The Vermont Humanities Council announces its selection of R.J. Palacio's bestselling novel “Wonder” for its Vermont Reads 2014 program.
Vermont Reads is VHC's statewide one-book community reading program, which began in 2003.
Published to widespread acclaim in 2012, “Wonder” shows readers the world through the eyes of Auggie Pullman, a 10-year-old boy born with a craniofacial deformity. Inspired by a real event, “Wonder” traces Auggie's journey through his fifth-grade school year and his trials and successes along the way.
The novel delves into issues such as being different, bullying, belonging, and kindness.
“Wonder” (Random House) is a No. 1 New York Times bestseller and winner of several awards, including Best of Children's Books 2012 in School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Review, and Booklist. Slate.com called it the best kids' book of the year.
Its broad appeal and compelling themes made it an ideal choice for Vermont Reads.
According to Mark Fitzsimmons, VHC's director of community programs, “Wonder” is a meditation on kindness and its power to transform the lives of both those who practice it and those whom it touches.
“Ms. Palacio is masterful in communicating through eight different fictional characters' voices the importance of acceptance and inclusion in the very real worlds of our schools and communities,” Fitzsimmons said.
Communities around the state will have the opportunity to bring people together to read, discuss, and build activities around the book. Vermont Reads promotes community-building, open dialogue, intergenerational exchange, a focus on the humanities, and literacy.
Vermont Reads activities include book discussions, read-a-thons, staged dramatic readings, panel discussions, art projects and exhibits, community potlucks, and writing contests.
Communities can also participate in National No Name-Calling Week, organize to sign the Choose Kind Pledge, institute an Auggie Pullman Award for deserving community members, or explore through journaling and other forms of creative expression how kindness and inclusion are - and sometimes are not - present in daily community life.
Vermont Public Radio will air features offering opportunities for further discussion. Air dates and times will be announced.
Each year, 60 to 100 Vermont towns - and thousands of people - take part in Vermont Reads. Sixty-four communities took part in 2013. Deadlines for applying are Dec. 16, 2013 (extended from Dec. 6) and May 16, 2014.
Communities will receive up to 75 books, based on the strength of their application, and resource and publicity materials.