wonder kindness essay

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Character — The Power of Empathy and Acceptance in R.J. Palacio’s “Wonder”

The Power of Empathy and Acceptance in R.j. Palacio’s "Wonder"

• Categories: Character Empathy

About this sample

Words: 704 |

Published: Jun 13, 2024

Words: 704 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, character development, narrative perspective, moral lessons.

Cite this Essay

To export a reference to this article please select a referencing style below:

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Verified writer

• Expert in: Literature Life

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

2 pages / 809 words

1 pages / 336 words

1.5 pages / 720 words

4 pages / 1709 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Character

In the novel "Copper Sun" by Sharon Draper, the character of Amaris plays a significant role in the story. Through her experiences and actions, Amaris undergoes a profound transformation that highlights important themes of the [...]

In the pantheon of American literature, few characters embody the spirit of resilience, determination, and undying love as effectively as Phoenix Jackson in Eudora Welty's short story "A Worn Path." Through a meticulous "Phoenix [...]

William Shakespeare’s Hamlet has long been revered as a masterpiece of literature. It has stood the test of time and is still being studied and performed today. One of the most notable features of this play is the use of [...]

In the renowned novel "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel, the character of Richard Parker assumes a pivotal role in shaping the narrative and exploring significant themes. Richard Parker, a Bengal tiger, not only serves as the [...]

Langston Hughes’ book written in 1958, ‘’Thank you ma’am’’ is set in Harlem New York during a time that New York experienced rapid population growth. It explores the effects of kindness and trust. The story is about a boy named [...]

"The function of wisdom is to discriminate between good and evil" -Cicero- There are villainous characters throughout the history of literature that capture our utmost fears of hatred, vengeance, and psychotic behavior. [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Wonder Lessons

10 Discussion Questions for Wonder

Good discussion is the heart of any English class, and Wonder by R.J. Palacio provides so much rich material for students to reflect on and discuss.

The questions below can be used to initiate discussion in small groups, or as a whole class. Often it can be helpful to start with small groups, and then have them come together for a larger discussion.

You can also use them as writing prompts or paragraph questions.

Here are ten discussion questions for Wonder by R.J. Palacio.

Wonder Discussion Questions

• How does August’s facial difference impact his relationships with others and his perception of himself?
• Discuss the theme of kindness and empathy in the novel. How do the characters respond to August and how do their actions impact him?
• How do August’s experiences at Beecher Prep School differ from his experiences at his previous school?
• Discuss the role of family in the novel. How do August’s parents and siblings support and challenge him?
• How do the characters’ perceptions of August change throughout the novel?
• Discuss the theme of bullying in the novel. How do August and the other characters deal with bullying and its effects on them?
• How does the novel address the themes of appearance and acceptance?
• Discuss the role of imagination and creativity in the novel. How do August and the other characters use their imaginations to cope with challenges and obstacles?
• How does the novel portray the importance of friendship and the challenges of making and maintaining friendships?
• Discuss the ending of the novel. How does August’s journey end and what does this reveal about the themes of the novel?

Full Unit Plan

These discussion questions are a great place to start, but if you want everything you need to teach Wonder in one download, check out this amazing full unit plan .

discussion questions rj palacio teaching wonder

1 thought on “10 Discussion Questions for Wonder”

• Pingback: Themes in Wonder – Wonder Lessons

Comments are closed.

Related Posts

Part one questions for wonder by r.j. palacio.

Use full sentences and write more than the minimum when answering questions and filling in charts.  Explain yourself, and write ...

Parts Two and Three Questions for Wonder by R.J. Palacio

A Tour of the Galaxy What challenges do you think Via might face being Auggie’s sister? METAPHOR – A metaphor ...

By R. J. Palacio

Homeschooled Auggie begins middle school at Beecher Prep and faces bullying and discrimination by his classmates because of his looks.

In a nutshell...

August ‘Auggie’ Pullman is a ten-year-old boy born with a congenital disability that caused an abnormal development of his facial features. Until the events of " Wonder ", Auggie had been homeschooled, but his parents decided to start him in Beecher Prep Middle School, and he has to come to terms with a new school life.

Key Moments

• Jack Will attacks Julian: Jack Will attacks Julian for making a nasty remark about August and is suspended for it.
• The Beecher students defend Auggie from bullies: When bullies from another school try to pick on August, his classmates bravely stand against them.
• Auggie wins an award at school: August Pullman receives the Henry Beecher Award at the graduation ceremony for his courage and kindness.

Main Characters

• August "Auggie" Pullman: Protagonist; his facial deformity exposes him to discrimination among his peers at school.
• Jack Will: Auggie's classmate; he becomes his first friend and protects Auggie at school.
• Julian: Antagonist; Julian makes fun of Auggie, and tries to convince his classmates to ostracize Auggie.

The story of "Wonder" is set in a modern-day middle school and addresses themes of bullying and discrimination based on people's differences. This setting makes the story relatable to teens and relevant at a time when intercultural and racial issues dominate public discourse.

Continue down for the complete summary to Wonder

Article written by Ebuka Igbokwe

Bachelor's degree from Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

R. J. Palacio’s “ Wonder” tells the story of August ‘Auggie’ Pullman, a boy with a craniofacial deformity that kept him from school, getting to attend school for the first time. It deals with issues such as kindness, empathy, self-acceptance, and discrimination against people with disabilities.

“ Wonder “ is told from the first-person perspective of several of the book’s characters . It is divided into eight parts, each named after the character from whose viewpoint the section is narrated.

Part One: August

The story opens with the protagonist August’s self-introduction: he presents himself as an ordinary ten-year-old kid others see as extraordinary. He is starting school for the first time and is scared at the prospect. He had never gone to school before and had been homeschooled because he had been in and out of hospitals to get reconstructive surgeries done on his face. He has Treacher-Collins Syndrome, which affected the development of his facial features. His appearance sets people off, which is one reason he is apprehensive about starting school, as he worries his schoolmates will discriminate against him because of his looks.

I wonder why Palacio writes about an extreme case of Treacher-Collins Syndrome, which is already rare, to teach about acceptance and kindness. August would have been a more relatable and believable character if his illness had not been as severe.

August’s parents and Mr. Tushman, the principal , organize a school visit to give August a feel for his new school. Three of his would-be classmates— Jack Will, Charlotte, and Julian —take August on a school tour.

The story’s rising action starts on August’s first day of school. He is nervous. The new classmates avoid sitting close to him, but Jack Will takes the initiative and sits beside him. They introduce themselves, and Julian makes subtle mean remarks about his face in a way that the teacher does not notice, and it is evident to August that he is deliberately unpleasant. In English class, their teacher invites them to think about precepts and fundamental general rules about life and take note of a precept every month. The first precept is about kindness.

