TL;DR
Wonder by R.J. Palacio is the rare "school-assigned" book that actually lives up to the hype. It follows August "Auggie" Pullman, a boy with severe facial differences, as he enters a mainstream middle school for the first time. It’s essential reading because it tackles the "Mean Girl" and "Edge-lord" culture of middle school before your kid even hits the "send" button on their first toxic group chat.
Quick Recommendations:
- The Book: Wonder (Ages 8+)
- The Movie: Wonder (2017) (Ages 10+ — great for a family movie night after reading)
- The Follow-up: Auggie & Me (Essential for the "Julian" perspective)
- The Spinoff: White Bird (Focuses on kindness during WWII)
If you haven't encountered it yet, Wonder is the story of Auggie, a 10-year-old who just wants to be ordinary. He likes Star Wars, Minecraft, and his dog. But Auggie was born with a facial deformity (mandibulofacial dysostosis) that has required 27 surgeries. After years of homeschooling, his parents enroll him in Beecher Prep for 5th grade.
The book isn't just about Auggie’s struggle to fit in; it’s a masterclass in perspective-shifting. The narrative jumps between Auggie, his sister Via, his friends, and even his bullies. It turns a "disability story" into a "humanity story" that hits home for any kid who has ever felt like an outsider—which, let's be real, is every single kid in middle school.
Middle school used to be a physical gauntlet. Now, the gauntlet is 24/7 and lives in their pocket. When kids start calling everything "Ohio" (meaning weird or cringey) or dismissing people as "NPCs," they are practicing a form of detachment. They’re learning to categorize people into boxes rather than seeing them as three-dimensional humans.
Wonder by R.J. Palacio is the ultimate antidote to this. It gives kids a vocabulary for empathy that isn't just "be nice." It shows the cost of being a bystander. In an era where kids are navigating Discord servers and Roblox chats, the lessons in Wonder about how we treat those who are "different" are more relevant than ever.
Check out our guide on navigating your child's first group chat
In the book, Julian is the primary antagonist. He’s not a mustache-twirling villain; he’s a popular, wealthy kid who uses social engineering to isolate Auggie. If Wonder were written today, Julian wouldn't just be leaving notes in lockers; he’d be making "brain rot" memes about Auggie and sharing them in a private Snapchat group.
The genius of Palacio’s universe—specifically in the follow-up Auggie & Me—is that she explores why Julian does what he does. It doesn't excuse him, but it explains the social pressure kids feel to join the "in-group" by putting someone else down. This is the exact dynamic of a toxic group chat. Reading this book with your kid allows you to ask: "Who are you in the chat? Are you the one starting the 'Ohio' jokes, the one laughing, or the one saying 'Hey guys, this is actually mean'?"
This isn't a sequel, but a collection of "POV" stories. The "Julian Chapter" is mandatory for any parent whose kid might be leaning into "edgy" humor online. It shows how easy it is for a "good kid" to become a bully when they think they're just being funny or "real."
If your kid loved Wonder, don't stop there. Use that momentum to build a media diet that reinforces these themes without being "after-school special" cheesy.
If Wonder is about how the world sees you, Out of My Mind is about the frustration of not being able to communicate. Melody has cerebral palsy and is brilliant, but everyone assumes she’s "not all there" because she can't speak. It’s a gut-punch of a book that pairs perfectly with Auggie's story.
For the older kids (12+) who are into anime, this is a heavy but incredible look at a former bully trying to make amends with a deaf girl he tormented in elementary school. It’s much more intense than Wonder, but it handles the "redemption arc" with a level of honesty that most US media avoids.
This might seem like a curveball, but The Wild Robot is essentially a story about an outsider (Roz the robot) trying to find a place in a community that is hard-wired to fear her. It’s a great "empathy bridge" for younger readers (Ages 7-10).
- Ages 8-10: This is the sweet spot for reading the book together. You can handle the heavier themes of surgery and death (Daisy the dog—be prepared for tears) while focusing on the "Choose Kind" message.
- Ages 11-13: Focus on the social dynamics. Talk about the "War" that happens in the school between Jack Will and Julian. This mirrors the "sides" kids take in WhatsApp groups or Fortnite squads.
- Ages 14+: If they haven't read it, it’s still worth it, but they might find the "Choose Kind" slogan a bit simplistic. Use it as a jumping-off point to talk about the ethics of "cringe culture" on TikTok.
While the book is safe, the discussions it triggers can be intense.
- Lookism and Digital Filters: We live in a world of Instagram filters and "Pretty Privilege." Auggie’s story is a direct challenge to the "FaceTune" culture your kid is seeing every day.
- The "Hero" Complex: Sometimes kids read Wonder and want to be the "savior" friend (like Summer). It’s worth discussing that being a friend isn't a charity project—it’s about finding common ground over Star Wars or YouTube creators.
Ask our chatbot for more books about neurodiversity and inclusion
R.J. Palacio has been criticized by some in the disability community for "disability porn"—the idea that Auggie’s story exists primarily to make "normal" kids feel better about themselves or learn a lesson. This is a valid, high-level conversation to have with your teen.
Is the book a bit "neat"? Yes. Does it wrap up with a standing ovation that feels a little unearned in the real world? Absolutely. But for a 10-year-old trying to figure out why they shouldn't join in when the whole class is making fun of the "weird" kid's Skibidi Toilet backpack, this book is a vital tool.
Don't lecture. Just ask a few "What would you do?" questions:
- "If you saw a kid like Auggie sitting alone at lunch, and you knew Julian would make fun of you for sitting with him, what’s the move?"
- "Why do you think Jack Will initially didn't want to be the 'welcome buddy'?"
- "Is it ever okay to vent about a friend in a private chat if you think they'll never see it?" (Reference the Jack Will/Julian scene at Halloween).
Wonder by R.J. Palacio is a rare 10/10 recommendation. It’s one of the few books that can actually change a kid's "social algorithm." It moves them from "how does this affect me?" to "how does this affect us?"
In a world of "main character energy," Wonder reminds kids that everyone else is the main character of their own story, too.
- Read the book (or listen to the audiobook—it’s fantastic).
- Watch the Wonder movie and compare how Auggie looked in their head vs. on screen.
- Check your kid's "Digital Kindness": Use the "Julian Chapter" as a way to talk about their own digital footprints.
Learn more about how to monitor your child's digital social life without being a spy