Appropriate Age: 3rd grade - 7th grade (8 - 13 years)
Summary: This is a companion book to Wonder R.J. Palacio. Like the original story, each chapter (or short story in this book) is told by a different person; different point of view. This book follows Julian, who was known as the bully in the first book, Christopher, Auggie best friend since birth, and Charlotte, the girl asked to be Auggie's welcome buddy before school started. The reader gets to see Julian's side of the story. We learn of his family history and how he learns from his mistakes. He was able to redeem his character when he apologizes to Auggie and takes responsibility for his own actions. The second short story is about Christopher. The reader is able to understand how difficult it is to be a true friend to Auggie. The story expands on his families divorce, his activities in school, and how he feel to blame for his mother's car accident. My favorite of these three stories was entitled, "Shingaling." Charlotte's character works hard, but is still insecure. She wants to be accepted by the popular crowd. She worries about what others think of her.
Connections:
Like the original story, this book is great for discussing point of view. I feel that it would be a good lead into for a discussion on taking responsibility for one's own actions. Many children feel that it is someone else's fault for things that happen. Using both of these stories, would generate quality discussions and elaborations. These books used together can be a stepping stone for a writing lesson. Student can create stories of other characters or chapters of characters in the future. These could be turned into videos or book trailers.
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