At lunch, everyone avoids his table except a girl named Summer , and they become friends. However, for the rest of September, he has difficulty adjusting to the stares he is getting from his schoolmates and how they are avoiding him. Julian is particularly mean to Auggie and often taunts him. This general situation shapes the story’s central conflict. However, Auggie is happy about his friendships with Jack, Will, and Summer.

A key point occurs during the school Halloween party. In disguise, Auggie overhears Jack Will telling Julian and a group of boys that he is friends with August only because Mr. Tushman asked him. This hurts him deeply, and he calls in sick at the school clinic, and his mother comes to take him home. He does not return to school for the rest of the week.

This was a strong moment for August, and I felt deeply for him. Even though we sometimes express thoughts we would not say in the presence of some people, a hurtful statement still has the potential to hurt. A knife is only completely safe when sheathed.

Part Two: Via

The story switches to Via’s point of view, and she narrates how August’s special conditions make everyone in their home revolve around him to attend to his needs. Still, she believes the situation is changing slightly.

Via describes August’s deformity and the difficulties they cause him and the family. Because of his health, he needs much attention from his parents and Via. Because of this, her parents often ignore Via, but she understands and tries not to make an issue out of it.

As August begins middle school, Via starts at a new high school, and she is glad at the opportunity to create a new life as Olivia and not Via, Auggie’s brother. She meets Ella and Miranda, her close friends from middle school who also knew Auggie, and she thinks they have become cool towards her. She decides to separate herself from her old friends.

While Via is going through her changes at school, she is somewhat miffed that her mother, occupied with Auggie’s problems, has no time for her, but she holds her peace as she is wont to. Meanwhile, Miranda and Ella make new friends in school, and Via goes on to make her friends.

It did not make sense to me how Via, Miranda, and Ella grew apart if they had been such good friends. I think they could have sorted out their issues if they only had one frank talk and expressed how they felt about each other.

Via notices that Auggie does not go trick-or-treating that Halloween, and when she prods him, he tells her about Jack Will’s betrayal. Via sympathizes with him but assures him that he cannot feign sickness forever and will have to return to school sometime. She convinces August to return to school but ignores Jack Will.

Part Three: Summer

This part features the narrative picked up from Summer ’s viewpoint, a key point because Summer declares her friendship with August unequivocally here. Her classmates wonder why she is friends with August, who they think of as a freak. Summer believes she initially approaches him out of pity but likes him. She is angry at her classmates for avoiding August.

The popular kids invite her to a Halloween party. Savanna, the host, suggests that Julian wants to befriend her. The cool kids would like her to join their group, but on the condition that she stop hanging out with August, whom they call Zombie Kid. Summer is offended by this suggestion and makes an excuse to leave the party early.

Summer approaches August at school to discuss working with him on a class project, but she finds August withdrawn and rude. August wonders aloud whether she is his friend because Principal Tushman asked her, just like he requested Jack Will. August’s accusation offends Summer, and he apologizes for suspecting her motives. He then reveals to her what Jack Will said on Halloween.

I understand why August suspects Summer of pretending to be his friend. A mixture of naivety, hurt innocence, and insecurity makes him question whether anyone would genuinely want to befriend him for his own sake. After Jack’s betrayal, I respect him for remaining friends with Summer.

Summer and August collaborate on their class project and get to know each other better. At the school’s project presentation, Jack meets Summer and asks her why August no longer speaks with him. Because August swore her to secrecy, she could not tell him directly, so she gave him a hint.

Part Four: Jack

When the story switches to Jack, the reader is shown events before August begins school at Beecher Prep.

Jack Will’s mother receives a call from Principal Tushman asking that Jack Will be part of a student welcoming committee for a deformed new student. Jack Will initially refuses. He has seen August before and wants to avoid him. He finally changes his mind and agrees because he feels sympathetic to August. Knowing how mean people can be, he decides to be kind to him instead.

He finds August exciting and fun, and they become genuine friends. So, when August suddenly stops talking to him, he is surprised.

In the story, even after his betrayal, Jack comes across as a good kid with a solid personality, even when he falters. His character is noble.

He initially does not understand Summer’s hint and thinks she is toying with him. The class is assigned a science fair project, and Jack Will wishes he was still friends with August, who is very good at science. He suddenly understands Summer’s clue and realizes that August overheard him talking badly about him to Julian and his friends.

At the moment of realization, Jack is abjectly sorry he said such mean things about August and feels terrible about his actions. At the same time, the science teacher, Ms. Rubin, groups the class into pairs for the project and couples Jack Will and August. Julian approaches and asks Jack Will to dump August, whom he calls ‘freak’, and become partners with him instead. This makes Jack Will so furious that he punches Julian.

Jack Will gets detention and threatened with expulsion. He is only suspended and has to write Julian an apology. Jack Will also writes August, asking for forgiveness, and they mend their friendship in an email exchange.

However, back at school, Jack Will finds he has become a pariah. Former friends will not talk to him. He discovers from a classmate, Charlotte, that Julian has turned the whole class against him for befriending August. They will not even sit with him at the lunch table. Sides are drawn, and only a few classmates take August’s side, while some are neutral, and others side with Julian.

For someone who likes keeping a low profile, August stirred up a furor in his time at school!

While the effects of Jack’s actions appear later , this marks the story’s turning point because August’s self-confidence grows, and he attracts only genuine friends.

Part Five: Justin

Justin, Via’s boyfriend, describes meeting Auggie and Jack Will and hiding his shock at Auggie’s appearance. They are interested in him, his violin, and his zydeco band. When he is alone with Via, she asks him whether he is freaked out, and he denies it. Eventually, he meets Via’s parents and is warmed by their interest in him and his music, an attention different from what he gets from his divorced parents. They return to Pullman’s and find the family dog, Daisy , who is very sick.

Justin and Via are preparing for a school play. Justin and Miranda have the lead roles, and Via is only an understudy for Miranda. Via helps Justin prepare for his role at her home. On his way home, he notices Julian and his friends being mean to Jack Will and scares them off.

Part Six: August

August and Jack still face discrimination in school, and Julian’s group leaves mean notes in their lockers. However, the antagonism gradually decreases, and August’s classmates start becoming friendly with him. August also gets a hearing aid that improves his hearing.

When August’s mother finds out about Via’s school play, which she had kept secret, she is angry. August believes Via is trying to keep him a secret from her new school life, and they have a row over this. Via reprimands August for trying to make everything about him. That day, Daisy becomes so sick that she has to be euthanized, and the family reconciles over the tragedy.

I think August has a point in questioning why Via saw it necessary to hide that she will be performing in a school play. It is the sort of affair people share with family, hoping they attend and applaud them on stage. Via’s defense does not address his concern but becomes a counter-accusation.

Via brings tickets to the play, and August and his parents attend, hoping to see Miranda and Justin. However, Miranda calls in sick at the last moment, and Justin and Via play the lead roles. Miranda meets August, and they are happy to see each other again.

