the lives of a dozen people into a tailspin: his sister, his old friends, the new kids he meets, their parents, the school administrators--the list goes on and on. Palacio's bold move is to leave Auggie's first-person story to follow these increasingly tangential characters. This storytelling strategy is always fraught with peril because of how readers must refresh their interest level with each new section. However, much like Ilene Cooper's similarly structured Angel in My Pocket (2011), Palacio's novel feels not only effortless but downright graceful, and by the stand-up-and-cheer conclusion, readers will be doing just that, and feeling as if they are part of this troubled but ultimately warm-hearted community.--Daniel Kraus
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2012 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist/
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Kraus, Daniel. "Wonder." Booklist, vol. 108, no. 11, 1 Feb. 2012, p. 77. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A280387112/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=da76b879. Accessed 8 Mar. 2020.
Palacio, R. J. WONDER Knopf (Children's Fiction) $15.99 2, 14 ISBN: 978-0-375-86902-0
After being homeschooled for years, Auggie Pullman is about to start fifth grade, but he's worried: How will he fit into middle-school life when he looks so different from everyone else? Auggie has had 27 surgeries to correct facial anomalies he was born with, but he still has a face that has earned him such cruel nicknames as Freak, Freddy Krueger, Gross-out and Lizard face. Though "his features look like they've been melted, like the drippings on a candle" and he's used to people averting their eyes when they see him, he's an engaging boy who feels pretty ordinary inside. He's smart, funny, kind and brave, but his father says that having Auggie attend Beecher Prep would be like sending "a lamb to the slaughter." Palacio divides the novel into eight parts, interspersing Auggie's first-person narrative with the voices of family members and classmates, wisely expanding the story beyond Auggie's viewpoint and demonstrating that Auggie's arrival at school doesn't test only him, it affects everyone in the community. Auggie may be finding his place in the world, but that world must find a way to make room for him, too. A memorable story of kindness, courage and wonder. (Fiction. 8-14)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2011 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Palacio, R. J.: WONDER." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Dec. 2011. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A274719104/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=a6d4342e. Accessed 8 Mar. 2020.
PALACIO, RJ. White Bird: A Wonder Story, illus. by R.J. Palacio. 224p. Knopf. Oct. 2019. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9780525645535.
Gr 4-6--This graphic novel expands on Grandmere's childhood story, which was referenced in The Julian Chapter, a companion to Palacios Wonder. Grandmere tells Julian about her childhood in France. She describes how her comfortable, happy life changed in the summer of 1940, when the Germans occupied part of France. Though Grandmere, or Sara, and her family lived in the free zone, she tells Julian, "Nothing was really normal anymore. Not if you were Jewish, like us." As the war progresses, it becomes more real to Sara, but she doesn't understand the danger until the day that the Nazi soldiers arrive at Sara's school to take the Jewish children. Sara hides to escape capture but doesn't know what to do next until she is rescued by a classmate who leads her to safety. The boy, Julien, though she knows him by the cruel nickname Torteau (French for "crab"), uses crutches to walk because his legs were affected by polio. The two become friends, and their relationship even turns romantic as the years pass while Sara is in hiding, but Julien's character doesn't become more than a tragic hero. Moments set in the present featuring Julian and Grandmere frame the tale and draw parallels to family separation at the U.S. border, offering a powerful conclusion. An author's note discusses Palacio's connection to the story, and back matter provides further information about the war, the period, and more.
VERDICT Sure to be popular among fans of Wonder and educators who want to connect past to present.--Mindy Rhiger, Hennepin County Library, MN
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
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Rhiger, Mindy. "PALACIO, R.J.: White Bird: A Wonder Story." School Library Journal, vol. 65, no. 8, Sept. 2019, p. 121. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A597859045/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=a32189d0. Accessed 8 Mar. 2020.
Palacio, R. J.
365 Days of Wonder
Bodley Head, 2014, pp431, 12.99 [pounds sterling]
978 1 782 30043 4
Many readers will know the best-selling book Wonder, the heart-warming story of August, a fifth grade boy with serious facial deformities who started his first year in main stream education with the wise and kindly fifth grade teacher English teacher Mr. Browne. This book is a wonderful companion volume of precepts--wise sayings of the sort that Mr. Browne would use in his English lessons to inspire writing and to encourage children to think about the big issues in their lives. There is a quotation for each day of the year and as a bonus each month has a few pages of notes and reflections from Mr. Browne himself. These expand upon his core message of kindness and ultimately reveal the mystery of who wrote the note to the principal exposing Julian's bullying of Auggie.
