essay about wonder book

“Wonder” Children’s Novel by Raquel J. Palacio Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Children’s books constitute a unique type of literature that promotes the best human qualities and empathizes concepts, which not only children but even grown-ups should regularly be reminded of. Palacio’s Wonder is a vivid example. It is a touching, life-affirmative, and upbeat story about kindness and humanity that thrills readers, makes them participate and empathize, and then changes their personalities.

Wonder is the children’s novel written by Raquel J. Palacio that was originally published in 2012. A year later, the book turned out to be one of the best sellers in its genre, according to The New York Times (“The New York Times Best Sellers List” par. 1).

The novel tells the story of Auggie (August Pullman), who is a ten-year-old boy with a severe facial deformity. The deformity is not identified in the book, but it goes without saying that it affects Auggie’s life significantly. At first, the boy has been home-schooled because of countless surgeries, but his parents finally decide to enroll August to a school in order to provide him with proper education and a chance to communicate with other children. There, Auggie tries to make friends and strives to be accepted like any other child.

The author of Wonder explained that she was inspired to write this book in a real-life situation. In one of her interviews, Raquel J. Palacio told how she once went to an ice cream store with her kids, and they saw a girl with facial deformity there (“How One Unkind Moment Gave Way To ‘Wonder’” par. 2). Her son began to cry in fear when he noticed the girl, which is why Palacio took her kids and went out of the store. Later, she regretted her actions and decided to turn this situation into a good lesson. That is how Wonder appeared.

I find this book very educational and think that every child should read it. It teaches us that the appearance is secondary, and the most important thing is “who we are” (Palacio 47). It shows that facial deformity (or any otherness) does not make a person less normal or ordinary inside. Auggie states, “I do ordinary things. … I feel ordinary. Inside. … The only reason I’m not ordinary is that no one else sees me that way” (Palacio 3). Indeed, when children get to know August better, they do not notice his abnormality anymore – they begin to see how smart, funny, and kind he is.

From my point of view, things Palacio talks about are very important to understand in school years. Firstly, the child’s world outlook begins to form at this age, so a lot of beliefs and values acquired in school years become stronger in the future and stay for life. Secondly, children are very vulnerable in schools; that is the time when everyone desperately wants to fit in and be accepted. That is why Palacio’s book can make a difference in the school environment. Since the story is written in simple words, it is easy to comprehend even for young readers, and due to its sincerity and penetration, it touches the very core.

The idea to accept those who are different from others and treat them normally is very common in children’s literature. In Charlotte’s Web by Elwyn Brooks White, when Fern’s father realizes that one of the newborn pigs is a runt, he decides to kill it. However, the little girl defends the pig and states that it is unfair to kill it “just because it’s smaller than the others” (White 4). Later, the girl and the pig become friends, which proves that the appearance does not change what is inside. Admittedly, in Charlotte’s Web , realism is intertwined with fantasy, while Wonder is all about the real world, but the idea of the acceptance of otherness is common.

The story of August Pullman is not easy to read. Sometimes it becomes extremely sad and makes you desperately want to change something as if you have the power to do that. Then it makes you wonder what you would do in a particular setting: Would you be scared of Auggie when you see him for the first time? Would you sit near him in the class or at lunchtime? Would you defend the boy if someone offends him? The book keeps readers involved; you start to evaluate and reevaluate your own self. In the end, you are a different person. The most important is that the book is optimistic and positive in the main; its sentences are full of heart and humor. Wonder proves that even the most challenging situations always bring us something good.

Another thing that should be noticed about Wonder is its language and the way it is built. Firstly, the reader gets to know the story from Auggie’s point of view. However, when the second part of the novel begins, the narrator changes to Via, Auggie’s sister. While August mainly describes his own feelings and thoughts in his narrative, Via’s section contains more reflections, and it is very insightful. It also includes fewer dialogues than August’s part. The third section of the novel is narrated by Summer, one of Auggie’s best friends, who seated near him at lunchtime while no one else wanted to do this. Like Via’s section, it also contains more reflections. Besides, it is laconic and specific. Jack’s part stands out, just like his character does.

He describes the story from the viewpoint of a person who sees different sides of the situation. Then, Justin’s part follows. His point of view is really interesting since Justin is not an ordinary boy himself. He mentions that he has tics, which resemble Tourette’s syndrome (Palacio 191).

His language also differs: for example, he does not use capital letters. Apart from the fact that every narrator has his or her own point of view on the same situation and expresses thoughts in different ways and with different words, all of them describe different parts of the story. For example, Via’s section is mainly about home life while Jack and Summer talk about school. Miranda, the last narrator, who should be mentioned, gives an insight into the past because she has known August since his childhood.

