Review by: apiazza4
The Wonder of Us by Kim Culbertson is a dual-perspective novel about two friends traveling around Europe. Abby and Riya have been best friends since preschool, but when Riya moves to Berlin for a year they stop talking. To mend their friendship, Riya decides to invite Abby to do a tour around Europe for two weeks. Abby is really into history and the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, so Riya thinks her itinerary will be perfect. Instead of going to the actual wonders, Riya connects other sights to them. The two girls are “chaperoned” by her cousin, whom she finds very annoying.
Abby feels like she barely knows Riya anymore because she acts and dresses differently. Also, she doesn’t seem very anxious to get back to Yuba Ridge, California. During their time apart they have been keeping secrets from each other and this trip will finally bring them out. This secret keeping makes them get into fights on their first stop in Florence.
The next cities they go to are Zurich, Berlin, and Edinburgh. Abby finds out Riya’s life changing secret, can’t handle it, and decides to go back home. Will everything work out or will they stop being friends forever?
I really liked this book because it felt very real since it could happen in real life. The ending even made me sad. I recommend this book because it was interesting and a real page-turner.
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