Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, Rand House Children's Books
Copyright: 2012
Citation: Palacio, R. J. (2012). Wonder. Alfred A. Knopf, Rand House Children's Books.
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, Rand House Children's Books
Copyright: 2012
Citation: Palacio, R. J. (2012). Wonder. Alfred A. Knopf, Rand House Children's Books.
Literary Awards, Honors, and/or Nominations
- 2012 NAIBA Book of the Year Award: Winner
- 2013 ALA Notable Children’s Book: Winner
- 2013 IRA Teacher's Choice Award: Winner
- 2015 Mark Twain Award: Winner
- 2015 Junior Young Reader's Choice Award: Winner
Reading Level:
Lexile: 790L
DRA: 40
Guided Reading: U-V
GLE: 4
-Original description of the book
Wonder prepares students to deal with uncomfortable and difficult situations with clarity and maturity. The book also gives students a good sense of how to be more sensitive to people who are different, but more importantly, we see how important simple kindness is. For some students, this book might be easy to relate to, while for others it will hold their interest. I found this book very interesting and truly inspirational.
-Corresponding Common Core State Standard
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.3: Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character's thoughts, words, or actions). (Activity that addresses the standard: Inferential Writing Comprehension Activity)
-Suggested delivery
1) Independent read
-2 electronic resources
1) Information about birth defects
2) Quotes about courage and bravery
-3 teaching suggestions for grades 4-6
1) Teachers can use this book to teach students about diversity and how people will have different appearances on the outside but on the inside they are still human and have feelings. Since someone’s face in the main picture that others associate them with, appearances are a huge theme in Wonder. For students around this age, students aren’t used to seeing a person whose appearance is totally different than theirs and it will be a nerve-wracking experience. Teachers can use this book to teach students how to deal with this and whatever fears they have and talk to them about what might cause a physically difference/deformity.
2) Teachers can also use this book to help students who are struggling to find their identity. A lot of students this age will be dealing with some type of peer pressure and/or bullying and this book can be helpful for those students reading what Auggie had to go through, like trying to bridge the gap between what kind of person he thinks he is and what kind of person the world sees him as.
3) Another way teachers can use this book in a classroom is by teaching students about courage. In Wonder, there are many different types of courage that was shown: the courage to attempt something terrifying, the courage of taking a risk and going against what’s normal, and the courage of persevering even when it’s hard to do. Teaching students about courage will help them become better people as they get older and will also help them become better friends towards each other.
-Key Vocabulary:
1) Ordinary: The expected or common condition or situation
2) Extraordinary: beyond what is ordinary or usual, highly unusual or exceptional
3) Cleft: a split or indentation in something
4) Precept: Rule of personal conduct
5) Contagious: (of disease) capable of being transmitted by infection
6) Accommodate: have room for, hold without crowding
-An inferential comprehension writing activity:
Throughout the story, readers do not get a clear image of what the main character looks like. Have students write their own descriptions of August and what his feelings about himself are. What did the students think he looked like? What words of the author helped to get a clear image of what the boy looked like?
-Before Reading Comprehension Activity: Share the book trailer with your students. This will help students who may have struggled better understand the meaning of the text and what the story is truly about.
-During Reading Comprehension Activity: Have the students conference after finishing a chapter. Allow students to discuss important parts of the past section they read, as well as anything new they may have learned about our protagonist. Ask questions such as:
-Does Auggie’s attitude toward his appearance change throughout the story?
-As you read Wonder, do your definitions of ugly versus beautiful change?
-Why do you think Auggie wears the helmet every day?
-How has Auggie defined himself in younger years and how does that change as he becomes a regular school kid?
-What role do masks play in the concealing and revealing of identity?
-Which aspects of his identity are most important to Auggie? Which elements can he create or destroy? Which are unchangeable?
-What aspect of her identity does Via struggle with throughout Wonder? How about Miranda?
Wonder prepares students to deal with uncomfortable and difficult situations with clarity and maturity. The book also gives students a good sense of how to be more sensitive to people who are different, but more importantly, we see how important simple kindness is. For some students, this book might be easy to relate to, while for others it will hold their interest. I found this book very interesting and truly inspirational.
-Corresponding Common Core State Standard
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.3: Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character's thoughts, words, or actions). (Activity that addresses the standard: Inferential Writing Comprehension Activity)
-Suggested delivery
1) Independent read
-2 electronic resources
1) Information about birth defects
2) Quotes about courage and bravery
-3 teaching suggestions for grades 4-6
1) Teachers can use this book to teach students about diversity and how people will have different appearances on the outside but on the inside they are still human and have feelings. Since someone’s face in the main picture that others associate them with, appearances are a huge theme in Wonder. For students around this age, students aren’t used to seeing a person whose appearance is totally different than theirs and it will be a nerve-wracking experience. Teachers can use this book to teach students how to deal with this and whatever fears they have and talk to them about what might cause a physically difference/deformity.
2) Teachers can also use this book to help students who are struggling to find their identity. A lot of students this age will be dealing with some type of peer pressure and/or bullying and this book can be helpful for those students reading what Auggie had to go through, like trying to bridge the gap between what kind of person he thinks he is and what kind of person the world sees him as.
3) Another way teachers can use this book in a classroom is by teaching students about courage. In Wonder, there are many different types of courage that was shown: the courage to attempt something terrifying, the courage of taking a risk and going against what’s normal, and the courage of persevering even when it’s hard to do. Teaching students about courage will help them become better people as they get older and will also help them become better friends towards each other.
-Key Vocabulary:
1) Ordinary: The expected or common condition or situation
2) Extraordinary: beyond what is ordinary or usual, highly unusual or exceptional
3) Cleft: a split or indentation in something
4) Precept: Rule of personal conduct
5) Contagious: (of disease) capable of being transmitted by infection
6) Accommodate: have room for, hold without crowding
-An inferential comprehension writing activity:
Throughout the story, readers do not get a clear image of what the main character looks like. Have students write their own descriptions of August and what his feelings about himself are. What did the students think he looked like? What words of the author helped to get a clear image of what the boy looked like?
-Before Reading Comprehension Activity: Share the book trailer with your students. This will help students who may have struggled better understand the meaning of the text and what the story is truly about.
-During Reading Comprehension Activity: Have the students conference after finishing a chapter. Allow students to discuss important parts of the past section they read, as well as anything new they may have learned about our protagonist. Ask questions such as:
-Does Auggie’s attitude toward his appearance change throughout the story?
-As you read Wonder, do your definitions of ugly versus beautiful change?
-Why do you think Auggie wears the helmet every day?
-How has Auggie defined himself in younger years and how does that change as he becomes a regular school kid?
-What role do masks play in the concealing and revealing of identity?
-Which aspects of his identity are most important to Auggie? Which elements can he create or destroy? Which are unchangeable?
-What aspect of her identity does Via struggle with throughout Wonder? How about Miranda?
-After Reading Comprehension Activity: Have students write down what they would do if a student like Auggie came into their class. Ask students to write what they would have down before they read the book, what they would do now that they have read the book and what this book taught the students.
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