Like any other children’s book, Wonder is written with simple and comprehensible language and relatively short sentences. It also contains a lot of direct speech. That is what makes the novel easier to read. Nevertheless, even though the words the author uses are simple, thoughts, and feelings that the book brings are adult. It teaches us how essential it is for human beings to be kind, tolerant, empathic, and understanding. “When given a choice between being right or being kind, choose the kind,” the author states. (Palacio, 311). Doesn’t only this one sentence make the book worthy of reading?

Works Cited

How One Unkind Moment Gave Way To ‘Wonder’ 2013. Web.

Palacio, Raquel J. Wonder , New York, New York: Random House, 2012. Print.

The New York Times Best Sellers List: Children’s Middle Grade. 2013. Web.

White, Elwyn B. Charlotte’s Web , London, England: HarperCollins Children’s Books, 2015. Print.

• "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down" by Anne Fadiman
• "Rip Van Winkle" by Washington Irving
• Aloe Vera: Composition, Main Biological Activities, and Use
• The Colorful Story of the Three Little Pigs
• Body Dysmorphic Disorder Etiology and Management
• Paul Bunyan's Contribution to American Folklore
• "The Shame of the Nation" a Book by Jonathan Kozol
• "Rachel and Her Children" a Book by Jonathan Kozol
• Susan Ferriss: United Farm Workers in "The Fight in the Fields"
• "Inherent Vice" by Thomas Pynchon
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2020, November 24). "Wonder" Children's Novel by Raquel J. Palacio. https://ivypanda.com/essays/wonder-childrens-novel-by-raquel-j-palacio/

""Wonder" Children's Novel by Raquel J. Palacio." IvyPanda , 24 Nov. 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/wonder-childrens-novel-by-raquel-j-palacio/.

IvyPanda . (2020) '"Wonder" Children's Novel by Raquel J. Palacio'. 24 November.

IvyPanda . 2020. ""Wonder" Children's Novel by Raquel J. Palacio." November 24, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/wonder-childrens-novel-by-raquel-j-palacio/.

1. IvyPanda . ""Wonder" Children's Novel by Raquel J. Palacio." November 24, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/wonder-childrens-novel-by-raquel-j-palacio/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . ""Wonder" Children's Novel by Raquel J. Palacio." November 24, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/wonder-childrens-novel-by-raquel-j-palacio/.

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

• Basic site functions
• Ensuring secure, safe transactions
• Secure account login
• Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
• Remembering privacy and security settings
• Analyzing site traffic and usage
• Personalized search, content, and recommendations
• Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

• Remembering general and regional preferences
• Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy .

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy .

• E-book vs. Paper Book: Advantages and Disadvantages Words: 577
• Paper Books and E-Books in the Modern Society Words: 1158
• Why Electronic Book Is Better Than Print Book Words: 1089
• History: Preserving Hard Copy Books Words: 1650
• Promotion Plan for the Book “Boy on the Move” Words: 1698

The Book “Wonder” by R.J Palacio

R.J. Palacio’s debut book Wonder was first published in 2012. The author was working as a visual designer and writing the novel at the same time. The book focuses on August, who suffers from a facial deformation that stopped him from attending a public school (Palacio, 2012). However, this situation changes when he enters the fifth grade at a mainstream school. Thus, the book explores the challenges August had to face being a new student and looking extraordinary. To fully reflect on the novel, it is essential to learn more about its plot, characters, and primary purpose.

The plot of Wonder covers the experiences of August Pullman throughout his first year at Beecher Prep. August’s medical condition causes many students to ridicule and bully him. Two students who stick up for August, Jack Will and Summer, become his friends over the first semester. There is the conflict between August and Jack during Halloween when Jack is overheard mocking August. August is bullied more frequently by Julian as the semester goes on, culminating in an overnight field trip outside New York. During this trip, a group of seventh-graders attacks August. However, his classmates are now more accepting of August as just a regular boy rushes to his aid and protects him. The book concludes with August receiving an award for being “notable or exemplary in certain areas throughout the school year” (Palacio, 2012, p. 210). August, feeling happy, thanks his mother for making him go to school.

The protagonist of the book is August Pullman, a young boy who suffers from facial deformation. August, sometimes referred to as Auggie, is often mocked by his peers for his appearance. August has support from his older sister, Olivia, who sometimes feels ignored by their family. At school, August makes friends with two other fifth graders, Jack Will and Summer. Jack Will is described as “a totally normal-looking kid with curly blond hair” (Palacio, 2012, p. 133). August’s other school-friend is Summer, who he states “looked like her name. She had a tan, and her eyes were green like a leaf” (Palacio, 2012, p. 45). By the end of the school year, August and his friends have gone through conflict but ultimately remain friends. August is bullied all year by Julian, who serves as the main antagonist of the book.

