R.J. Palacio’s ‘Wonder’ is an important lesson in the power of kindness

The first thing you’ll notice about author R.J. Palacio is her incredible optimism.

Even while talking about school bullying, the author refuses to believe that children are inherently mean.

“I feel like kids really do want to do good, they want to be their best selves, and sometimes they don’t know how to do that. There’s never a kid who’s irredeemable,” she says.

That’s a major theme of Palacio’s best-selling book Wonder, which was recently adapted into a movie staring Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson.

The novel for young readers follows a year in the life of Auggie Pullman, a 10-year-old boy who is starting the 5th grade. Auggie was born with facial differences resulting in numerous surgeries, which have kept him homeschooled and away from his peers until now. Now, entering school for the first time, Auggie and his community must find the courage to accept each other, despite their differences. Read more…

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