WONDER by R.J.Palacio Reading Guide Student s Name: Class: 1
Wonder Before Reading What do you think of the line don t judge a boy by his face, that appears on the back cover? Pages 1-26 1) Why does August think he is ordinary? 2) Why do you think it was a big deal for August to be invited to a birthday party? 3) If you were in August s situation, how would you respond to the idea of going to school? 4) Why do you think his parents want him to go to school so much? 5) Why does Mrs. G s eyes go down for a second when she meets August? 6) Why would August s mom be just as scared as he was, when he goes for the tour? Directions: Choose 3 adjectives that would best describe August thus far. Then, explain you would describe him in those particular ways. Adjective Why would you describe August as that? 2
Wonder Do Now: Write about a time other people didn t think you were capable of doing something, but you proved them wrong. What didn t others think you could do? How/why were you able to accomplish it? How did it feel to prove other people wrong about you? Pages 27-48 1) Why does Julian underestimate Auggie can take and do well in the science elective? 2) Why do you think Auggie wants to go to school, even though he still feels uncomfortable about it? 3) On the first day of school, why do you think Julian didn t say (acknowledge) to Auggie, even though they had previously met on the tour? 3
Why do you think Jack says hi to Auggie? 4) Like they do in Auggie s first day of school, write down 2 things you want other people to know about you (try to choose things your classmates might not already know). a) b) 5) Why do you think Julian makes the Darth Sidious reference to Auggie? Why would he make such a comment? 6) If you had the opportunity to ask Auggie any 2 questions, what would they be? Directions: Below create a visual description of how you view Auggie. 4
Make a prediction about how you think Auggie s first days and weeks of school will go. Wonder Do Now: Write about time were friendly (or showed an act of kindness) to someone you normally wouldn t talk to. In what way were you friendly or kind? Why were you friendly/kind to that person? Why was it out of the ordinary for you? Pages 49-75 1) How does Auggie feel when he walks into the cafeteria? Have you ever felt that way? Explain. 5
2) Why do you think Summer sits at the lunch table with Auggie when no one else will? What makes her different from the other people? 3) Why is Auggie kind of upset at his mom after the first day of school? Do you think you would have been upset if you were in the same situation as Auggie? Why or why not? 4) Why do you think Auggie is able to laugh himself (his appearance) with Jack, but not with others? 5) How come Auggie doesn t want anyone to feel left out when it comes to his birthday party? 6) Why does Auggie love Halloween so much? How does it make him feel when he dresses up? Literary Characterization: How would you characterize three of Auggie s classmates? Select an adjective for each and give an example that illustrates each trait. Character Character Trait Action that illustrates this trait Summer Jack Julian 6
Wonder Anonymous to be unknown Do Now: Write about a time you wanted to remain anonymous. Why didn t you want to be noticed? Were you or weren t you eventually? Pages 76 (Bleeding Scream) 102 (Breakfast) 1) Why is Auggie able to walk with his head up at school on Halloween? How do you think this makes him feel? 2) Why does Auggie sit at a different desk in his homeroom? 3) Are you surprised that Jack (who is dressed as a mummy) was talking about Auggie like that? Why or why not? Explain. 4) Why do you think the author all of a sudden changes narrators and writes from the point of view of Via? 7
5) Why does Via feel upset when she sees Auggie for the first time after coming back from Grans? How do you think you would react if you were in her position? 6) Why isn t high school like what Via thought it would be like? What s different as she gets older? 7) Why does Auggie cut off his braid? What do you think this act symbolizes? 8) In addition to being fifteen and in high school, why else might Via not want her mom and Auggie to pick her up from school? Directions: Imagine you are seeing things from Santiago s point of view, and create three illustrations from the reading for this section. Add a short caption for each describing what he has seen. 8
Wonder Do Now: Write about a time you did something in order to fit in with someone or a group of people. Who were you trying to fit in with? Why did you do to try and fit in? What were the results? 1) Both my parents carry that mutant gene. And I carry it, too. What do you think Via is so concerned about? 2) Countless babies who ll never be born, like mine. What do you think Via is suggesting by this quote? Why does she feel that way? Ironic - describes something that is exactly the opposite of what is meant or expected to happen 9