The author presented a compelling message about the value of compassion, understanding, and acceptance. The novel stresses that it is crucial not to be afraid to be different. Children might want to bully other students because they view these individuals as unusual in some particular way. In Wonder , the main character is perceived as different because he has a health condition that gave him a facial deformity (Palacio, 2012). Thus, August looks distinct from other people around him. Unfortunately, in real life, similar to the situation in the book, many do not want to accept differences because they cannot understand them. Auggie’s appearance might look extraordinary, but he is a friendly, helpful, and fun person, which is a reason to emphasize with him. Readers need to remember that differences between people make every person unique.

In conclusion, Wonder by R. J. Palacio is a novel about a boy with a facial deformity facing bullying and finding friends. It covers themes of compassion, friendship, and being different. I thought the book was thought-provoking and emotional, effectively putting the reader in August Pullman’s thoughts and feelings. It made me reflect on negative reactions people have when they interact with those perceived as different.

Palacio, R. J. (2012). Wonder. Knopf Books for Young Readers.

Cite this paper

• Chicago (N-B)
• Chicago (A-D)

StudyCorgi. (2022, March 9). The Book “Wonder” by R.J Palacio. https://studycorgi.com/the-book-wonder-by-r-j-palacio/

"The Book “Wonder” by R.J Palacio." StudyCorgi , 9 Mar. 2022, studycorgi.com/the-book-wonder-by-r-j-palacio/.

StudyCorgi . (2022) 'The Book “Wonder” by R.J Palacio'. 9 March.

1. StudyCorgi . "The Book “Wonder” by R.J Palacio." March 9, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/the-book-wonder-by-r-j-palacio/.

Bibliography

StudyCorgi . "The Book “Wonder” by R.J Palacio." March 9, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/the-book-wonder-by-r-j-palacio/.

StudyCorgi . 2022. "The Book “Wonder” by R.J Palacio." March 9, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/the-book-wonder-by-r-j-palacio/.

This paper, “The Book “Wonder” by R.J Palacio”, was written and voluntary submitted to our free essay database by a straight-A student. Please ensure you properly reference the paper if you're using it to write your assignment.

Before publication, the StudyCorgi editorial team proofread and checked the paper to make sure it meets the highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, fact accuracy, copyright issues, and inclusive language. Last updated: November 9, 2023 .

If you are the author of this paper and no longer wish to have it published on StudyCorgi, request the removal . Please use the “ Donate your paper ” form to submit an essay.

By R. J. Palacio

Homeschooled Auggie begins middle school at Beecher Prep and faces bullying and discrimination by his classmates because of his looks.

In a nutshell...

August ‘Auggie’ Pullman is a ten-year-old boy born with a congenital disability that caused an abnormal development of his facial features. Until the events of " Wonder ", Auggie had been homeschooled, but his parents decided to start him in Beecher Prep Middle School, and he has to come to terms with a new school life.

Key Moments

• Jack Will attacks Julian: Jack Will attacks Julian for making a nasty remark about August and is suspended for it.
• The Beecher students defend Auggie from bullies: When bullies from another school try to pick on August, his classmates bravely stand against them.
• Auggie wins an award at school: August Pullman receives the Henry Beecher Award at the graduation ceremony for his courage and kindness.

Main Characters

• August "Auggie" Pullman: Protagonist; his facial deformity exposes him to discrimination among his peers at school.
• Jack Will: Auggie's classmate; he becomes his first friend and protects Auggie at school.
• Julian: Antagonist; Julian makes fun of Auggie, and tries to convince his classmates to ostracize Auggie.

The story of "Wonder" is set in a modern-day middle school and addresses themes of bullying and discrimination based on people's differences. This setting makes the story relatable to teens and relevant at a time when intercultural and racial issues dominate public discourse.

Continue down for the complete summary to Wonder

Article written by Ebuka Igbokwe

Bachelor's degree from Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

R. J. Palacio’s “ Wonder” tells the story of August ‘Auggie’ Pullman, a boy with a craniofacial deformity that kept him from school, getting to attend school for the first time. It deals with issues such as kindness, empathy, self-acceptance, and discrimination against people with disabilities.

“ Wonder “ is told from the first-person perspective of several of the book’s characters . It is divided into eight parts, each named after the character from whose viewpoint the section is narrated.