Part Seven: Miranda

In another change of perspective, Miranda takes up the story from her days at camp before high school. Following her parent’s divorce, her father moves in with another woman, and her mother becomes distant. When she goes away to camp, she hates it but passes her time by making things up to tell her campmates, including having a deformed brother.

When she returns to school, she is disappointed that Via never asks about her parents’ divorce. She grows closer to Ella and separates from Via.

Through the beginning of high school, she notices Via and her new boyfriend, Justin. Miranda even signs up for a play because she sees Via is participating, and she gets a lead role with Justin.

I did not think Miranda had any reason to give up her place for Via. It was self-sacrificing, but Via did not deserve the sacrifice. It feels as if Miranda, whose parents were distant, was bribing Via to regain entry into the warm and loving sphere of the Pullman family.

She misses the Pullmans because she had always found them a welcoming and loving family, and she pays a visit, meeting August.

She gives up acting in the play because she has no family to watch her and feels Via deserves to play the lead. After the show, Miranda meets up with the Pullmans and Justin, and they invite her to have dinner with them.

Part Eight: August

Beecher Prep fifth graders go for an annual camping event for three days, and August is excited but a little awed because he’s never been to camp or even a sleepover. They had many fun activities in the camp. The story’s climax occurs during an incident in the camp. The kids are at an outdoor movie one night, and Jack feels pressed, and August escorts him to the toilet. They meet a long line, and Jack relieves himself in the woods. On their return, they meet a group of middle schoolers from another school who make fun of August. Jack and August defend themselves, and other Beecher Prep boys join in and rescue August.

Even though he loses his hearing aid in the melee, August wins the respect of his classmates when they hear how he handled himself in the fight. His mother comes to take him home early. In the novel’s falling action , his classmates embellish and spread the fight story across the school . The aftermath of the incident is that he is accepted by his classmates and other Beecher Prep schoolmates. Everyone in his class, except Julian, becomes friendly towards him.

August’s acceptance by the whole school feels rushed by the author to give readers a pleasant resolution. I think it is unnatural and rings false. I prefer an ending where August has a few true friends to one where he becomes a minor school celebrity.

In the story’s resolution, August receives the Henry Beecher Award at the school’s graduation ceremony for his character, courage, and kindness.

Join Book Analysis for Free!

Exclusive to Members

Save Your Favorites

Free newsletter, comment with literary experts.

About Ebuka Igbokwe

Ebuka Igbokwe is the founder and former leader of a book club, the Liber Book Club, in 2016 and managed it for four years. Ebuka has also authored several children's books. He shares philosophical insights on his newsletter, Carefree Sketches and has published several short stories on a few literary blogs online.

About the Book

Discover the secrets to learning and enjoying literature.

Join Book Analysis

90 pages • 3 hours read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Pre-Reading Context

Thought & Response Prompts

Paired Texts & Other Resources

Essay Questions

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay. 

Scaffolded/Short-Answer Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the below bulleted outlines. Cite details from the novel over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. Mr. Browne gives precepts, which are life lessons, throughout the school year. Write your own precepts for the academic year and explain each one OR choose one precept and explain in more detail why it is important.

• What life lesson do you think is important for everyone to know, especially when entering middle school? (topic sentence)
• In your body paragraphs, give a few reasons for your precept, with examples of why this lesson is important. (If you are doing multiple precepts, explain each one with at least one example of when it would be important.)
• End by giving your reader practical steps they could take to implement this into their life. (conclusion)

2. Although Auggie is the main character in the novel, he is contrasted with other characters like his new best friend, Jack Will, and his antagonist, Julian.

• What is similar about these characters? What is different? (topic sentence)
• How do they meet and interact? How do they change by the novel’s end?

Related Titles

By R. J. Palacio

Auggie & Me

Featured Collections

Books that Teach Empathy

View Collection

Juvenile Literature

Realistic Fiction (Middle Grade)

YA & Middle-Grade Books on Bullying

Review: ‘Wonder’ has an earnest message about kindness that helps offset its After School Special flaws

• Copy Link URL Copied!

Popular mythology notwithstanding, childhood is difficult for almost everyone. But especially so for 10-year-old August Pullman.

“I know I’m not an ordinary kid,” Auggie Pullman explains in the opening paragraph of the young adult novel “Wonder.” Yes, he does ordinary things, “but I know ordinary kids don’t make other ordinary kids run away screaming in playgrounds. I know ordinary kids don’t get stared at wherever they go.”

Rare genetic abnormalities, it turns out, have led to facial disfiguration so severe that even after 27 surgeries Auggie begs off being specific. “I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.”

As written by R.J. Palacio, Auggie’s experiences in the world at large and middle school in particular became a Y.A. phenomenon, selling millions of copies and leading to an unapologetically sweet film about the power of and necessity for kindness in the world.

As directed by Stephen Chbosky, who previously filmed his own novel, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” Auggie’s story is one your heart goes out to if you’re in the mood, but as written by Chbosky and Steven Conrad and Jack Thorne, its path is not as smooth as the book’s.

Though it keeps Auggie’s fine sense of humor and his remarkably even-keeled attitude about himself and his situation, the movie version of “Wonder” feels more pat and After School Special-ish than the novel, the kind of film that thinks if one version of “I Think We’re Going To Be Friends” on the soundtrack is good, two would be better.

But on the plus side the film does maintain the book’s effective structure, which involves telling its story from the perspective of multiple characters, and it’s got a narrative brimming with a variety of serious-seeming problems, all of which are capable of being resolved if people simply acted according to their better natures.

And though the nominal stars here are Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson, the best thing “Wonder” has got going for it is the remarkable young actor Jacob Tremblay in the role of Auggie.

Exceptional as the imprisoned boy in 2015’s “Room,” Tremblay has the kind of innate integrity and an ability to actually create character that is unusual in an actor so young.

Tremblay makes Auggie a recognizable, credible individual, a real person even under the carefully calibrated facial prosthetics that took 90 minutes to apply every day.

But, remarkable as Auggie is, parents Nate (Wilson) and Isabel (Roberts) worry about letting him go from being home-schooled in the family’s cushy brownstone in a fantasy New York to becoming a new student at fictional Beecher Prep.

“It’s like leading a lamb to the slaughter,” says dad, but mom feels that because everyone will be starting fresh in the first year of middle school, it’s now or never for their son.

He’s reluctant to give up the kid-sized NASA space helmet he uses to deflect stares when he walks on the street, but Auggie knows it’s time too.

To make things easier, Beecher’s ever-so-kindly principal Mr. Tushman (Mandy Patinkin) has him come a few days earlier and meet with some of his fellow students, especially two boys who will become crucial as the year progresses.

Though its upbeat earnestness is ever-present, [‘Wonder’] has the integrity to understand that not even kindness can eliminate all problems.

