Wonder by RJ Palacio - When choosing to be kind changes the way you see the world…

Wonder by RJ Palacio is a realistic fiction novel that shares many heartfelt lessons that I enjoyed both as a kid and now after rereading it. The novel follows August or Auggie for short, who was born with a genetic disorder (as both his parents were carriers) that affected his facial appearance. Auggie had been homeschooled previously, but his mom believed fifth grade (or the start of middle school there) would be a good year to start school. 

In the first chapters of the novel, Auggie shares the encounters he’s had with strangers in the past, revealing the struggles Auggie faces. One of the first things he mentions is that while he feels like an ordinary kid, the world around him doesn’t. In contrast, he has a supportive environment at home; his mom who was an illustrator, a dad who makes lots of jokes, and a protective sister, Via. 

Eventually, Auggie’s parents convince him to tour the school, Beecher Prep. There he meets Charlotte, Jack Will, and Julian. In this encounter, Julian is established as someone who acts differently in front of teachers and parents. During the tour, Julian asks Auggie several passive aggressive questions, some implying that he believes Auggie to be dumb; a thought that is quickly shut down when Auggie proves him wrong. 

Following the tour, Auggie reluctantly decides to attend the school. As he navigates school, his main struggle is dealing with bullying (there is this messed up game of “plague,” and Julian.) However, he also finds true friendships, accepts himself, and concludes school with a great ending that makes it worth it.

While the novel’s main focus is on Auggie’s story, it also features other characters’ perspectives. This was one of my favorite features of the book because it gives you the opportunity to look at Auggie from others’ eyes, like his sister (who mentions that sometimes it feels like Auggie is the Sun, and the family orbits him). Additionally, I enjoyed the way the author personalized each character’s voice/narration. For example, Via’s boyfriend, Justin’s, chapter is written with a lowercase letter to start the sentence. Eventually, the novel becomes a coming-of-age story for many characters in the story, but especially for those who narrate part of the story. 

In the end, Wonder isn’t just about navigating school and life, but rather has lessons about accepting identity, and being kind. The novel highlights kindness through the friendships, and with the writing teacher, Mr. Browne’s precepts. The first precept he gives is, “When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind.”

Overall, this is a great novel that has many lessons, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a new book to read!

• Hyelynn

(PS: There is another book with Julian's perspective that shows another side of him.)