Wonder

Wonder

Author: R.J. Palacio 

Genre: Realistic Fiction 

Awards: Bluebonnet Award, #1 New York Times Bestseller, Maine Student Book Award, Vermont's Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award, Mark Twain Award, Junior Young Reader's Choice Award

Grades: 3-6

Wonder is written by R.J. Palacio and is about a ten year old boy named Auggie Pullman. Auggie was born with several birth defects that caused a rare facial deformity. Due to numerous surgeries that Auggie had to endure, it caused him to be homeschooled until the start of fifth grade. When he entered the fifth grade, his mom enrolled him in Beecher Prep. He had two friends that helped him get through his first year in school, Jack and Summer. On Halloween, Auggie overhears Jack talking about him to his other friends and decides to end their friendship. After a few months Jack and Auggie become friends again and eventually Jack starts to be bullied due to him being Auggie's friend. Even when Auggie wanted to quit school, his sister Via, convinced him to continue going to Beecher Prep. At the schools retreat, students from another school are discovered bullying Auggie and Jack. The other students from Beecher Prep protected Jack and Auggie. When the retreat ended and everyone was back at school, the other students began to be more accepting and friendly towards Auggie. 

I would use Wonder to teach my students about respect, acceptance and the importance of no bullying. This book can also be used to teach students about diversity and overcoming challenges. I would most likely use this in small groups so the students can discuss with each other about what they are learning.