Though he fools the adults, Julian (Bryce Gheisar) slowly morphs into a bully who makes Auggie’s life unhappy. And though Jack Will (Noah Jupe) seems like he might be a friend, things are not quite that simple.

Auggie’s older sister Via (Izabela Vidovic) goes to a different school, but is also a key player in his story. She’s one of Auggie’s biggest boosters, but that doesn’t mean she is without problems of her own.

That includes the way her parents, in their zeal to watch over Auggie, never seem to have any time for her. “My mom has a great eye,” she says poignantly of Isabel’s gifts as an artist. “I wish she’d use it to look at me.”

Via is one of several people whose first person point of view we get to hear and see just as we do in the book. This group includes Miranda (Danielle Rose Russell), Via’s former best friend who is now giving her the runaround. Space is not made, though it is in the book, for Justin (Nadji Jeter), a cute guy who catches Via’s eye.

Despite all these people orbiting around him, Auggie remains “Wonder’s” main event, and though its upbeat earnestness is ever-present, it has the integrity to understand that not even kindness can eliminate all problems.

No one can hear Auggie ask his mom, “Why do I have to be so ugly, is it always going to matter?” without being impressed by his fortitude, nor hear his mom’s honest “I don’t know” answer without being moved by the reply.

------------

Rated: PG, for thematic elements including bullying, and some mild language

Running time: 1 hour, 53 minutes

Playing: In general release

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour »

Movie Trailers

[email protected]

@KennethTuran

More to Read

Richard Powers’ latest epic: Fragile oceans, fraught tech and exhilarating writing. At first

Sept. 16, 2024

If you’re a parent, Lauren Greenfield’s new doc about teens and social media ‘is a horror movie’

Aug. 30, 2024

Review: Well-intentioned ‘Rob Peace’ flattens out the complexity of a true story of race and fate

Aug. 18, 2024

Only good movies

Get the Indie Focus newsletter, Mark Olsen's weekly guide to the world of cinema.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

Kenneth Turan is the former film critic for the Los Angeles Times.

More From the Los Angeles Times

Eric Roberts has no use for fame anymore. He just wants to work

Sept. 17, 2024

Review: ‘Look Into My Eyes’ is a compassionate profile of psychics, not out to scam but connect

Sept. 13, 2024

Review: In ‘My Old Ass,’ an uncertain teen speaks to her future self, with wry two-way wisdom

Chad McQueen, ‘Karate Kid’ actor and son of legend Steve McQueen, dies at 63

Most read in movies.

James Darren, TV director who played Moondoggie in the ‘Gidget’ films, dies at 88

Sept. 3, 2024

Review: A remade ‘Speak No Evil’ is less evil, swapping out Euro-bleakness for a family’s bonding

Sept. 12, 2024

Review: Despite its charm, ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ sequel shouldn’t have been summoned

Sept. 4, 2024

Will Reeve of ABC News, Christopher Reeve’s son, has a cameo in new ‘Superman’ movie

July 3, 2024

Wonder and Kindness

I LOVE this art extension to go with Wonder! So beautiful, it's really just RIGHT. Thank you Desiree Reading with Mrs. D

Thank you so much Desiree! :)

Sooo cute! How did they write on top of the paint.....a black Sharpie??? Thanks!!!

They did use Sharpie :)

What type of paint did you use? Also, how did the draw the lines in the paper?

They used tempra paint and Sharpie.

Please leave a comment! I love to hear what you think about what is posted :)

Welcome to Room 6!

I am so glad to have you along with me for this teaching journey we are both on.

This newsletter will always be full of tried and true, classroom tested ideas that will

work for YOU! Let's learn and grow together.

The Movie "Wonder" Demonstrates the Power of Kindness

Here are five tips to teach your children to accept those who are different..

Posted December 11, 2017

• How to Handle Bullying
• Take our Anger Management Test
• Find a therapist to support kids or teens

By guest contributors Jonathan Emmons, Michelle Demaray, Christine Malecki, and Julia Ogg

Children who have disabilities inevitably encounter unique and difficult challenges while growing up, but bullying shouldn’t be one of them.

As a parent, you can do something about it by ensuring that you instill the quality of kindness in your own children.

Some disabilities might be visible, as highlighted in the new cinematic drama “Wonder.” It’s based on the New York Times bestseller by Raquel J. Palacio about the first mainstream school experience of Auggie, a fifth-grade boy with a craniofacial disorder. Craniofacial disorders may cause significant health problems for youth, but most noticeable to peers is the different facial appearance.

Disabilities that are visible in a person’s physical characteristics, or through their speech or behavior, can lead other students to bully them, as is the case with Auggie. Other disabilities are less visible, such as a learning disabilities or behavior disorders, but might still result in bullying. In fact, children with disabilities are bullied in schools and online about twice as often as children without disabilities (Rose, Simpson, & Moss, 2015).

Being a victim of bullying can have negative effects for students with disabilities. For Auggie and others, isolation may seem like the only way of escape. For example, Halloween was Auggie’s favorite holiday because he was able to dress up and hide his face. Studies also show that being bullied can lead to anxiety , depression , reduced self-esteem , and lower levels of engagement at school for children with disabilities (Rose, Monda-Amaya, & Espelage, 2011).

However, there are proven ways to prevent bullying and the associated negative outcomes. One method is by helping children develop the skills to support peers who may be perceived as different. This can encourage an overall environment where being kind is the norm.

Some tips for parents on how to develop these skills in children include the following.

1. Model kind behavior toward others who are different. This is the best way to teach your children how to treat others. Teach your child that we hold power in our words and are responsible for using them wisely. Choose your words carefully and be aware that some language related to disabilities might carry negative connotations and stigmas. For example, always assume children are listening if adults say things like “that’s retarded.” Avoid such language yourself, and correct it in your children if you hear it.

2. Find common ground. Just because we are different in some ways doesn’t mean we can’t be similar in other ways. Help your child find common ground and interests with those who have different abilities and skills.

3. Help children build empathy for others who are different. Building empathy means helping your child take another’s perspective—to “put themselves in someone else’s shoes.” Teaching empathy will make it more likely that your child will stick up for others when they see mean behavior. To encourage empathy, discuss the impact of your child’s behavior on others and practice perspective-taking . This may help children understand what it feels like to be mistreated.

4. Encourage open communication with your children. We can’t prepare our children for every possible situation, so make sure they are comfortable talking to you or another adult about what they see and hear at school and in other environments, and how to help those who are targeted. Parents can also use news stories or movies, such as “Wonder,” to spark discussions about how we should treat others who are different.

5. Keep the conversation going. To make a difference, we need to make ourselves and others aware of important resources. We encourage you to share these tips with others and explore ways to impact your community. Finding out information about local school-wide efforts to address bullying or discovering online resources for ideas on how to promote kindness can be a great place to start. Excellent online resources include Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center and the U.S Department of Health and Human Services' StopBullying.gov.

