Novel Study: Wonder: Discussion Guide #1

Encourage critical thinking and support your students’ literacy development by asking questions as they read the first part of R.J. Palacio’s Wonder. Ideal for fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade readers, this discussion guide focuses on the chapters "Ordinary" to "Names," broken up into two manageable chunks, which correspond to pages 1–80 in the novel's 2017 hardcopy Random House edition. This two-page novel guide features comprehension, analysis, and connection questions that guide readers to consider August's challenges as he begins attending a new school and navigating the complexities of new friendships. 

Whether used to spark a classroom discussion or as individual writing prompts, these thought-provoking questions are an engaging way to help learners review essential elements in the story, evaluate the author’s choices, make connections to other texts and their own lives, and even refine predictions. Click “View answer key” to see sample student responses and context.

For more resources related to the novel, don't miss the full set of Wonder worksheets!