Wonder
by R.J. Palacio
Young-Adult, Fiction, Middle-Grade, Contemporary, Realistic-Fiction, Childrens, School
“I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.”
August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. Wonder, begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others.
Recommendations from Common Sense Media
Age Recommendation: 10+
What Parents Need to Know:
Parents need to know that Wonder is about 10-year-old August Pullman, who has a genetic facial difference. After being homeschooled, he enters school for the first time in fifth grade and has to cope with a range of reactions to his unusual appearance, as well as a lot of typical middle school drama. Some kids use hateful language, and some people suggest that Auggie is mentally deficient. These situations are upsetting, as are other hardships that Auggie’s family endures, including loss of a beloved family pet. However, goodness wins out, and readers should find it inspiring and uplifting. A high school couple kisses a few times, and Auggie observes some seventh-grade kids smoking, but it’s not clear whether they’re smoking cigarettes or pot. The book was adapted for the 2017 film starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and Jason Tremblay. The audiobook version, read by Nick Podehl, Kate Rudd, and Diana Steele, was named a 2013 Notable Children’s Recording by the American Library Association.
Educational Value: 3/5
Wonder‘s greatest lessons are more emotional or behavioral than academic. But the book does go into some detail about genetics and the probability of a child developing physical differences like Auggie’s. The novel also offers a telling view into middle school life and curriculum and a bit about the differences between middle school and high school culture. One of the teachers, Mr. Browne, teaches his students about precepts, and they discuss a new precept every month. Many of these are great life lessons from authors, spiritual leaders, and philosophers.
Positive Messages: 5/5
Wonder has a unique and powerful way of reminding readers that beauty is only skin deep. The novel also offers lessons about the dangers of responding to peer pressure and the importance of simple human kindness. The precepts that Mr. Browne teaches his students also introduce various meaningful ideas.
Positive Role Models: 5/5
Almost all of the adults in Wonder are beautiful role models for Auggie, his sister Via, and their friends. Auggie’s parents, in particular, are so loving, devoted, patient, and kind that their kids’ friends wish they could join the Pullman family. Auggie’s teachers and Mr. Tushman, the director of Beecher Prep, are caring educators who deftly ease Auggie out of some challenging situations, but also let him find his own way socially. Auggie himself shows real grace, as well as enough believable kid emotion to make him as convincing as he is admirable.
Violence & Scariness: 2/5
Some kid-on-kid violence. Auggie’s friend Jack Will punches another boy. Some seventh-grade kids pick on Auggie and his friends and physically assault them. Kids are pushed, bruised, and scraped, and a child’s sweatshirt is torn; the violence in this scene is preceded by verbal abuse, which makes the physical attack especially disturbing.
Sex, Romance & Nudity: 1/5
Auggie’s high school sister, Via, has a boyfriend, and they kiss a few times.
Language: 2/5
No curse words, but a lot of hate speech. Other children call Auggie an “alien,” an “orc,” and a “freak”; they slip notes into his locker telling him to “Get out of our school,” and they pretend he has a contagious disease that they call the Plague.
Products & Purchases: n/a
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking: 2/5
Auggie and a couple of his classmates come across some seventh-grade kids whom they observe smoking. It’s not entirely clear whether they’re smoking cigarettes or pot.
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