We all have a role to play in protecting and empowering others. Helping children understand, accept, and appreciate differences provides them with an important set of skills that will serve them well as adults.

Jonathan Emmons, M.A., is a first-year Ph.D. student at Northern Illinois University . His research interests include social and cognitive factors involved in learning, the role of social support resources in the academic environment, and promoting positive psychological outcomes for students.

Michelle Demaray, Christine Malecki, and Julia Ogg are faculty within the school psychology program at Northern Illinois University. They have been awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Education for Project Prevent and Address Bullying , which focuses on strategies for addressing the bullying of youth with special needs.

Rose, C. A., Monda-Amaya, L. E. & Espelage, D. L. (2011). Bullying perpetration and victimization in special education: A review of the literature. Remedial and Special Education, 32, 114-130. doi:10.1177/0741932510361247

Rose, C. A., Simpson, C. G., & Moss, A. (2015). The bullying dynamic: Prevalence of involvement among a large-scale sample of middle and high school youth with and without disabilities. Psychology in the Schools, 52, 515-531. doi:10.1002/pits.21840

Angela Grippo, Ph.D. , is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Northern Illinois University.

• Find a Therapist
• Find a Treatment Center
• Find a Psychiatrist
• Find a Support Group
• Find Online Therapy
• United States
• Brooklyn, NY
• Chicago, IL
• Houston, TX
• Los Angeles, CA
• New York, NY
• Portland, OR
• San Diego, CA
• San Francisco, CA
• Seattle, WA
• Washington, DC
• Asperger's
• Bipolar Disorder
• Chronic Pain
• Eating Disorders
• Passive Aggression
• Personality
• Goal Setting
• Positive Psychology
• Stopping Smoking
• Low Sexual Desire
• Relationships
• Child Development
• Self Tests NEW
• Therapy Center
• Diagnosis Dictionary
• Types of Therapy

It’s increasingly common for someone to be diagnosed with a condition such as ADHD or autism as an adult. A diagnosis often brings relief, but it can also come with as many questions as answers.

• Emotional Intelligence
• Gaslighting
• Affective Forecasting
• Neuroscience

Related Topics

• Romanticism
• The Mayor of Casterbridge
• Uncle Toms Cabin
• The Rainbow
• Hunger Games
• Short stories
• Gwendolyn Brooks
• Character Analysis
• Boys and Girls
• John Steinbeck
• Postmodernism

Auggie from Wonder: Resilience, Kindness, and the Power of Acceptance

Academic anxiety?

Get original paper in 3 hours and nail the task

124 experts online

Introduction: Auggie’s Unique Journey

In a world that often measures individuals by their outward appearances, there are rare souls who defy societal norms and teach us profound lessons about compassion, strength, and resilience. One such extraordinary character is Auggie, the heart and soul of R.J. Palacio’s novel “Wonder.” Auggie’s unique journey as a young boy born with facial differences offers a fresh perspective on the complexities of acceptance, friendship, and self-discovery. In this essay, we delve into the remarkable world of Auggie, exploring the transformative impact of his story and the profound messages it imparts.

Unlike typical heroes who possess superhuman abilities or grandiose destinies, Auggie’s strength lies in his unwavering spirit and the indomitable power of his heart. Born with Treacher Collins syndrome, Auggie has faced countless challenges and endured the unkindness of others due to his facial differences. Yet, beneath his exterior lies an extraordinary resilience, a reservoir of kindness, and an unwavering determination to find his place in the world.

Auggie’s Character and Resilience

Auggie’s journey in “Wonder” unfolds as he enters the unfamiliar territory of public school, leaving behind the comfort and protection of homeschooling. Throughout his time at school, he encounters a range of reactions from his peers, from curiosity and acceptance to fear and prejudice. Palacio skillfully captures Auggie’s internal struggles, fears, and anxieties, allowing readers to empathize with his experiences and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges he faces.

Despite the adversity Auggie encounters, he remains resilient and determined. He navigates the intricate social dynamics of adolescence with grace and maturity, demonstrating a remarkable ability to rise above the unkindness directed towards him. Auggie’s character serves as an inspiration to readers, showcasing the importance of resilience and the strength that can be found within oneself, even in the face of adversity.

Transition from Homeschooling to Public School

What truly distinguishes Auggie is his impact on those around him. His unwavering kindness and genuine connections touch the lives of his classmates and challenge their own prejudices and preconceived notions. Through his friendship with Summer, Jack Will, and others, Auggie teaches them the value of looking beyond appearances and embracing empathy and acceptance. He becomes a catalyst for personal growth and transformation, not only for himself but also for those fortunate enough to know him.

Auggie’s Resilience and Response to Adversity

Furthermore, Auggie’s story prompts readers to reflect on their own biases and the judgments they may make based on appearances. Through his experiences, we are compelled to question the societal standards of beauty and recognize the inherent worth and potential within each individual, regardless of their external features. Auggie’s journey encourages us to embrace diversity, celebrate uniqueness, and foster a more inclusive and compassionate society.

Conclusion: The Transformative Power of Auggie’s Character

In conclusion, Auggie’s character in “Wonder” serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of resilience, kindness, and acceptance. His journey teaches us the transformative power of empathy and challenges us to confront our own biases. Auggie’s impact on the lives of those around him emphasizes the profound influence one person can have in promoting understanding and fostering a more compassionate world. As we navigate Auggie’s remarkable story, we are inspired to embrace our differences, cultivate empathy, and strive for a society that celebrates the beauty of individuality.

• Palacio, R.J. (2012). Wonder. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
• Dobbins, A. (2017). A Wonder for All Ages: R.J. Palacio’s “Wonder” and Its Reception. Children’s Literature Association Quarterly, 42(4), 423-430.
• Davis, R. (2014). Empathy, Compassion, and Resilience in Palacio’s “Wonder”. The ALAN Review, 41(3), 71-77.
• Bleakley, A. (2018). The Transformative Power of Empathy in R.J. Palacio’s “Wonder”. International Journal of Literary Humanities, 16(1), 29-42.
• Neuman, S.B., & Celano, D. (2012). Creating an Inclusive Classroom: An Introduction to Wonder. The Reading Teacher, 66(5), 369-377.
• Rundell, K. (2013). The Book That’s Changing the World. The Guardian
• Wonder: The Official Website of R.J. Palacio

This essay was written by a fellow student. You may use it as a guide or sample for writing your own paper, but remember to cite it correctly . Don’t submit it as your own as it will be considered plagiarism.

Need custom essay sample written special for your assignment?