Part One: August

The story opens with the protagonist August’s self-introduction: he presents himself as an ordinary ten-year-old kid others see as extraordinary. He is starting school for the first time and is scared at the prospect. He had never gone to school before and had been homeschooled because he had been in and out of hospitals to get reconstructive surgeries done on his face. He has Treacher-Collins Syndrome, which affected the development of his facial features. His appearance sets people off, which is one reason he is apprehensive about starting school, as he worries his schoolmates will discriminate against him because of his looks.

I wonder why Palacio writes about an extreme case of Treacher-Collins Syndrome, which is already rare, to teach about acceptance and kindness. August would have been a more relatable and believable character if his illness had not been as severe.

August’s parents and Mr. Tushman, the principal , organize a school visit to give August a feel for his new school. Three of his would-be classmates— Jack Will, Charlotte, and Julian —take August on a school tour.

The story’s rising action starts on August’s first day of school. He is nervous. The new classmates avoid sitting close to him, but Jack Will takes the initiative and sits beside him. They introduce themselves, and Julian makes subtle mean remarks about his face in a way that the teacher does not notice, and it is evident to August that he is deliberately unpleasant. In English class, their teacher invites them to think about precepts and fundamental general rules about life and take note of a precept every month. The first precept is about kindness.

At lunch, everyone avoids his table except a girl named Summer , and they become friends. However, for the rest of September, he has difficulty adjusting to the stares he is getting from his schoolmates and how they are avoiding him. Julian is particularly mean to Auggie and often taunts him. This general situation shapes the story’s central conflict. However, Auggie is happy about his friendships with Jack, Will, and Summer.

A key point occurs during the school Halloween party. In disguise, Auggie overhears Jack Will telling Julian and a group of boys that he is friends with August only because Mr. Tushman asked him. This hurts him deeply, and he calls in sick at the school clinic, and his mother comes to take him home. He does not return to school for the rest of the week.

This was a strong moment for August, and I felt deeply for him. Even though we sometimes express thoughts we would not say in the presence of some people, a hurtful statement still has the potential to hurt. A knife is only completely safe when sheathed.

Part Two: Via

The story switches to Via’s point of view, and she narrates how August’s special conditions make everyone in their home revolve around him to attend to his needs. Still, she believes the situation is changing slightly.

Via describes August’s deformity and the difficulties they cause him and the family. Because of his health, he needs much attention from his parents and Via. Because of this, her parents often ignore Via, but she understands and tries not to make an issue out of it.

As August begins middle school, Via starts at a new high school, and she is glad at the opportunity to create a new life as Olivia and not Via, Auggie’s brother. She meets Ella and Miranda, her close friends from middle school who also knew Auggie, and she thinks they have become cool towards her. She decides to separate herself from her old friends.

While Via is going through her changes at school, she is somewhat miffed that her mother, occupied with Auggie’s problems, has no time for her, but she holds her peace as she is wont to. Meanwhile, Miranda and Ella make new friends in school, and Via goes on to make her friends.

It did not make sense to me how Via, Miranda, and Ella grew apart if they had been such good friends. I think they could have sorted out their issues if they only had one frank talk and expressed how they felt about each other.

Via notices that Auggie does not go trick-or-treating that Halloween, and when she prods him, he tells her about Jack Will’s betrayal. Via sympathizes with him but assures him that he cannot feign sickness forever and will have to return to school sometime. She convinces August to return to school but ignores Jack Will.

Part Three: Summer

This part features the narrative picked up from Summer ’s viewpoint, a key point because Summer declares her friendship with August unequivocally here. Her classmates wonder why she is friends with August, who they think of as a freak. Summer believes she initially approaches him out of pity but likes him. She is angry at her classmates for avoiding August.

The popular kids invite her to a Halloween party. Savanna, the host, suggests that Julian wants to befriend her. The cool kids would like her to join their group, but on the condition that she stop hanging out with August, whom they call Zombie Kid. Summer is offended by this suggestion and makes an excuse to leave the party early.

Summer approaches August at school to discuss working with him on a class project, but she finds August withdrawn and rude. August wonders aloud whether she is his friend because Principal Tushman asked her, just like he requested Jack Will. August’s accusation offends Summer, and he apologizes for suspecting her motives. He then reveals to her what Jack Will said on Halloween.

I understand why August suspects Summer of pretending to be his friend. A mixture of naivety, hurt innocence, and insecurity makes him question whether anyone would genuinely want to befriend him for his own sake. After Jack’s betrayal, I respect him for remaining friends with Summer.

Summer and August collaborate on their class project and get to know each other better. At the school’s project presentation, Jack meets Summer and asks her why August no longer speaks with him. Because August swore her to secrecy, she could not tell him directly, so she gave him a hint.

