Wonder
August "Auggie" Pullman is an ordinary ten-year-old in almost every way — he loves Star Wars, video games, and ice cream, and he has a wry, funny way of looking at the world. But Auggie was born with a rare facial difference, and after twenty-seven surgeries and a childhood spent being homeschooled, he has never gone to a real school. That changes when his parents enroll him in fifth grade at Beecher Prep.
Wonder follows Auggie's first year among classmates who stare, whisper, and sometimes cruelly exclude him — and the handful who become true friends. Told in turn by Auggie and the people around him, including his fiercely protective older sister Via and his friends Jack and Summer, the novel widens its lens so that we see the same events from many sides.
R.J. Palacio's modern classic is a warm, clear-eyed story about kindness, courage, and the ordinary heroism of simply choosing to be good to one another.
Ten-year-old with a rare facial difference, starting mainstream school for the first time.
Classmate who bullies Auggie for his appearance.
Classmate assigned to befriend Auggie who becomes a genuine friend.
Classmate who chooses to sit with Auggie and becomes his friend.
Auggie's fiercely protective older sister, navigating her own high-school life.
A film adaptation of Wonder was released in 2017, starring Jacob Tremblay as Auggie, Julia Roberts, and Owen Wilson. It generally received positive reviews for its faithful portrayal of the book's themes and characters.
Wonder is followed by several companion books that expand on the original story from different characters' perspectives. These include "Auggie & Me: Three Wonder Stories" and "365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne's Book of Precepts."
R. J. Palacio was inspired to write Wonder after an incident where she and her son encountered a child with a severe facial difference. She reflected on her own reaction and the importance of empathy, which led to the creation of Auggie's story.