Choose skilled expert on your subject and get original paper with free plagiarism report

Auggie from Wonder: Resilience, Kindness, and the Power of Acceptance. (2023, Jul 14). Retrieved from https://artscolumbia.org/auggie-from-wonder-resilience-kindness-and-the-power-of-acceptance/

More related essays

Life Span and Risk Resilience (2604 words)

Traumatized Experience and Empathy

The Concept of Empathy (1451 words)

Assessing Resilience (2254 words)

Heather Dorniden’s Extraordinary Journey of Triumph, Resilience, Inspirational Athletics

Character Protect Life Essay (2704 words)

The Resilient and Self-Aware Leader

Unleashing the Extraordinary: The Inspiring Journey of Lizette Charbonneau

Resilience : Resilience For Health Care Consumers And Health Professionals Essay

Hi, my name is Amy 👋

In case you can't find a relevant example, our professional writers are ready to help you write a unique paper. Just talk to our smart assistant Amy and she'll connect you with the best match.

by R.J. Palacio

Wonder summary and analysis of part i: august.

The protagonist, August "Auggie" Pullman , begins by explaining that he knows he is not an ordinary ten-year-old kid. He was born with a facial deformity; consequently, other people always stare at him and make faces. His parents and his big sister Via always defend him, but he has gotten used to uncomfortable reactions by now. Auggie had three really good friends -- Christopher , Zachary , and Alex -- but Christopher moved away and seldom meets up with Auggie, and Zachary and Alex have made new friends.

Auggie is just about to start fifth grade -- his first time at a regular school because his mother has always home-schooled him. At first, Auggie resists the idea of going to a real school; his Dad sides with him, worried that Auggie is not ready and remarking that he doesn't want to send Auggie off like a "lamb to the slaughter," but Auggie's Mom insists that her son needs to learn more than she alone can teach him. She met with the school's principal, Mr. Tushman , and they secretly gave Auggie an IQ test to get him admitted to the school. It turns out that Auggie is very smart and passes the test with flying colors.

Mom takes Auggie to the school to meet Mr. Tushman; they also encounter Mrs. Garcia , the office aide. Mr. Tushman then introduces Auggie to three kids who will be in his grade at Beecher Prep Middle School: Jack Will , Julian, and Charlotte . These students take Auggie on a tour of the school, showing him where he will have homeroom. Julian asks what happened to Auggie's face; Charlotte scolds Julian for being rude, and Jack defends Auggie as well. When he gets home, Auggie tells Mom how the tour went. Mom is shocked that Julian asked about Auggie's face, and says that Auggie does not have to go to school; Auggie realizes, though, that he actually does want to go.

The first day of school comes and Auggie goes straight to his homeroom, keeping his head down so that the other kids cannot look at him. Jack and Charlotte greet him; Julian ignores him. Auggie watches the teacher, Ms. Petosa , hesitate just a moment when she first sees his face. All of the students in the homeroom introduce themselves; when it's Auggie's turn, Julian asks if the braid in the back of his head is a Padawan braid. Auggie is obsessed with all things Star Wars . He tells Julian that his favorite character is Jango Fett, and Julian asks how Auggie feels about Darth Sidious. This initially seems like a harmless question, but Auggie remembers that Darth Sidious is a character whose face becomes deformed.

In English class, Mr. Browne introduces the fifth-graders to the idea of precepts -- rules and mottoes about extremely important things. The students will have a new precept from Mr. Browne every month. September's is "When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind." Mr. Browne has each of the students designate a section in his or her notebook to write all the precepts down, and says that many of his students write their own precepts over the summer and send them back to him.

Lunch is a challenge; Auggie does not know whom to sit with, so he sits alone. Surprisingly, though, a girl named Summer comes over to sit with him. They notice the similarity in their "summery" names, and joke that they could set aside a "summer only" lunch table, musing over whose names are summery enough to be allowed access.

When he gets home from school that day, Auggie tells his mother that his experience was not so bad. That night, he cuts off the Padawan braid. Dad is pleased with this decision, and refers to Auggie by his nickname, "Auggie Doggie." Mom comes to tuck Auggie in, and reads him a few pages from The Hobbit . Auggie starts to cry, and asks why he has to be so ugly.

Auggie makes it through September, hanging out a lot with Jack Will, who has become his closest friend. For Auggie's birthday on October 10th, Auggie's family plans a bowling party and invites his entire homeroom plus Summer, not wanting to exclude anyone. Only a few kids come, but Auggie has a great time with his friends and family. Unfortunately, at school, Auggie has noticed that people make a point of not touching him. He assumes that what is going on is like the "Cheese Touch" from Diary of a Wimpy Kid and does not feel good about the situation.

Halloween approaches, and Auggie decides to be Boba Fett from Star Wars. He loves Halloween, because he can wear a mask and pretend that he is not who he is; in fact, he used to wear an astronaut helmet almost everywhere he went until he lost it. Auggie's Mom works hard to make the costume, but at the last minute Auggie decides it will be easier to put on the Bleeding Scream costume he wore the previous year instead and goes to school in that.

The day starts off great: because nobody can recognize Auggie, nobody stares at his face. Then, though, Auggie gets to homeroom and overhears a conversation that Julian and some other kids are having. They are making fun of the way Auggie looks; one particular boy dressed as a mummy keeps saying horrible things. He says that he only hangs out with Auggie because Tushman asked him to at the beginning of the year, and that he thinks he would kill himself if he looked like Auggie. Auggie realizes that the speaker is Jack and, crushed, runs from the room. He fakes an illness and his Mom comes to pick him up from school; once home, he swears to himself that he will never go back to school again.

The first section of the novel, written from Auggie's perspective, introduces us to the major characters in the book. We meet Auggie himself, along with his family and the other kids who will feature regularly in the story. We also get a sense of the main conflict in Wonder : Auggie will be faced with the challenge of fitting in at a new school where he is an outsider primarily because of the way he looks.

Even early on, Palacio outlines the theme of surmounting obstacles and showing courage that will permeate this novel. Auggie will constantly have to face hardships that most children do not have to confront. He will have to show great resolve and initiative in going to a real school and interacting with children who are not always kind to him. It is difficult to achieve this level of bravery, but right from the start Palacio establishes such bravery as one of Auggie's principal qualities.

Because this section is written from the point of view of Auggie himself, it provides an important insider's look into the struggles of living with a facial deformity. Palacio knows that most readers who will pick up her book do not suffer from Auggie's rare condition; consequently, it is essential that she be able to effectively convey Auggie's reality to people who have never really experienced anything like it. Immediately, she makes it clear that Auggie is a normal, smart, funny boy on the inside -- and that he just happens to look different on the outside. Placing readers inside Auggie's mind accentuates this side of Auggie's character and provides a unique perspective that most readers would not otherwise have.

There is clearly a huge contrast between characters who know Auggie well and characters who do not. Everyone who knows Auggie well -- Via, his mother, his father, his old friends -- can look past his deformity and see him for who he truly is. People who do not know him, though, like most of the kids at Beecher Prep, judge him quickly and thus spend more time avoiding him than trying to befriend him. Of course, first impressions can be misleading; Auggie is so much more than how he looks.

