Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Wonder by R.J. Palacio 

- Realistic Fiction

- Bluebonnet Novel

- #1 New York Times Bestseller 

- Ages 8-12

Summary:

Wonder is the story of a young boy named August Pullman. August Pullman has a medical condition called mandibulofacial dysostosis, which means he has multiple surgeries to restructure his face. The novel tells the story of August's first year in public school at Beecher Prep. Auggie Pullman is entering the fifth grade and the principal, Mr. Tushman asks some students, Jack Will, Julian, and Charlotte, to help welcome him into the school. August was hesitant about going to school. He meets Jack Will and the teachers sit them together in each class; they spend the majority of time together. The students of Beecher Prep stare constantly as they struggle to accept August because of the way he looks; however, a young girl named Summer reaches out and sits with August at lunch. As the story progresses, it is evident that August's family loves him very much, but his older sister, Via, struggles because all her life, the attention has been around August. On Halloween, August overhears Jack Will saying really cruel things about him, and this deeply offends August because he thought they were close friends. The children at Beecher Prep continue to treat August differently and even start a game called "the plague" where they avoid touching him similar to the "cheese touch" in Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Jack Will and Julian fight because Jack Will defended August by punching Julian, then the fifth-grade class takes sides between the two boys and becomes divided. Via's boyfriend meets August and tries to hide his surprise when seeing his face for the first time, but he later comes to the conclusion that "the universe has not been kind to him". Towards the end of the story, August is feeling more confident so he goes to the fifth-grade nature retreat. While he was there, Auggie and Jack Will had an encounter with some 7th graders who chased them, called August an alien and an orc, and tried to beat them up. Some other boys from Beecher Prep came to their rescue and helped them escape the bullies. For the first time, August's other classmates came to his defense and he was grateful. The story ends at the Beecher Prep graduation where Mr. Tushman gives a speech about being kind to one another and August Pullman is awarded the Henry Ward Beecher medal for courage, kindness, friendship, character, and strength. All the children in the auditorium started cheering and chanting his name. Afterward, everyone wanted pictures with August and his classmates and he was happy because no one seemed to care that his face was next to theirs for the first time. 

Evaluation:

I would recommend this novel because it was very captivating. I would use this book in the classroom because it gives different perspectives from the viewpoint of the children in the novel. Wonder is also a window into what the world of what a disabled child might experience. This novel teaches students to be kind to each other. The story of August Pullman also shows the reader that you should not judge someone based on what they look like. This novel shows that you never know what someone may be going through so you should show compassion to the people you meet. The only reason I might not use this novel in the classroom is that I want to teach 1st or 2nd grade and this novel is above that level. I would say this novel should be used in 3rd to 5th grade because it is at that reading level and the students would be able to relate to the characters who are their age. Wonder by R.J. Palacio would be an appropriate book to use when covering units concerning fictional literature, medical disabilities, equality, or even human rights.