Part Four: Jack

When the story switches to Jack, the reader is shown events before August begins school at Beecher Prep.

Jack Will’s mother receives a call from Principal Tushman asking that Jack Will be part of a student welcoming committee for a deformed new student. Jack Will initially refuses. He has seen August before and wants to avoid him. He finally changes his mind and agrees because he feels sympathetic to August. Knowing how mean people can be, he decides to be kind to him instead.

He finds August exciting and fun, and they become genuine friends. So, when August suddenly stops talking to him, he is surprised.

In the story, even after his betrayal, Jack comes across as a good kid with a solid personality, even when he falters. His character is noble.

He initially does not understand Summer’s hint and thinks she is toying with him. The class is assigned a science fair project, and Jack Will wishes he was still friends with August, who is very good at science. He suddenly understands Summer’s clue and realizes that August overheard him talking badly about him to Julian and his friends.

At the moment of realization, Jack is abjectly sorry he said such mean things about August and feels terrible about his actions. At the same time, the science teacher, Ms. Rubin, groups the class into pairs for the project and couples Jack Will and August. Julian approaches and asks Jack Will to dump August, whom he calls ‘freak’, and become partners with him instead. This makes Jack Will so furious that he punches Julian.

Jack Will gets detention and threatened with expulsion. He is only suspended and has to write Julian an apology. Jack Will also writes August, asking for forgiveness, and they mend their friendship in an email exchange.

However, back at school, Jack Will finds he has become a pariah. Former friends will not talk to him. He discovers from a classmate, Charlotte, that Julian has turned the whole class against him for befriending August. They will not even sit with him at the lunch table. Sides are drawn, and only a few classmates take August’s side, while some are neutral, and others side with Julian.

For someone who likes keeping a low profile, August stirred up a furor in his time at school!

While the effects of Jack’s actions appear later , this marks the story’s turning point because August’s self-confidence grows, and he attracts only genuine friends.

Part Five: Justin

Justin, Via’s boyfriend, describes meeting Auggie and Jack Will and hiding his shock at Auggie’s appearance. They are interested in him, his violin, and his zydeco band. When he is alone with Via, she asks him whether he is freaked out, and he denies it. Eventually, he meets Via’s parents and is warmed by their interest in him and his music, an attention different from what he gets from his divorced parents. They return to Pullman’s and find the family dog, Daisy , who is very sick.

Justin and Via are preparing for a school play. Justin and Miranda have the lead roles, and Via is only an understudy for Miranda. Via helps Justin prepare for his role at her home. On his way home, he notices Julian and his friends being mean to Jack Will and scares them off.

Part Six: August

August and Jack still face discrimination in school, and Julian’s group leaves mean notes in their lockers. However, the antagonism gradually decreases, and August’s classmates start becoming friendly with him. August also gets a hearing aid that improves his hearing.

When August’s mother finds out about Via’s school play, which she had kept secret, she is angry. August believes Via is trying to keep him a secret from her new school life, and they have a row over this. Via reprimands August for trying to make everything about him. That day, Daisy becomes so sick that she has to be euthanized, and the family reconciles over the tragedy.

I think August has a point in questioning why Via saw it necessary to hide that she will be performing in a school play. It is the sort of affair people share with family, hoping they attend and applaud them on stage. Via’s defense does not address his concern but becomes a counter-accusation.

Via brings tickets to the play, and August and his parents attend, hoping to see Miranda and Justin. However, Miranda calls in sick at the last moment, and Justin and Via play the lead roles. Miranda meets August, and they are happy to see each other again.

Part Seven: Miranda

In another change of perspective, Miranda takes up the story from her days at camp before high school. Following her parent’s divorce, her father moves in with another woman, and her mother becomes distant. When she goes away to camp, she hates it but passes her time by making things up to tell her campmates, including having a deformed brother.

When she returns to school, she is disappointed that Via never asks about her parents’ divorce. She grows closer to Ella and separates from Via.

Through the beginning of high school, she notices Via and her new boyfriend, Justin. Miranda even signs up for a play because she sees Via is participating, and she gets a lead role with Justin.

I did not think Miranda had any reason to give up her place for Via. It was self-sacrificing, but Via did not deserve the sacrifice. It feels as if Miranda, whose parents were distant, was bribing Via to regain entry into the warm and loving sphere of the Pullman family.

She misses the Pullmans because she had always found them a welcoming and loving family, and she pays a visit, meeting August.

She gives up acting in the play because she has no family to watch her and feels Via deserves to play the lead. After the show, Miranda meets up with the Pullmans and Justin, and they invite her to have dinner with them.

