Classroom Corner
Welcome to Classroom Corner!
Our Year 6 students begin the year with a novel study of Wonder by R.J. Palacio, a story that continues to resonate deeply with them. Through reading and discussion, they explore important themes such as acceptance, kindness, and friendship. To demonstrate their understanding, students produced analyses to demonstrate their insight into these ideas.
Wonder
The award-winning novel Wonder written by R.J Palacio is about August Pullman, a young boy suffering from severe facial anomalies as he heads into school for the first time. The book ventures through heart-touching relationships, challenging obstacles and growth viewed from several different angles. The author highlights the theme of friendship, a special bond between two or more people. August demonstrates friendship by befriending his classmates and going on exciting adventures with his friends. The book points out that true friendship takes time and effort to build.
Jack Will, a well-known character in the story, displays acts of friendship by standing up for others and knocking down and building relationships with friends. One example is when Jack defends August by punching Julian after hearing him insult August, showing he deeply values their friendship. In the chapter, “Bleeding Scream,” Jack regrettably makes a cruel comment about August behind his back, shattering their friendship. Jack tries to reconcile their bond as he realizes he had betrayed August. Later in the book Jack decides to accept his role as an outcast, joining August, Summer and more during lunch. Making friends was going to be a big walk for August, but he keeps moving forward and never back. This inspires Jack, and it helps Jack to also try and make more friends. With Jack so passionate and consistent to be August’s friend, it helps to ease August’s stress and anxiety. Jack’s efforts aren’t out of pity, he tries because of how fun and interesting he finds August and would do anything to stay with him for the rest of school. He gives August a feeling of equality, helping him build confidence and persistence throughout his time at school.
Summer, a supporting character in the story, demonstrates friendship with kind, affectionate and wholesome acts, despite the judgement of others. Summer shows the theme of friendship, when she first meets August, sitting down with him at the same table during lunch. August felt touched, as he had experienced his first feeling of true friendship. She then later goes on to work on an important project at August’s house. At the near end of the book, August steps onto the stage, claiming the profound Beecher Prep Award. Summer congratulates August after winning his award, showing she is proud of her friend. These examples show help readers to understand that she values kindness, friendship and closeness over popularity. At first glance, she knew being August’s friend would be hard, as everyone would stare, judge and slowly drift away from her, but she moved on from popularity, as her main mission was to keep August happy, and she did exactly that. Her commitment and dedication to make August’s day truly towered above the bullies' cruel acts and comments. Her kindness inspires those around her, earning great respect from others. Through her actions, the book points out that friendship is not about being popular and having the most friends, but the kindness and how you act towards others.
In wonder, the theme of friendship is scattered along the pages, including the daily lives of the characters in the story. As a guiding principle in life, friendship helps bring people together, and it rebuilds the world to make it a better place. This can influence readers to come to the understanding that small and simple acts of kindness can help build strong and durable friendships.
By Sonny, 5/6 Orange