Wonder

Title: Wonder

Author: R.J. Palacio

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Awards: Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee (2013-2014)

Grade Level: 4-8

August (Auggie) Pullman has an extreme congenital facial difference but he feels normal. He had lived a relatively sheltered life being homeschooled and had learned to ignore all the stares others would give him. But for his 5th-grade year, he enters Beecher Prep Middle School. At the new school, he had to deal with normal middle school problems in addition to visually sticking out. Some students were fairly nice, but many avoided him like the plague. Once some of the students took the time to look beyond his face and got to know his humorous, kind personality, he is able to befriend the other students, especially Summer and Jack Will. At the middle school graduation ceremony, Auggie is awarded the Henry Ward Beecher medal for his display of "greatness" through his courage, kindness, friendship, and character. He chose to embrace his differences and be himself.

I would use this book with my upper elementary grade students. It has short chapters and has various references to Star Wars, however, it does deal with heavy topics such as bullying, death, and family relations. It was written in multiple perspectives that add depth to the characters and fill in the other side of the plot. This book has a great message that we should always choose to be kind and learn to empathize with others despite our differences. People in our support group can help us overcome life's challenges. Like Mr. Browne's class, students could develop their own precepts and demonstrate it. Learning about building positive self-esteem, students could draw a self-portrait and write what makes them unique. Then, their classmates could write down something they like about them.