Part Eight: August

Beecher Prep fifth graders go for an annual camping event for three days, and August is excited but a little awed because he’s never been to camp or even a sleepover. They had many fun activities in the camp. The story’s climax occurs during an incident in the camp. The kids are at an outdoor movie one night, and Jack feels pressed, and August escorts him to the toilet. They meet a long line, and Jack relieves himself in the woods. On their return, they meet a group of middle schoolers from another school who make fun of August. Jack and August defend themselves, and other Beecher Prep boys join in and rescue August.

Even though he loses his hearing aid in the melee, August wins the respect of his classmates when they hear how he handled himself in the fight. His mother comes to take him home early. In the novel’s falling action , his classmates embellish and spread the fight story across the school . The aftermath of the incident is that he is accepted by his classmates and other Beecher Prep schoolmates. Everyone in his class, except Julian, becomes friendly towards him.

August’s acceptance by the whole school feels rushed by the author to give readers a pleasant resolution. I think it is unnatural and rings false. I prefer an ending where August has a few true friends to one where he becomes a minor school celebrity.

In the story’s resolution, August receives the Henry Beecher Award at the school’s graduation ceremony for his character, courage, and kindness.

Join Book Analysis for Free!

Exclusive to Members

Save Your Favorites

Free newsletter, comment with literary experts.

About Ebuka Igbokwe

Ebuka Igbokwe is the founder and former leader of a book club, the Liber Book Club, in 2016 and managed it for four years. Ebuka has also authored several children's books. He shares philosophical insights on his newsletter, Carefree Sketches and has published several short stories on a few literary blogs online.

About the Book

Discover the secrets to learning and enjoying literature.

Join Book Analysis

by R.J. Palacio

Wonder themes.

Kindness features prominently in this novel, as many of Auggie's struggles in life are linked to the unkind responses of others. At the end of the novel, Mr. Tushman makes an important graduation speech about the importance of being kind to all people, regardless of background, circumstances, or appearance. Indeed, by the final chapters, both Auggie and his fellow students have learned important lessons about how essential kindness truly is.

Tolerance of Differences

Middle school is often a cutthroat place, and kids who are different in any clear way will stand out from the crowd and face bullying as a result of their differences. Auggie's differences are evident the minute he steps foot in school; however, the other kids must try to get used to the way he looks and accept him for who he is. The more the other kids spend time around Auggie, the more they realize that his outward appearance does not make him any different from them on the inside. Auggie's presence at Beecher Prep helps everyone in the school become more tolerant and more accepting.

Auggie's family is crucial to his growth and maturity over the course of the novel. The other Pullmans are a constant source of support, encouragement, and love, no matter how rough it gets of Auggie as he tries to fit in beyond his family unit. Family is also important because other characters do not have the luxury of a close family like Auggie's: both Justin and Miranda comment that the Pullmans' family dynamic is so special because they themselves come from split-parent families. While the universe has been unkind to Auggie in many ways, in perhaps the most important way it has blessed him with a loving, supportive family that can help him get through almost anything.

Auggie shows great courage in surmounting all of the obstacles that he faces in his life. He pushes on despite the kids who mock him, torment him, and bully him, revealing true strength of character. It takes a tough person to be as courageous as Auggie is, and while it seems unfair for a child so young to have to face so many challenges, his bravery in the face of all of it sets an example for readers both old and young.

It only takes one person to help someone who was once lonely feel much more confident and secure, and the friends that Auggie makes in the course of the novel play a huge role in helping him to get through his first year at school. Summer is a true friend to Auggie right from the very beginning: she is there for him during his toughest time. While Jack screws up and says things he does not mean, he eventually realizes the error of his ways and apologizes, seeing at last how important Auggie's friendship is to him. True friends make it so much easier to face and overcome any challenge in life.

Outside vs. Inside

The novel explores a complicated theme when it addresses the differences between the way someone looks on the outside and who the same person is on the inside. Auggie does not want to be defined by the way he looks, and hopes that people can see through his unexpected appearance. He has multiple conversations with both Summer and his mother about heaven, particularly about whether or not people keep their faces after they die. He likes to think that sometime, in another life, he might be known for something more than his unusual face.

Popularity is an important theme in this novel: multiple characters struggle with the choice between doing what will make them popular and doing what they know is right. Jack tries initially to fit in with Julian because he wants to be popular, but eventually realizes that being a friend to Auggie is more important. Miranda tells lies at camp to be popular, but loses her best friend as a result of this dishonesty and comes to see that being friends with Via is what really matters to her. Popularity is a huge concern for middle school and high school students. Wonder explores their constant desire to want to fit in, no matter the cost.

Wonder Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Wonder is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

What do you think auggie means by “the only reason I’m not ordinary is that no one else sees me that way”.

