Lexile Level: 790L
Selling Tool:
Book Review
Wonder is a book that stays with you long after you finish reading it. I first read Wonder when I was reading a children’s book group and that was chosen for our monthly read. Initially, I was a little skeptical because I hadn’t read children’s fiction much before that (since being a kid myself) but I was impressed from page one. There is something about August Pullman’s story that resonates with readers of all ages. I thought I knew what I was getting in for as soon as I read the premise of the story: a young boy who looks different struggles to fit in, but there is so much more to this book. Told from many perspectives, I got to see not only what Auggie’s friends and family were doing, but also how they were feeling. This made the story come to life and drew me into Auggies’ world. I don’t think I ever felt betrayal so strongly before I found out who was in the Star Wars costume. I didn’t hate anything about this book, and the children in my group loved it as well.
This book is raw at times, and readers will feel the entire emotional gamut. This makes it a great book to discuss and to encourage reluctant readers because it is so REAL and therefore relatable. As explained through the mini-lecture, students will have an emotional reaction to this book. The experience is aesthetic as opposed to efferential.
Learning Activity Suggestions:
Art Link:
In our book group, we focused on the theme of kindness in the book, and created art based on the precepts. (also found here:http://rjpalacio.tumblr.com/post/17457757675/mr-brownes-precepts). We painted and used collage materials to decorate picture frames. We also had a discussion about the precepts each person chose, and why they were our favorites.
1. Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
2. Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
3. Refine and complete artistic work.
Kindness Dialog:
I would like to see children start a kindness dialog. A good place to start would be this interview between R. J. Palacio and some school children that she met with in Brooklyn.
- This could take many directions, but one idea is to have a small lesson in activism by spreading kindness. The kids could come up with a kindness project that they could plan, implement, and enjoy.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.2
Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges or how the speaker in a poem reflects upon a topic; summarize the text.
- Additional Text Resources: (from commonlit.org)—any of these texts could be used as a jumping off point for written responses and round table discussion (possibly intergenerational)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.1.A
Come to discussions prepared, having read or studied required material; explicitly draw on that preparation and other information known about the topic to explore ideas under discussion.
- “About Treacher Collins Syndrome” by commonlit
- “The Milgram Experiment” by commonlit
- “Why do People Follow the Crowd?” by ABC News
- “A Teen and a Trolley Reveal Society’s Dark Side,” from Science News for Students
- “Fish Cheeks” by Amy Tan
- “Proposed Treatment to Fix Genetic Diseases Raises Ethical Issues,” from NPR
- “Herd Behavior” by commonlit
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