The collection includes a fascinating cross-section of quotes and wise sayings--each with its own page from famous authors, philosophers, celebrities and a number submitted by children themselves from over 1,200 sent from all over the world. As a taster:
'We carry within us the wonders we seek around us.' Sir Thomas Browne.
If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.' African proverb.
'Your deeds are your monuments.' Egyptian tomb inscription.
'When it's dark, be the one who turns on the light.' Joseph, age 9.
Beautifully produced, it is a brilliant book for all ages to dip into for wisdom and inspiration or even just to read from cover to cover.
Woodman, Rosemary
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2014 The School Library Association
http://www.sla.org.uk/school-librarian.php
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Woodman, Rosemary. "Palacio, R. J.: 365 Days of Wonder." School Librarian, vol. 62, no. 4, Winter 2014, p. 233+. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A396137513/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=303af6da. Accessed 8 Mar. 2020.
PALACIO, R. J. 365 Days of Wonder. 432p. notes. Knopf. 2014. Tr $14.99. ISBN 9780553499049; lrg. prnt. $17.99. ISBN 9780553499056; ebk. $9.99. ISBN 9780553509038.
Gr 3-7--Palacio's masterpiece, Wonder (Knopf, 2012), has spawned a nonfiction companion featuring precepts, or words to live by, from Beecher Prep's beloved teacher Mr. Browne. The book opens with Mr. Browne discovering his love of precepts in a line from a book written by his namesake, the 17th-century English author Thomas Browne: "We carry within us the wonders we seek around us." What follows is an incredible collection of sayings, many that emphasize the importance of kindness. Presented in calendar format, including the month and day, though not the year, the 365 precepts are collected from great literary efforts, the annals of history, and the contributions of child readers of Wonder, chosen by Palacio herself. Each month concludes with a written offering from Mr. Browne, with intermittent input from Wonder's most important characters. These salutary compositions fill in missing details from the original story, provide an update for the characters, and expand on the meaning of the precepts. What seems by description a novelty item is in fact anything but. The quality of the selections, the closure obtained from the added Wonder details, and the thought-provoking opportunities for teachers, parents, and students make this a recommended purchase for libraries where Wonder is popular. Collections without a Wonder following may wish to forgo purchase, as readers unfamiliar with the fictional counterpart may not see the value in this work.--Cindy Wall, Southington Library & Museum, CT
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2014 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
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Wall, Cindy. "Palacio, R. J.: 365 Days of Wonder." School Library Journal, vol. 60, no. 10, Oct. 2014, p. 138+. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A384340258/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=a34b49d3. Accessed 8 Mar. 2020.
Palacio, R. J.
Auggie and Me: Three Wonder Stories
Corgi, 2015, pp400, 7.99 [pounds sterling]
978 0 552 57477 8
I'm not usually a fan of short stories, but having read Wonder and reading the blurb of this, I was intrigued.
The three short stories contained in this book have August Pullman, or Auggie, who is the main focus of Wonder as a peripheral character, yet he connects all three together. It is made clear from the outset that these stories are a companion to Wonder, exploring his three school welcome buddies' lives more, rather than a sequel, but I feel that students picking this up would be able to read this as a stand-alone.
Told from the perspectives of Julian, Christopher and Charlotte, these are completely different stories, all linked together by the characters' relationships with Auggie. Julian's story is one of growth, remorse and learning to take responsibility for your actions. Julian bullied Auggie, and we are given an insight into his family and why he was so awful towards him, whilst clearly understanding that this does not excuse his behaviour. Christopher's tale is about his lifelong friendship with Auggie, and what it is like to be the close friend of someone with a disability, which is a perspective not explored very often. Charlotte's gives an insight into being on the outside of friendship groups, learning to make new friends and re-connect with old ones.
I could rave about this book for hours. R. J.'s narrative technique is wonderfully refreshing and extremely thought-provoking. It is impossible to come away from her stories without thinking about the issues she explores in a completely different way, no matter how old you are.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2016 The School Library Association
http://www.sla.org.uk/school-librarian.php
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Heath, Nikki. "Palacio, R. J.: Auggie and Me: Three Wonder Stories." School Librarian, vol. 64, no. 1, Spring 2016, p. 58. Gale General OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A448568662/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=54d4b1af. Accessed 8 Mar. 2020.