Wonder is touching in a way that seemingly no other book can come close to and has a unique and likeable set of characters on top of that. So, I can understand how difficult it is if you want to find something similar that is on the same par. Here are ten of those books:
The Fault In Our Stars
Hazel is a teenager who would have the best years of her life to look forward to, but terminal illness has prevented her from having anything like a regular life. Nevertheless, after she meets Augustus she is finally able to do the ordinary things that we take for granted. It is gut-wrenchingly sad whilst also managing to be heart-warming and life-affirming, The Fault in our Stars is a modern classic that everyone should read. However, it is a little more mature than Wonder so is recommended for teenagers and above.
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The Book Thief
Liesel has a newly found passion for books and she will read anything she can get her hands on, but she is living in trying times: it is 1939 in Germany and the despotic Nazis are at the top of their powers making Liesel's hobby more dangerous than it may seem. This touching novel not only educates on some of the most oppressive times endured in history, but it is about as tense as a book can get and you will race to find out what happens next.
Al Capone does my shirts
Witty, funny and wholly enchanting you are sure to fall in love with this eccentric group of characters and feel as if you have known them for years. Moose lives with his family on Alcatraz brushing shoulders with infamous criminals like Al Capone giving Moose's everyday life a sense of edginess. The sequels are also equally worthy of reading so definitely check them out as well. The family dynamic is similar to that of Wonder, Moose's sister is largely a social outcast due to her Aspergers syndrome.
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Loser
With this novel, Spinell teaches us a very important lesson: you do not need to fit in or conform in life, it is okay to be different, sometimes choosing a different path can even lead to incredible things. We journey through first grade to sixth grade with our protagonist, Zinkoff and observe as his character develops and changes and we root for him through his failures and triumphs. It captures the school aspect of Wonder in greater depth so if you enjoyed that then this is perfect for you.
Mockingbird
Gripping and deeply saddening, Mockingbird takes a look at the violence in schools which is rife in contemporary America. It is written from the perspective of a girl who has lost her brother in one such attack and must search low and high for closure after her brother's untimely death. Bit by bit she retrieves joy in her gloomy life and reacquires her life from the depths of mourning.
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The Bubble Boy
Joe's life is a repeating monotonous loop where he can't even remember living outside a hospital room. Due to an extremely rare condition, Joe cannot leave his hospital in case of infection, he is lonely and fed-up of being excluded from the outside world. He must learn to cope with the seclusion and thrive in the environment he is in. This novel makes us feel grateful for what we have, reminding us that some don't even have the small things that we take for granted in our lucky lives.
A Monster Calls
Night after night the same nightmare plagues Connor's mind, ever since his mother fell ill the dream has come again and again. But one night this all changes, he has an unexpected visitor at his window. It is an ancient force of nature and perhaps the personification of his pain. This book is sure to tear you to pieces with its tale of loss and grief and you will most definitely have tears flowing when the story comes to its conclusion.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
It is a rite of passage for all adolescents journeying into to adulthood, it manages to inexplicably capture the universal feeling of every teenager, accurately describing emotions and situations that we have all experienced, which is not an easy task. The story revolves around Charlie a social introvert and his journey through his high school experience from making new friends to first loves. This melancholy coming of age tale is funny, captivating and realistic you will read it over and over again finding something new each time. This is ideally for ages 14+ as again it is a little more mature than Wonder.
Speak
From acclaimed author, Laurie Halse Anderson comes Speak, one of her finest novels. It presents the hardships of being a social recluse and accurately portrays what it is like to be an outsider and shunned and abandoned by your supposed friends. After Melinda calls the police to a party no one will speak to her anymore, but no one will listen to why she did it either, she must build up the courage to speak up about the real reasons behind what happened.
Can You See Me?
With diary entries written by eleven-year-old Libby Scott, based on her own experiences of autism, this pioneering book, written in collaboration with esteemed author Rebecca Westcott, has been widely praised for its realistic portrayal of autism.
BOOK OF THE MONTH - Everyone's favourite dork is back and this time she's in Paris! It's not long before the drama begins...
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