One Sentence Summary
R. J. Palacio’s Wonder is a children’s novel about a young boy struggling to fit in due to a facial deformity.
Book Genre
Wonder is a children’s novel written by author R.J. Palacio.
Main Topic of the Book
The main topic of Wonder is a young boy’s struggles to fit in and accepted in his community due to a facial deformity.
Key Ideas
The key ideas in Wonder include:
- Learning to accept yourself for who you are despite how you look.
- Case studies of bullying and how to manage it.
- Meaningful relationships and understanding of one’s place in the world.
- The importance of compassion, kindness, and courage.
- Developing self-reliance and facing life’s challenges with courage.
Main Parts of the Book and a Short Summary
The main parts of Wonder by R.J. Palacio include:
- August Pullman: August Pullman, a 10-year old boy with a facial deformity, struggles to fit in at school and with his peers. He must navigate a new set of challenges, such as bullying, prejudice, and self-doubt, while making friends and learning to accept himself for who he is.
- Summer Before Fifth Grade: August and his family spend the summer preparing for fifth grade, visiting a therapist to help him cope, and learning to handle the reactions of others to his face. He also meets the daughter of a friend of his family, who quickly becomes a confidante.
- Fifth Grade: August begins fifth grade, facing physical challenges of integration into the school. He is welcomed by some and snubbed by others, but ultimately learns to find his place among his peers.
- Dealing with Bullying: August begins to confront his bullies and learns the importance of communication and assertiveness in standing up for himself. He also learns the power of compassion and kindness, as he finds true friends who help him to stay positive.
- Moving On: Having finally found his place at school, August must now cope with the changes of a new school year and the various obstacles that life throws in his way. In the end, he learns the value of courage and self-reliance in confronting all of life’s difficulties.
Key Takeaways
Wonder offers readers the key takeaways of valuing self-acceptance, practicing compassion and kindness, learning to stand up for oneself in the face of bullying, and becoming more self-reliant.
Author’s Background and Qualifications
R.J. Palacio is an American writer of children’s fiction. She is an editor by trade and has been writing since the age of eight. She has been published in numerous magazines and holds a BFA in degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York.
Target Audience
Wonder is suitable for children aged 8-12, as well as older readers who enjoy enriching stories about self-acceptance, courage and facing life’s challenges.
Publisher and First Publication Date
Wonder was published by Knopf Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, on February 14, 2012.