Augie wants to be ordinary, he feels he should be ordinary. . His face prevents others from seeing him that way. Really Augie feels that if people can look past his looks, they would find out he is just like them.

What writing assignment did Mr. Browne give the class?

Mr. Browne says that he will give the class a new precept every month. For the month of September, he tells them to consider: “If you have the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind.”

What are the facts that are more significative for you?

This question calls for your opinion... your reflection on the book. I particularly enjoyed Summer's sections, as they give us a glimpse into what it's like not to be in Auggie's situation, but to learn what it's like for the people closest to...

Study Guide for Wonder

Wonder study guide contains a biography of R.J. Palacio, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Wonder
• Wonder Summary
• Wonder Video
• Character List

Lesson Plan for Wonder

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Wonder
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Wonder Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for Wonder

• Introduction

• Ask LitCharts AI
• Discussion Question Generator
• Essay Prompt Generator
• Quiz Question Generator

• Literature Guides
• Poetry Guides
• Shakespeare Translations
• Literary Terms

R. J. Palacio

Ask LitCharts AI: The answer to your questions

The Difficulty of Kindness

Wonder tells the story of ten-year-old August Pullman 's first year going to school. Because he was born with a rare craniofacial condition that necessitated multiple major surgeries, his parents felt it was best to homeschool him for much of his childhood—both to help him keep up with his studies, and to protect him from the bullying and stares he attracts that would likely intensify in a school setting. As August embarks on his journey…

Independence and Growing Up

At ten years old, August is on the brink of adolescence. Because he's so young and because he has an usually close relationship with his parents due to his medical condition, he begins the novel relying heavily on his parents for support and guidance. As August matures over the course of the novel and spends more time in the company of other kids his own age, however, he gradually begins to desire more independence. Though…

Status and Bullying

For August and the other kids at Beecher Prep, status and popularity are of the utmost importance. Wonder is peppered with kids' observations about their social structure, how status and hierarchy function in their world at school, and what the consequences of being popular or unpopular are on the student body. In particular, Wonder suggests that as intoxicating as popularity might be for August and his classmates, the social structure that allows some students to…

Wonder explores adolescence as a unique period of time in which teens and tweens have the ability to experiment with their identities with wild abandon. By looking at the ways the adolescent characters attempt to define themselves, either by changing their appearance or by liking certain things, as well as examining the degree to which those characters are defined by others (as when some students are spoken of in terms of one defining characteristic, regardless…

Parenting and Guidance

As August begins school, he comes into contact for the first time with professional teachers and with parents other than his own and those of his long-term childhood friends. Through August's observations of these adults, the novel interrogates both how adolescents view adult presences in their lives, as well as what role adults should play in the lives of their children and students. Ultimately, Wonder proposes that parents and teachers have a great deal of…

• Quizzes, saving guides, requests, plus so much more.

90 pages • 3 hours read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Pre-Reading Context

Thought & Response Prompts

Paired Texts & Other Resources

Essay Questions

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay. 

Scaffolded/Short-Answer Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the novel over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Mr. Browne gives precepts, which are life lessons, throughout the school year. Write your own precepts for the academic year and explain each one OR choose one precept and explain in more detail why it is important.

• What life lesson do you think is important for everyone to know, especially when entering middle school? (topic sentence)
• In your body paragraphs, give a few reasons for your precept, with examples of why this lesson is important. (If you are doing multiple precepts, explain each one with at least one example of when it would be important.)
• End by giving your reader practical steps they could take to implement this into their life. (conclusion)

2. Although Auggie is the main character in the novel, he is contrasted with other characters like his new best friend, Jack Will, and his antagonist, Julian.

• What is similar about these characters? What is different? (topic sentence)
• How do they meet and interact? How do they change by the novel’s end?

Related Titles

By R. J. Palacio

Auggie & Me

Featured Collections

Books that Teach Empathy

View Collection

Juvenile Literature

Realistic Fiction (Middle Grade)

YA & Middle-Grade Books on Bullying

'Wonder' Book Review

R.J. Palacio's Novel of Bullying and Acceptance

• Children's Book Reviews
• Authors & Illustrators
• Young Adult Books
• Best Sellers
• Classic Literature
• Plays & Drama
• Shakespeare
• Short Stories

"Wonder," R.J. Palacio's debut novel, was written for children 8 to 12 years old, but its message defies genres . Published in 2012, its anti-bullying, pro-acceptance message will resonate with teenagers and even adults as well.

Some books are action-packed, compelling the reader to turn the page to find out what happens next. Other books are compelling because they invite readers to engage with characters who are real, who come alive off the page, and who pull the reader into their story. "Wonder" is the latter kind of book. In fact, very little "action" happens within its pages, and yet readers will find themselves deeply affected by the story.