3) What s ironic about Via s advice to Auggie regarding Jack and other kids at school? (Think of how she reacts when she finds out Miranda called to check up on Auggie?) 4) Does Summer s friendship with Auggie seem genuine? How do you know? Explain. 5) Why does Savannah make summer choose between Auggie and being in the popular group? Why can t be friends with Auggie and be in the popular group? 6) Why does Auggie assume Summer is only friends with him because she was asked? 7) Where does the title Wonder come from? What is it a reference to? 8) What is the author s purpose for having different characters talking about the same event? 10
Directions: Complete the chart below based on what you have learned about August. Respond to.. August How would you describe Auggie thus far? Is he a likeable character? Why or why not? What text-self connection can you make to either the book, or to Auggie? Wonder Do Now: Write about the last time you made a new friend. Who was it? How d you become friends? What do you have in common with this friend? 11
131 (The Egyptian Tomb) 150 (Private School) 1) Why do you think Jack is surprised August is mad at him? 2) Sometimes you don t have to mean to hurt someone to hurt someone. What do you think Jack s mom means when she says this? 3) Why does Jack agree to show August around when school starts? Didn t he seem like he wanted nothing to do with the situation at first? 4) Once he gets to know him, what does Jack realize about August? 5) How would you say Jack reacts to August not really wanting to be friends with him anymore? Why do you think he reacts this way? 6) Why doesn t Jack seem to be as comfortable around Julian and Miles as he is/was with August? 7) Jack clearly genuinely likes August and values the friendship they have. Why then do you think he would make those comments to Julian about August? 12
Directions: Imagine that you are Jack and you are writing a letter to August, to explain yourself and how you truly feel about your friendship with him. To August, _ Wonder Do Now: Write about a time you upset or offended someone without trying to. Who did you upset or offend? How did you do this? What were the consequences of this? 13
151 (In Science) 177 (Why I didn t Sit With August the First Day of School) 1) Why did Jack say these things about August on Halloween? Did he mean them? How do you know? 2) Do you think Jack was right for punching Julian? Why or why not? 3) Who does Julian s mom blame for all of the problems going on between Jack and Julian? Why do you think she feels this way? 4) In your opinion, have Jack s actions and apology redeemed himself to August? Why or why not? 5) How does Julian decide to get back at Jack? 14
6) What does Julian s mom plan to do to August? Why do you think she wants to handle the situation this way? Directions: Complete the chart below based on August s experiences thus far in school. Problem or Challenge How would you handle it? What do you think will eventually happen to August in regard to this situation? August and Jack are no longer friends Julian s mom wants August expelled from school Wonder Do Now: Write about a time you had to fake an emotion? When was this? What emotion did you have to fake? Why did you have to fake it? 15
Sides (177) The Universe (204) 1) Why are Jack and Julian choosing sides against each other? What do you think will wind up happening between them (and their groups)? 2) Why do you think Via is a little hesitant to be too friendly to Jack when she first meets him? 3) What are Justin s tic s? Why/when do they come out? 4) What does Justin see in Auggie s family that he doesn t see in his own? 5) Who does Jack remind Julian of? Why? 6) What are your impressions of Julian after he stands up for Jack? 7) Why doesn t Via want her family to know about the play? Do you think she s a bad person (as she says she is)? Explains. 16
Directions: List the arguments for and against the idea that the universe is against August. August The Universe is Against August The Universe is NOT against August Based on what you wrote down, do you think the universe is against Augsut? Why or why not? Wonder Do Now: If you were to lose one of your 5 sense (sight, hearing, touch, smell, feel), which do you think would be most difficult to have not at full strength. Why that particular sense? What would life be like for you? How would it be the same and/or different? 17
Pages 206 (North Pole) 234 (The Ending) 1) What is one way Auggie and Jack get back at Julian? 2) Why do you think some people started to leave Julian s side during the war? 3) How has Auggie s sense of humor helped him through his first year of middle school? 4) Why doesn t Via want Auggie to come ot her play? Can you understand why she feels this way, or is it completely wrong of her to feel this way? Explain your answer. 5) How does Auggie equate being in heaven to how Daisy always saw him? 6) Why do you think the whole family goes to Via s play, and not leave Auggie or anyone else at home, as they had originally planned? 18
Write about a time your sense of humor helped get you through a tough situation. Directions: If Daisy could tell Auggie one last thing, what would it be? 19 Wonder Do Now: Write about the first time you ever slept over someone s house OR the first time someone ever slept over your home. Where were you, or who was over? How did you feeling throughout excited, nervous, scared, happy?
