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WONDER
by
R.J. PALACIO
READING GUIDE FOR STUDENTS
Before you begin reading:
You will be asked to pick your favourite line from the book to share
with the class. Think about this while reading, and when you come
across a sentence you really like, make a note of it so that you know
where to find it later.
Part 1 - August
Think about…
…what August looks like to you. How have you imagined
August’s face? Try to visualize him.
…who the characters you’ve met so far are? What are they
like?
… the reasons August has for cutting off his rat-tail (his
hair)?
Part 2 - Via
Think about…
...how you think Via feels? How do you think you’d act if you
were in Via’s shoes?
…p.103-106: Explain the reasoning behind Via’s thoughts in
these chapters: “countless babies who’ll never be born, like
mine.”
…p.109-110: How do you think Via feels when she says “so
much for mother-daughter bonding”?
…why Via’s grandmother made her feel so special? How do
you think her death affected Via?
Part 3 - Summer
Think about…
…how Summer is described in the book (looks, personality
etc.)
… Summer’s situation. What is it like for her?
…why Summer wants to be August’s friend.
…what you think will happen if she chooses August over her
popular friends?
…What you would do if you were in Summer’s situation?
Part 4 - Jack
Think about…
...on page 141, Jack says : ’A kid like August doesn’t stand a
chance in middle school.’ Why does he believe that?
...in the chapter ‘Four Things’, Jack tells the reader four
things that he likes about August and that make him want to
be with him. What four things do you like about Jack, which
can be based on what he does, says, and thinks?
...why Summer whispers ‘Bleeding Scream’ to Jack when he
asks her for a hint about why August is mad at him?
Part 5 – Justin
Think about…
… Why is Justin’s part written without uppercase letters and
without proper punctuation?
…While at dinner Justin has a lot of tics. What are tics and
why do they stop?
…Justin and Via are in a play, but Via has not told her
parents about it
yet. Why do you think she hasn’t told them?
Part 6 - August
Think about...
...Auggie's "cave" is where he hides - in his bed surrounded by his
stuffed animals, covering his face with pillows. Why does he find
safety in both this and his space helmet? Do you have "safety" in the
same way? The space helmet and cave are both important in the
story - how and why?
...how Via is portrayed from Auggies's perspective in this section.
What is it that Auggie doesn't know or understand about Via? Do you
think you react in this way sometimes - what might there be that
you don't know or understand?
...Mom says to Via: "You're moody and taciturn and secretive..." Do you
think this is a fair view of Via in this situation?
...Auggie loses his family in the crowds after the play and while
looking for his mom he finds Miranda instead. Does he seem to relax
and feel safe around Miranda despite her not being his mother?
Compare the relationships Auggie has with Miranda and his mom.
Part 7: Miranda
Think about…
...who Miranda is. What do you think Miranda looks like? Try to
visualize her.
…the night of the play and how Miranda acts and feels about Auggie
and his family as well as her own family.
… the ending scene of the play “Our Town”? Do you think it was as
amazing as Miranda said it was?
Part 8: August
Think about...
...why August left Baboo before he went to the nature-retreat with
the class.
...Eddie, the boy who ran into August and Jack in the woods. Would
you consider Eddie a bully?
...why Henry, Amos and Miles stepped in to help August.
...whether you believe it was right of August’s dad to throw away
the astronaut helmet. What was your reaction when he said he had
done it?
...what you think about Mr. Tushman’s speech about kindness.
...what kindness is.
Finals:
 Copy your favourite line from the book nicely onto a slip of
paper. Put it up in the classroom.
 Take the test that goes with this book.
Optional:
 Write a review of the book for the website
www.reviewsforkids.org . (It is run by two boys in 8b.)