Palacio certainly illustrates the heartbreaking ways in which children can be cruel to those who do not "fit in"; she also, however, shows that some children do have a remarkable capacity for kindness. Summer is one of these praiseworthy individuals, a student who immediately takes a simple yet important step to make Auggie feel welcome. Summer serves as a model both for the other characters and for readers. At first we are led to believe that Jack is a model of kindness, too, but later on we learn that he may be worse than he appears.

Mr. Browne's precepts will serve as an important device for the rest of the story. These precepts are primarily a lesson for the students, subtle reminders of the way they should behave towards others. Each precept applies in some way to Auggie's situation. But the value of the precepts does not stop there; Mr. Browne's sayings are obvious morals for readers to heed as well, since Wonder is very much a novel with legitimate implications for real life.

Auggie's cutting off his Padawan braid is a small yet important scene in this first section. Both the individual Padawan braid and Auggie's larger Star Wars obsession are prominent symbols of his past. By going to school, Auggie is signaling his desire to move forward in life, rather than remain rooted in his childhood. Cutting off the Padawan braid represents taking the next step; in this way, Wonder will be a coming-of-age story, as Auggie continues his forward march through his first year at a real school.

This coming-of-age will not, however, come without obstacles. There have been small acts of cruelty throughout this entire section, but Auggie has become desensitized to some of these reactions by now. He understands that people who do not know him will not always look past his face. It hurts, though, when Jack, someone Auggie thought he knew, ends up betraying him. This reversal illustrates how differently kids can act depending on the company they are in; Jack is a completely different person with Julian than he is with Auggie. Faced with such different sides of his onetime friend, Auggie does not know which one is the true Jack. It is the first time Auggie is seriously hurt at his new school.

Wonder Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Wonder is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

What writing assignment did Mr. Browne give the class?

Mr. Browne says that he will give the class a new precept every month. For the month of September, he tells them to consider: “If you have the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind.”

What are the facts that are more significative for you?

This question calls for your opinion... your reflection on the book. I particularly enjoyed Summer's sections, as they give us a glimpse into what it's like not to be in Auggie's situation, but to learn what it's like for the people closest to...

Why does Justin greet the different members of the family in four different ways? from wonder

This is one of the shorter sections, but Justin's segments are extremely important because they give us our first substantial look at Auggie's family from the outside. Summer and Jack only briefly interacted with the rest of Auggie's family, but...

Study Guide for Wonder

Wonder study guide contains a biography of R.J. Palacio, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Wonder
• Wonder Summary
• Wonder Video
• Character List

Lesson Plan for Wonder

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Wonder
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Wonder Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for Wonder

• Introduction

Essay on Kindness

500 words essay on kindness.

The world we live in today has been through a lot of things from world wars to epidemics, but one thing which remained constant throughout was resilience and kindness. Moreover, it was the spirit to fight back and help out each other. Kindness must be an essential and universal quality to make the world a better place. Through an essay on kindness, we will go through it in detail.

Importance of Kindness

Kindness towards nature, animals and other people has the ability to transform the world and make it a beautiful place for living. But, it is also important to remember that kindness towards you is also essential for personal growth.

Kindness is basically being polite, compassionate and thoughtful. Every religion and faith teaches its followers to be kind. Most importantly, kindness must not limit to humans but also to every living creature.

Even nature has its own way of showing kindness. For instance, the trees grow fruits for us and provide us with shade. One must not see kindness as a core value but as a fundamental behavioural element. When you are kind to your loved ones, you create a stable base.

As people are becoming more self-centred today, we must learn kindness. We must try to integrate it into ourselves. You might not know how a small act of kindness can bring about a change in someone’s life. So, be kind always.

Kindness Always Wins

There is no doubt that kindness always wins and it has been proven time and again by people. Sid is a greedy man who does not share his wealth with anyone, not even his family members.

He also does not pay his workers well. One day, he loses his bag of gold coins and loses his temper. Everyone helps him out to search for it but no one finds it. Finally, his worker’s little son finds the bag.

Upon checking the bag, he sees all the coins are there. But, his greed makes him play a trick on the poor worker. He claims that there were more coins in the bag and the worker stole them.

The issue goes to the court and the judge confirms from Sid whether his bag had more coins to which he agrees. So, the judge rules out that as Sid’s bag had more coins , the bag which the worker’s son found is not his.

Therefore, the bag gets handed to the worker as no one else claims it. Consequently, you see how the worker’s son act of kindness won and paid him well. On the other hand, how Sid’s greediness resulted in his loss only.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Conclusion of the Essay on Kindness

It is essential for all of us to understand the value of kindness. Always remember, it does not cost anything to be kind. It may be a little compliment or it can be a grand gesture, no matter how big or small, kindness always matters. Therefore, try your best to be kind to everyone around you.

FAQ of Essay on Kindness

Question 1: Why is it important to be kind?

Answer 1: It is important to be kind because it makes one feel good about oneself. When you do things for other people and help them with anything, it makes you feel warm and that you have accomplished something. Moreover, you also get respect in return.

Question 2: Why is kindness so powerful?

Answer 2: Kindness has a lot of benefits which includes increased happiness and a healthy heart . It slows down the ageing process and also enhances relationships and connections, which will indirectly boost your health.

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

• Travelling Essay
• Picnic Essay
• Our Country Essay
• My Parents Essay
• Essay on Favourite Personality
• Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
• Essay on Knowledge is Power
• Essay on Gurpurab
• Essay on My Favourite Season
• Essay on Types of Sports

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Download the App

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

My Unsung Hero

When wil was struggling with depression, a therapist said just the right thing.

Laura Kwerel

Wil Davenport in 2015. Wil Davenport hide caption

The following story includes references to suicide.

This story is part of the My Unsung Hero series, from the Hidden Brain team. It features stories of people whose kindness left a lasting impression on someone else.

In the fall of 2014, Wil Davenport was in a dark place. He had just lost a job he loved, and his mental health began to unravel.

“I just remember feeling such self-destructive thoughts about how I must have done something terrible to lose that job. I must be terrible to have lost that job,” Davenport said.

'I got you, girl': A toll collector's unexpected reply to a driver's tears

By the end of December, he had attempted to take his life, and he admitted himself to an inpatient mental health program.

“I remember for days, even weeks, not feeling like any progress was happening,” Davenport said. “So in between our therapy sessions and whatever else we were doing, I would walk laps inside this locked unit.”

One day, as he was doing his usual circuit around the facility, he noticed one of his therapists walking toward the community room. He thinks her name was Yvette.

“With a wry smile on her face, she looked over at me and she said, ‘I bet I'll beat you to the community room,’” Davenport remembered. “And somehow, that small act triggered something inside of me. And I didn't want to be beaten.”

