Wonder, the book by R.J. Palacio, is an amazing book on so many levels. If you have not read it, do it now. Like right now. Go to Amazon, download it to your reader, sit in the sun, or in the bathtub, or in front of a cozy fire, or wherever you like to read, and enjoy one of the best pieces of kid-lit, ever.
Wonder is an amazing book to share with your students. Here are 10 reasons why.
NOTE: As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Kindness is a major theme in this book. Wouldn’t you love to have a classroom where everyone is “a little kinder than is necessary”? Most of the characters in this book really think about their actions and how they will affect others. There are so many wonderful examples of how being kind really matters – how it changes situations, how it changes lives.
In this book, two important characters both choose their friendship with August (the main character), who has been rejected by the rest of his grade level, over being popular. Both are offered the chance to join the popular group if they stop hanging around with August, and both very publicly stand by their friend. A third character, in a different storyline, chooses popularity, and we see her story arc, too.
This book is written from several points of view, all kids or teens. The unique voice of each character really adds to the depth of the story. Palacio skillfully weaves the timelines of several characters together. There is so much great learning to be mined just in this one aspect of the book.
The characters in this book are not one-dimensional. The good ones sometimes have bad feelings or do bad things. The bad ones aren’t all bad (though you may need to read The Julian Chapter to see how that plays out). The characters are self-reflective in age-appropriate ways. Even the adults, who we never hear from first-hand, are well crafted.
This book is rich in figurative language. There are idioms spoken by adults that the younger main character tries to puzzle out. Similes and metaphors used by characters to help explain and understand their world. There is also a healthy dose of symbolism.
Empathy is the ability to share and understand another’s feelings.
It’s impossible to read Wonder without feeling this emotion. The main character’s experiences of living with his unique face draw you in, allowing you to share his journey. His sister’s challenges with having a brother with special needs are equally compelling. You also connect deeply with his friends’ struggles with rejection from their classmates.
For adults, the portrayal of his parents’ and teachers’ feelings resonates strongly. The author does an amazing job of authentically portraying these characters and their emotions.
Wonder is brilliantly written.
In less competent hands, it could have been a disaster. This is not an easy topic to write about. It is not easy to have an authentic fifth-grade voice. It’s not easy to bring something we don’t generally talk about front and center. Everything about this book works, from each well-thought-out sentence to the entire arc of the story. And it’s a page-turner. Your students will beg you to just read one more page.
Mr. Browne, the English teacher, is fond of precepts – what he calls “words to live by.” These show up throughout the book but also at the end when the students write their own. There it is…a motivating, relevant, and meaningful writing activity just waiting for you to make it happen with your students.
Throughout this book you can’t help but ask yourself what you would do if you were in one of the character’s shoes. What if I were…August? Jack? Summer? August’s parents? Via? Miranda? Mr. Tushman? Julian? What would I do? How would I act? What kind of a person am I? What kind of person do I want to be?
There are so many things to discuss in Wonder. About the characters, the story, the writing…I have no doubt you will be amazed by what comes out of your students’ mouths. While discussion is a wonderful way to dig into the book and get different viewpoints, writing is also important. When writing, students have time to reflect without outside influences; to check in with themselves – their own thoughts, their own feelings. Be sure to provide time for some written responses, too. These 97 Wonder Question Cards are great for discussion or writing.
Watch the movie and use these task cards to compare and contrast the book and the movie.
Wonder by R.J. Palacio is filled with memorable quotes that capture the essence of the story’s themes and characters.
These quotes offer profound insights into kindness, courage, and the human spirit, making the book a beloved choice for readers of all ages. Here are some of the most famous quotes from Wonder that continue to inspire and resonate with readers.
“When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind.” – Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
“You can’t blend in when you were born to stand out.” – Auggie Pullman
“I think there should be a rule that everyone in the world should get a standing ovation at least once in their lives.” – Auggie Pullman
“It’s not enough to be friendly. You have to be a friend.” – Charlotte Cody
“Everyone deserves a standing ovation because we all overcometh the world.” – Auggie Pullman
“The best way to measure how much you’ve grown isn’t by inches or the number of laps you can now run around the track, or even your grade point average—though those things are important, to be sure. It’s what you’ve done with your time, how you’ve chosen to spend your days, and whom you have touched this year. That, to me, is the greatest measure of success.” – Mr. Tushman
“Kinder than is necessary. Because it’s not enough to be kind. One should be kinder than needed.” – Mr. Tushman
“Courage. Kindness. Friendship. Character. These are the qualities that define us as human beings, and propel us, on occasion, to greatness.” – Mr. Tushman
“Sometimes I think my head is so big because it is so full of dreams.” – Auggie Pullman
“It’s like people you see sometimes, and you can’t imagine what it would be like to be that person, whether it’s somebody in a wheelchair or somebody who can’t talk. Only, I know that I’m that person to other people, maybe to every single person in that auditorium. To me, though, I’m just me. An ordinary kid.” – Auggie Pullman
Minds in Bloom
We built our reputation on quality. With a history of over 12 million downloads by more than a million teachers, you can trust Minds in Bloom to provide standards-based learning materials your students will love!
Quick Links