Wonder

                                                        
Title: Wonder
Author: R.J. Palacio
Genre: Special Needs
Major Awards: New York Times Best Seller and Texas Blue Bonnet
Age Group: 3rd - 12th grade

Summary:
I just finished the book Wonder by R.J. Palacio! I have read this book once before but it was refreshing to re-read it from a new perspective. They recently turned it into a movie and I have yet to watch it, however, I believe books are always better than the movies.

Wonder is about a young boy named August (Auggie is his nickname) Pullman, and he was born with a facial difference and had been homeschooled up until the 5th grade where his parents sign him up to attend Beecher Prep. He is hesitant and nervous to go because he is not like the other students that attend, he looks different and he knows he looks different. Going in with this mindset, Auggie is nervous to start his first day. He wants to be seen as an ordinary 5th-grade boy but his peers do not see that, they only see what is on the outside. Throughout the story, the author chose to have the story be told from different perspectives. Starting with his sister and his friends as well. The author doing this made an impact on how the reader felt reading Auggies story. While Auggie was nervous to start school and felt uneasy around his peers, his fellow classmates begin to see him for the wonderful individual he is, and just how extraordinary does not mean anything bad. As the book ends, he is sitting at his graduation ceremony and he wins the Henry Ward Beecher award, an award meant for students that show strength and courage, which he displayed all throughout the book. A sweet ending to help him feel loved by others and normal.

I would use this book in an upper elementary classroom. I think the book teaches a great lesson for students and it would be something they could carry throughout their years. To treat others how you want to be treated but also not to treat and judge others on their appearance but rather for what is in their heart. Auggie displayed a well-rounded character, he was loving, kind, and looked for the best in others because he knew what it felt like to not be seen that way. This story would show the students to respect and be kind to all no matter what.

I think the appropriate grade level of this book would be third grade and higher. The content would be mature enough for 8-year-olds to read as well as understand. It reads easy, the font is big so students who may struggle with reading the small print would be able to read it smoothly.

In my classroom, if I were to use this book I would have the children make a mask, using the face on the cover as a reference. On the mask they would decorate it while focusing on the word "wonder." What if you were Auggie or his peers? How would you react? This activity would be used to show how far kindness can go. While they work on this, I would pair them up with people they do not normally talk to and have them be buddies for the day.