Page 236 (Camp Lies) Page 260 (The Fairgrounds) 1) What happens when Miranda tells the girls at camp that she has a brother that is deformed? Why do you think they start treating her differently? 2) Why do Miranda and Via drift apart as friends? 3) Why do you think Miranda doesn t go through the play? What makes her change her mind? If you were able to choose, what would you like to known for as a middle-schooler? 4) At the end of Miranda s section, why do you think she feels so happy? 5) Why is Auggie kind of nervous and kind of excited about the camping trip? 20
Write about a time your friendship with someone else ended. Who was it with? How and why did it end? Directions: Complete the chart below based around how August has matured over the past year. How has Auggie Matured? Obstacle that he faced along the way Wonder Do Now: Write about a time someone stood up for you OR write about a time when you stood up for someone else? Who was involved in this? Why did someone stand up for you? Or vice versa. What do you think would have happened if they didn t stand up for you? Or vice versa. 21
Page 261 (Be Kind to Nature) Page 287 (Ducks) 1) Why do you think Amos, Miles and Henry help out Auggie and Jack when they re in the woods? 2) Why is it such a big deal for Auggie to lose his hearing aid? What could the consequences be? 3) How do you think is makes Auggie feel that now some of his classmates want to help and protect him? Explain. 4) Auggie says he finally understood what his dad meant when he said like a lamb to the slaughter. What does he realizes it means? 5) After he s gotten home, how do you think Auggie handles himself in regards to what happened in the woods? Specifically when he is talking to his mother. 6) Why do you think people started treating Auggie differently once they go back to school? Explain. 7) What do you think impresses Mr. Tushman most about Auggie? Why? 22
Directions: What advice would you give to the different characters and narrators of the book. Character Advice Why would you give this character that advice? Auggie Via Jack Miranda Wonder Do Now: Write about a time you were scared or nervous to do something, but once you got through it, you were happy/proud that you did? What was it you got through? Why were you scared or nervous at first? How and why did your feelings change once you got through it? 23
Page 288 (The Last Precept) Page 310 (The Walk Home) 1) Why do you think Auggie s dad hid his astronaut helmet and told him it was lost? How do you think he was trying to help Auggie? 2) If you could win any school-related award, which one would it be and why? 3) Why do you think everyone feels Auggie was so deserving of the award he got? 4) It kind of felt like everyone wanted to get close to me. How and why is this idea 100% completely different from how people felt about and treated Auggie at the beginning of the book? How can their attitude towards him change so dramatically? 5) Earlier in the book we learn that Auggie is a medical wonder. But how is he a wonder as a person, as his mom says on the last page? 24
Directions: Complete the chart below based on what you know and feel about the characters? Character Auggie What do you think life will be like for them in 5 years? Via Jack Miranda Reflection 6) Above, color in how many stars you would rate Wonder. Below: Overall, explain what you thought about Wonder. What did you like or dislike? Be specific. 25