- Citation: Palacio, R., & Knopf, I. (n.d.). Wonder.
- Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
- Year publisher: 2012
- Number of pages: 320
- Age range: 8-12 years
- Grade level: 3-7
- Lexile: 790L
- Awards: Josette Frank Award (2013), West Australian Young Readers' Book Award (WAYRBA) for Young Readers (2013), Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award (2014), Deutscher Jugendliteraturpresis for Preis de Jugendjury (2014), The Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Children's Literature Medalist (2013)
My Review:
This book is a testament to how strong and resilient kids can be in this lonely, difficult world. August "Auggie" Pullman was born 10 years ago with a severe facial deformity and because of his many health issues and surgeries, he has been home schooled his entire life by his mother. His parents realize that it's time to kick him out of the nest and let Auggie learn to navigate his way through the world. Auggie has very few friends and as a younger child, used to hide under an astronaut's helmet so that people wouldn't stare at him. The principal at the new school has set up some students to act as a greeting committee and some of those students end up being good friends to Auggie. That's not to say that he doesn't face some rude students, bullying, lack of empathy, and disgust, but Wonder is a great tale of how to get through life with courage and strength. It's about judging people for what they have on the inside.
This book is very popular with upper elementary and middle school grades. I found the rotating narrators to be a great way of revealing how the main characters were feeling and responding to events in the book. I really like that it wasn't a "Pollyanna"-style book where everything was peachy-keen and rainbows and sunshine--it was a realistic view of how this child with deformities will have to navigate through his entire life. There were nasty comments, bullying behaviors, and rude staring, and it was refreshing to read how Auggie learned to address it instead of hiding from it.
Professional Review:
Reviews: FICTION 6-8
Wonder Palacio, R.J. 2012.320pp. $15.99 hc. Alfred A. Knopf (Random House). 978-0-375-86902-0. Grades 5-8
August (Auggie) Pullman faces extraordinary challenges as he enters middle school at Beecher Prep. Until now he has been home schooled due to his facial deformity and numerous surgeries. He begins by informing the readers, "I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse." His appearance is horrifying to some of his new classmates and others he encounters throughout the novel. The story unfolds from multiple perspectives as the narrator alternates between Auggie, his classmates, and other characters. This is a heartwarming story of overcoming adversity, tolerance, and learning to accept others. It would be a great school-wide read as it has so many issues that middle school readers could relate to. I loved the way it tied in popular culture; it made me laugh and cry.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
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By Lynn M. Weeks, Library Media Specialist, Bourne (Massachusetts) Middle School (Library Media Connection. Mar/Apr2012, Vol. 30 Issue 5, p69-69. 1/8p.)
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Putting Yourself in His Shoes. Before reading the book, have students form small groups of 5-6 students. Cut up the handout of discussion cards found here . Follow the directions on the handout by handing the cards one at a time around the group, allowing each student a few minutes to answer the question orally. Continue until the group has answered all of the discussions for each student. After each group is finished, have one person from the group act as the spokesperson and share their combined answer for one of the cards with the class.
SOL correlation: English 6.2 The student will present, listen critically, and express opinions in oral presentations.
Five in a Row Bingo. Before beginning the lesson, the teacher should print off enough bingo cards so that students can work in pairs on this activity (bingo cards can be found at Texas Blue Bonnet Award webpage here). Hand out two sets of markers to each pair so that each student has one color of marker for the bingo board. The students take turns playing by putting a marker on the square, saying the word and giving a meaning or using the vocabulary word in a sentence. If the answer is deemed correct, the player gets to stay on the square. The first person to get five in a row wins!
SOL correlation: English 7.4 The student will read to determine the meanings and pronunciations of unfamiliar words and phrases within authentic texts. (a-f)
Precept Postcard Posters. Auggie has been home schooled by his mother until attending school for the first time in the book. Auggie's teacher, Mr. Brown, teaches the students about "precepts", which are mottos to live by. Mr. Brown expects the students to learn these "rules about really important things!" and to add to this class list. Some students send their precepts to Mr. Brown months or years after being his class; he might randomly receive an email or postcard from a student with their precept. The first precept of the year (and the one that sets the theme of the book) is: "When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind". Assist students in choosing one of the precepts (a list is given in the appendix of the book). Students will be creating posters of the precepts to display in the library. The posters are designed to look like giant postcards. The students should include the following information on the postcard poster: the precept, their explanation of what they think the precept means, and an illustration to show the meaning behind the precept.
SOL correlation: Visual Arts 7.4: The student will communicate ideas, experiences, and narratives through the creation of works of art, using traditional and contemporary media.
Character Mapping. The story of Wonder is told with rotating narrators. As a reader, you get to see the story unfold through the eyes of Auggie, Via, Julian, etc. Using the Storyboard That website, create character maps for three characters of your choosing from the book. In the storyboard, students will include the following information for each character: traits, relationship to Auggie, and how he or she showed an act of kindness during the story.
SOL correlation: English 8.5: The students will read and analyze a variety of fictional texts, narrative nonfiction, and poetry.
Voice/Narrative Writing. Think about why the author chose to tell this story with several narrators. The book starts out in Auggie's voice and then rotates between characters--why is that significant? Why start with Auggie as the narrator, instead of his mother or father? Who is the narrator for the ending of the book and why is that important? Assist students is taking a story (either one they are already familiar with, like a favorite book or fairy tale) or making up their own story and rewriting the story with two narrative voices. If a student is feeling particularly confident, he or she could even try to rewrite a story with three or four voices.