August Pullman (Auggie to his friends) is not an ordinary 10-year-old boy. He feels like one and has the interests of one, but his face is not ordinary at all. In fact, it's the type of face that scares kids and makes people stare. Auggie is pretty good natured about it all. This is the way he is, after all, and while he doesn’t like that people stare, there’s not much he can do about it.

Because his face has required many reconstructive surgeries, Auggie has been homeschooled . But there are no more surgeries to be done for a while, and now August’s parents think it’s time that he goes to mainstream school, beginning with fifth grade in the fall. The idea of this terrifies Auggie; he knows how people react to seeing him, and he wonders if he will be able to fit in at school at all.

He bravely gives it a go, but finds that it’s much like he expected. Many of the children laugh at him behind his back, and someone has started a game called the Plague, in which people “catch” a “disease” if they touch Auggie. One boy, Julian, leads the bullying attacks. He’s the sort of kid whom adults find charming, but in reality, he is quite mean to anyone not in his circle of friends.

Auggie does make two close friends: Summer, a girl who actually likes Auggie for who he is, and Jack. Jack started out as Auggie’s “assigned” friend, and when Auggie finds this out, he and Jack have a falling out. However, they patch things up at Christmas, after Jack gets suspended for hitting Julian for badmouthing Auggie.

This leads to a “war," with the popular boys against Auggie and Jack. While nothing more than mean words, in the form of notes in the lockers, fly between the two camps, the tension between them lasts until the spring. Then there's a confrontation between a group of older boys from a different school and Auggie and Jack at a sleep-away camp. They are hopelessly outnumbered until a group of boys who were formerly against Auggie and Jack help defend them from the bullies.

In the end, Auggie has a successful year at school, and even makes the Honor Roll. In addition, the school gives him an award for courage, which he doesn't understand, musing, “If they want to give me a medal for being me, I’ll take it.” (p. 306) He sees himself as ordinary, and in the face of everything else, he really is just that: an ordinary kid.

It‘s the straightforward, non-sentimental manner in which Palacio approaches her topic that makes this such an excellent book. Auggie might have an extraordinary face, but he's a regular kid, and that makes him relatable, in spite of his challenges. Palacio also shifts her point of view, telling the story through the eyes of characters other than Auggie. This allows the reader to get to know characters like Auggie's sister, Via, who talks about the way her brother takes over the family’s life. However, some of the other viewpoints—especially of Via’s friends—feel somewhat unnecessary and bog down the middle of the book.

The power of the book likes in how Palacio creates such a normal, relatable character from a boy living with such an extraordinary physical affliction. Even though "Wonder" is recommended for children ages 8 through 12, the book's themes of identity, bullying, and acceptance make it interesting reading for a wide audience as well.

About R.J. Palacio

An art director by profession, R. J. Palacio first thought of the idea for "Wonder" when she and her children were on vacation. While there, they saw a young girl who had a condition similar to Auggie’s. Her children reacted badly, which got Palacio thinking about the girl and what she goes through on a daily basis. Palacio also thought about how she could have better taught her children to respond to situations like this.

The book inspired Random House to start an anti-bullying campaign, called Choose Kind , with a site where people can share their experiences and sign a pledge to stamp out bullying. There you can also download an excellent Educator Guide for Wonder to use at home, or with a community grouop.

Companion Book

"Auggie & Me: Three Wonder Stories ," also by R. J. Palacio, is a 320-page collection of three stories, each told from the point of view of one of three characters from "Wonder": the bully Julian, Auggie’s oldest friend, Christopher, and his new friend, Charlotte. The stories take place prior to Auggie’s attending school and during his first year there.

This book is neither a prequel nor a sequel to "Wonder"—in fact, Palacio has made it clear that she does not plan to ever write either. Instead, this book is meant as a companion for those who have already read "Wonder" and want to extend the experience by learning more about Auggie's impact on the people around him.

• Loot: How to Steal a Fortune Book Review
• An In-Depth Look at 'the Lightning Thief' by Rick Riordan
• Overview and Book List for A Merlin Mission Books
• Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
• The Librarian of Basra: A True Story From Iraq
• The Kissing Hand Book Review
• All About "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules"
• Monster Book Review
• "The Borrowers" by Mary Norton
• The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
• "Coraline" by Neil Gaiman, Newbery Medal Winner
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
• Julia Donaldson's 'The Gruffalo' Picture Book Review
• The Strange Case of Origami Yoda
• Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere Book Review
• Flora and Ulysses Book Review