Wonder
R. J. Palacio
Readers rate it 4.2 (843 on Hardcover)
321 pages · Released Feb 14, 2012 · Knopf Books for Young Readers
Content report card
What's inside
Violence
Fighting, weapons, death
Language
Swearing, crude humor
Sexual content
Romance intensity, nudity
LGBTQ+ themes
Presence of characters or themes
Scary or mature
Horror, trauma, heavy themes
Substance use
Alcohol, drugs, smoking
What it offers
Positive messages
Kindness, courage, honesty, resilience
Positive role models
Characters who model good judgment and growth
Educational value
History, science, culture, how the world works
A note for parents
Wonder is a beloved modern classic centered on acceptance, kindness, and empathy as a protagonist with a facial difference navigates middle school. The story contains minimal objectionable content—mild language, no sexual material, and only light violence (typical playground incidents)—while offering powerful positive messages about looking beyond appearances and treating others with compassion. Multiple perspectives help readers understand different characters' experiences, and the book has inspired widespread discussions about inclusion, making it an excellent choice for building emotional intelligence and social awareness in upper elementary and middle-grade readers.
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From the publisher
THE ICONIC #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER WITH MORE THAN 16 MILLION COPIES SOLD “A crackling page-turner filled with characters you can’t help but root for.”—Entertainment Weekly Meet Auggie Pullman, an ordinary kid with an extraordinary face—who shows us that kindness brings us together no matter how far apart we are. T... THE ICONIC #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER WITH MORE THAN 16 MILLION COPIES SOLD “A crackling page-turner filled with characters you can’t help but root for.”—Entertainment Weekly Meet Auggie Pullman, an ordinary kid with an extraordinary face—who shows us that kindness brings us together no matter how far apart we are. This modern classic inspired the Choose Kind movement, a major motion picture, and countless conversations about empathy, compassion, and acceptance. “Rich and memorable.”—The New York Times Book Review NAMED ONE OF THE BEST CHILDREN’S BOOKS EVER BY TIME AND PARADE • E. B. WHITE READ ALOUD AWARD WINNER 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 prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. Starting fifth grade at Beecher Prep, Auggie wants nothing more than to be treated like everybody else—but his new classmates can’t get past the way he looks. Beginning from Auggie’s point of view and expanding to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others, the perspectives converge to form a portrait of one community’s struggle to live up to its values. R. J. Palacio has called her debut novel “a meditation on kindness”—indeed, every reader will come away with a greater appreciation for the simple courage of friendship. Auggie is a hero to remember who proves that you can’t blend in when you were born to stand out. “A beautiful, funny, and sometimes sob-making story of quiet transformation.”—The Wall Street Journal
Shelved under
- Juvenile Fiction
- Loveable Characters
- Strong Character Development
- Character driven
- Diverse Characters
- Not Diverse Characters
- Weak Character Development
- A mix driven
- Unloveable Characters
- Calibre Import
- inspiring
- emotional
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ISBN 9780375869020 · Knopf Books for Young Readers