SOL correlation: English 8.5: The students will read and analyze a variety of fictional texts, narrative nonfiction, and poetry.
Informational Writing: Bullying. Bullying is a highly personal topic and can affect students in different ways. Most students agree that name calling, threats, and put downs are bullying, such as the notes that Julian sneaks into Auggie's locker at school. What about excluding someone, such as when Auggie has to eat lunch alone? Or when the students create a game behind Auggie's back that if a student is touched by Auggie they will catch a disease? Create an informational presentation about bullying. Research information about bullying (statistical data, incidence rates, etc.) and your school's own policy on how bullying in handled. Your informational presentation could be used at a school event such as Open House or Back to School Night to inform new students about how bullying is viewed at your school, how prevalent it is, and how it is handled.
SOL correlation: 7.9 English: The student will apply knowledge of appropriate reference materials to produce a research product (a-e)
Symbolism Summary. Auggie makes several references to shoes right away in the book. For example, he notices Mr. Tushman's red Adidas shoes, Charlotte's green Crocs, and Mrs. G's brown sandals. Why do you think that Auggie describes the people he meets by their shoes instead of their hair color or eye color? Find three other symbols in the book and describe how and why they are used. What message to do they convey to the reader?
SOL correlation: English 7.5: The students will read and analyze a variety of fictional texts, narrative nonfiction, and poetry.
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References
Wonder discussion cards:
https://texasbluebonnetaward2014.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/wonder-discussion-cards.pdf
-This website contains the discussion cards to complete the first class activity.
Wonder bingo card:
https://texasbluebonnetaward2014.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/wonder-five-in-a-row.pdf
-This website's attachment contains the vocabulary bingo card that is used for the second class activity.
Character Mapping
http://www.storyboardthat.com/articles/education/english/character-mapping
-This website includes a definition for "character mapping" along with examples from famous works, such as "Romeo and Juliet"
http://www.storyboardthat.com/teacher-guide/wonder-by-r-j-palacio
Several examples of storyboard character maps can be found on this website, created by Becky Harvey
Teacher's Guides and Additional Lesson Plans (these resources can be used to expand the lessons or to create more activities based on student interest)
https://sixtraitgurus.wordpress.com/tag/writing-lessons-based-on-wonder/
http://psolarz.weebly.com/mr-solarz-eportfolio/using-wonder-by-rj-palacio-to-teach-social-skills-and-life-lessons
http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/choose-kind/pdf/trudy-ludwig-guide-wonder.pdf
Wonder audiobook (video and recording):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anWMLkelmEk
-This audiobook recording can be used by teachers when reading the book in class)
Random House book trailer video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgB7_KpBDss
-This book trailer can be used as a class anticipatory activity to introduce the students to the book before they begin reading it
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Paired Book Titles
For Caitlin, who has Aspberger's Syndrome, the world is very black and white and everything in between is just confusing. Caitlin doesn't fit in and just wants everything to go back to the way it was, before her brother died and her father became helpless. This book was selected because of its contribution to the subject matter (both Auggie and Caitlin have to adapt to a world that doesn't exactly welcome them) and its interest to the students (Caitlin is similar in age to Auggie and most middle school readers).
Palacio, R. (2014). The Julian chapter: A wonder story. Knopf Books for Young Readers.
In this book, readers will be reintroduced to Julian, a main character from Wonder. This book will give the readers an amazing insight into Julian's life events and how they shaped him to become one of the most disliked characters in Wonder. This book was selected because of its contribution to the representative viewpoints on controversial issues (Julian's bullying towards Auggie and how it began).
Draper, S. (2010). Out of my mind. New York: Atheneum Books for
Young Readers.
For Melody, life has been difficult because of her inability to speak and communicate with the people in her life. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at birth, Melody is locked in a silent world. Once she discovers a medical device that can help her communicate, Melody is able to show her classmates and family just how smart she is. This book was selected because of its high degree of potential user appeal (students will relate to Melody's struggles in school and desire to make friends).
Palacio, R. (2014). 365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne's Book of Precepts. Knopf Books for Young Readers.
This book will give students daily precepts to read and use in their own lives. This book was selected because of its contribution to the subject matter and its interest to the students. This book would also be a great way to expand the lesson on using personal precepts in the classroom.
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References
- Books on being different
Erskine, K. (2010). Mockingbird (Mok'ing-bûrd). New York: Philomel Books.
Draper, S. (2010). Out of my mind. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
Sloan, H. (2013). Counting by 7s. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.
Stroud, J. (n.d.). Lockwood & Co. Disney.
John, W. (2009). Outcasts united: A refugee soccer team, an American town. New York: Spiegel & Grau.
- Books on bullying
Maciel, A. (2014). Tease. Balzer Bray.
Gibsen, C. (2015). Life unaware. Entangled: Teen.
Oseman, A. (n.d.). 2014. In Solitaire. Harper Collins Children's Books.
- Books by R.J. Palacio
Palacio, R., & Knopf, I. (n.d.). Wonder.
Palacio, R. (2015). Shingaling: A wonder story. Knopf Books for Young Readers.
Palacio, R. (2014). 365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne's Book of Precepts. Knopf Books for Young Readers.
Palacio, R. (2014). The Julian chapter: A wonder story. Knopf Books for Young Readers.
Palacio, R. (n.d.). Pluto: A wonder story.
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