Need more evidence of #thewonderofwonder? Random House has announced that R.J. Palacio’s middle-grade novel, Wonder, has sold one million copies in print and digital formats in North America since its February 2012 release by Knopf Books for Young Readers. The novel tells the story of fifth-grader Auggie Pullman, who was born with a severe facial deformity, and explores his impact on the people around him.
“We credit the sensation that is Wonder to a remarkable, unforgettable, inspiring story written by debut author R.J. Palacio, and the extraordinary enthusiasm of booksellers, educators, families, and readers everywhere,” said Barbara Marcus, president and publisher of Random House Children’s Books, in a statement.
In addition to the accolades the book has received, including multiple starred reviews, and its appearance on bestseller lists, Wonder has also spawned a national anti-bullying movement, dubbed Choose Kind, and an accompanying hashtag, #thewonderofwonder, through which librarians, teachers, and readers have been sharing their enthusiasm for the book. Wonder is the first novel from Palacio, a pseudonym for Raquel Jaramillo, the former director of children’s publishing at Workman, who will assume a new role as editor-at-large of the company in early 2014, as she devotes more time to writing.
