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R.J. Palacio / Knopf
Wonder
The middle school novel that has changed how an entire generation treats kids who are different
Wonder is the most emotionally effective middle school novel of the last 20 years. R.J. Palacio's choice to tell the story from multiple perspectives — including the kids who bullied Auggie and the ones who didn't — creates a reading experience that genuinely expands a child's empathy. It belongs on every 6th and 7th grader's reading list, and the conversation it starts between parents and kids is worth more than the book itself.
✓ Pros
- Multi-perspective structure — the same events told by August, his sister, his friends — teaches empathy more effectively than any direct instruction
- Handles facial difference, bullying, and belonging with honesty that does not condescend to middle schoolers or sugarcoat the cruelty kids experience
- Widely assigned in 6th grade classrooms nationwide, making it an ideal choice for summer reading before middle school
✕ Cons
- Some of the bully characters feel underdeveloped — their cruelty is shown but their interiority is limited, which is a minor literary weakness
- The resolution is somewhat optimistic — which most readers prefer, but older students analyzing the book may find it less satisfying than the complexity of the setup
Scores
Overall
9.6
LiteraryQuality
9.2
EmotionalDepth
9.9
AgeAppropriateness
9.8
Themes
9.7
Engagement
9.5