For the first time in months, Davenport felt he had a purpose. Walking as fast as he could, he raced her to the room — and won. He was surprised and, for the first time in a long time, full of hope.

“I remember sitting down in this therapy session that she was leading shortly thereafter and feeling like a spark of life had been ignited in me by her simple act,” Davenport said.

When an earthquake struck in 1989, Julia locked eyes with a stranger and embraced

His therapist helped him want to live again, Davenport said. And not just to live, but to thrive.

“For that small act and so many other things that she did, I'm just so grateful.”

Today, Davenport is the founder of a leadership consulting business that helps people remove psychological barriers to become more effective at work. Davenport says he has done years of work to improve his mental health, and now, he likes the person he has become.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for help.

My Unsung Hero is also a podcast — new episodes are released every Tuesday. To share the story of your unsung hero with the Hidden Brain team, record a voice memo on your phone and send it to [email protected].

• mental health
• mental health care

• Ask LitCharts AI
• Discussion Question Generator
• Essay Prompt Generator
• Quiz Question Generator

• Literature Guides
• Poetry Guides
• Shakespeare Translations
• Literary Terms

R. J. Palacio

Ask LitCharts AI: The answer to your questions

For August and the other kids at Beecher Prep, status and popularity are of the utmost importance. Wonder is peppered with kids' observations about their social structure, how status and hierarchy function in their world at school, and what the consequences of being popular or unpopular are on the student body. In particular, Wonder suggests that as intoxicating as popularity might be for August and his classmates, the social structure that allows some students to be popular requires those students to bully their less popular classmates to maintain their position.

August was no stranger to bullying prior to starting at Beecher Prep. He and other students recount times when kids teased him at the park or in other public places, events that happened with unfortunate regularity. However, August recognizes immediately that being in school drastically changes the tenor of the bullying. Essentially, he recognizes that there's a major difference between bullying at the park (where the participants, and therefore the social structure, are constantly changing) and bullying at school, where the players remain constant and must defend their reputations daily against the same "threats." This results in a system where there's a great deal of pressure to constantly do the "right" thing in order to be perceived as more popular and climb the social ladder. Julian , for example, emerges early on as the leader of the popular kids, and he maintains his position by creating an environment where it's in his classmates' best interests to get as close to him as possible by ostracizing those he deems unpopular. This results in widespread bullying against August and anyone who associates with him, as well as against the two Maxes —whose only crime seems to be unashamed love of the game Dungeons and Dragons. In this way, August and the Maxes become stepping-stones for others to use to climb to the top.

On Halloween, August chooses to forego his carefully made Jango Fett costume in favor of going as the Bleeding Scream. In homeroom, when Jack gets roped into a mean-spirited conversation with Julian about August, Jack feels safe saying horrible things about August in front of the Bleeding Scream, not knowing that August is behind the mask and can hear every mean word Jack says about him. Later, in Jack's narration, he explains that he only said what he said because he "felt stupid" in front of Julian after spending so much time with August. He insists he never would've knowingly said anything terrible in front of August, showing clearly that there's social currency to be had in putting others down in front of the right people.

The events that transpire on the class camping trip and in the months leading up to it suggest that there are two remedies for bullying that can dismantle a toxic social hierarchy from within. Though Julian persists in trying to make August's life miserable by turning most other boys in the fifth-grade class against him, this eventually proves untenable—after a few months, August and Jack observe that most of their classmates are no longer interested in participating in Julian's crusade. As a result, most of their classmates return to behaving civilly towards August and Jack. Then, when Julian and his parents decide that he won't attend the class camping trip, it effectively removes the ringleader and main proponent of the bullying from the social group—with amazingly positive results. Miles , Henry , and Amos , who once followed Julian blindly and bullied August, finally choose to stand up to others who try to bully August. This is something they can do only in Julian's absence, which illustrates just how toxic one individual can be to a group. It also shows that people are far more likely to stand up to bullying when they're not going to be bullied themselves for doing so.

Taken together, Wonder 's exploration of bullying and social structure illustrates clearly how toxic a social structure can be when it's predicated on putting down others in order to elevate oneself. The camaraderie and joy that August and his classmates show at their graduation reception (where Julian is, again, notably absent) suggests that it is far more fulfilling for all involved to participate in a social structure based instead on kindness, community, and lifting up others.

Status and Bullying ThemeTracker

Status and Bullying Quotes in Wonder

What's cool about really little kids is that they don't say stuff to try to hurt your feelings, even though sometimes they do say stuff that hurts your feelings. But they don't actually know what they're saying. Big kids, though: they know what they're saying.

Henry still couldn't get his lock to open […] He got really annoyed when I was able to open mine on the first try. The funny thing is, if he hadn't put the backpack between us, I most definitely would have offered to help him.

Maybe no one got the Darth Sidious thing, and maybe Julian didn't mean anything at all. But in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith , Darth Sidious's face gets burned […] His skin gets all shriveled up and his whole face just kind of melts.

I peeked at Julian and he was looking at me. Yeah, he knew what he was saying.

"Okay, that's fair," I said. "But it's not a contest about whose days suck the most, Auggie. The point is we all have to put up with the bad days. Now, unless you want to be treated like a baby the rest of your life, or like a kid with special needs, you just have to suck it up and go."

How I found out about this is that Maya Markowitz told me that the reason she won't play Four Square with us at recess is that she doesn't want to catch the Plague. I was like, "What's the Plague?" And she told me. I told Maya I thought it was really dumb and she agreed, but she still wouldn't touch a ball that August just touched, not if she could help it.

"Jack, sometimes you don't have to mean to hurt someone to hurt someone. You understand?"

And the truth is, though nobody's that obvious about it: nobody wants to hang out with him. Everyone's way too hung up on being in the popular group, and he's just as far from the popular group as you can get. But now I can hang out with anyone I want. If I wanted to be in the popular group, I could totally be in the popular group.

Before she went out, she looked left and right outside the door to make sure no one saw her leaving. I guess even though she was neutral, she didn't want to be seen with me.

it's not even like they know they're being mean, she adds. they were just scared. i mean, let's face it, his face is a little scary, right?

We knew we were being mean, but it was easier to ice her out if we pretended she had done something to us. The truth is she hadn't changed at all: we had. We'd become these other people, and she was still the person she'd always been. That annoyed me so much and I didn't know why.

"Kinder than is necessary," he repeated. "What a marvelous line, isn't it? Kinder than is necessary . Because it's not enough to be kind. One should be kinder than needed. Why I love that line, that concept, is that it reminds me that we carry with us, as human beings, not just the capacity to be kind, but the very choice of kindness."

"There are always going to be jerks in the world, Auggie," she said, looking at me. "But I really believe, and Daddy really believes, that there are more good people on this earth than bad people, and the good people watch out for each other and take care of each other. Just like Jack was there for you. And Amos. And those other kids."

• Quizzes, saving guides, requests, plus so much more.