Before the Book: Wonder
When choosing to be right or to be kind, choose kind. – Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
Perhaps you would have recognized this quote some years ago when the first trailer for its movie came out, or even when you read the sky-blue book yourself. Whatever the case, when one thinks of Wonder, the theme of kindness is an almost instant relation to the story of young and craniofacially-different August Pullman. Author R. J. Palacio captivated hearts around the world by creating a hopeful narrative centered on empathy, bravery, and above all, kindness. However heartwarming the story may end, its inspiration follows an unkind act rooted in fear and discomfort, one committed by the author herself. As Wonder celebrated its twelfth year of publication on February 14, it’s worth looking back and understanding how a moment of decided unkindness inspired a book that advocates choosing the very opposite.
For all its widespread recognition and praise, Wonder is but a simple story about a 10-year-old boy. Born with a craniofacial difference, August “Auggie” Pullman has never quite had a “normal life,” largely due to his unordinary face. Even before he began his formal education, Auggie has long faced strangers who act unkindly or fearfully around him. Despite all this, Auggie continues to be a humorous and insightful boy of his age, dreaming of stars and space and knowing all the Star Wars films by heart. However, this doesn’t stop the world—especially his peers—from continuing to bring him down. Auggie’s physical oddities are only amplified when he begins his journey into middle school, facing kids who joke, avoid, or even bully him—all because they can’t bear to face him. Still, among the crowd of fearful (and perhaps slightly evil) middle schoolers come genuine and kind souls that help Auggie along the school year. In this story of adversity, Palacio delves into the perspectives of not only Auggie but his family and friends around him as well, illustrating through these various chapters how kindness shines through, even sparking a chain reaction that can move the toughest hearts.
It’s no wonder (haha, get it?) that Auggie’s story topped the New York Times Bestseller list and even inspired a movement based on the mantra “Choose Kind.” These accomplishments (and many more) were no small feats, especially not for a first-time author. Before writing this widely renowned story, R. J. Palacio was a New York-based book jacket designer turned editor, working on other authors’ books while waiting for the perfect inspiration to start her own. And come it did, on one fateful day in 2007.
On that day, the soon-to-be author was out with her sons and happened to stumble upon an ice cream shop. As they seated themselves, R. J.'s youngest son, a 3-year-old, noticed a little girl near them, who happened to have the same “significant” craniofacial difference as Auggie. Scared and shocked, the author’s son began to cry at the sight of the girl. R. J., wanting to protect the little girl from her son’s reaction, quickly whisked her kids away from the ice cream shop. On the ride home, however, the author felt ashamed for having reacted that way, remarking afterward how she should have struck up a conversation with the girl instead of running away in fear and discomfort.
What would it be like to have to face a world every day that doesn't know how to face you back, Palacio thought, and as she listened to a Natalie Merchant song, the editor was finally inspired to be an author. That night, between the hours of 11:30 PM and 3:30 AM, R. J. Palacio quickly wrote the first chapter for her soon-to-be book, taking its name from the same song she heard just hours earlier. Thus, within the span of a few hours, Wonder was born.
Soon after she finished writing Auggie’s story, Palacio “test-ran” the book on her ninth-grade son, who declared, much to her disbelief, that it should be required reading in every school. Previously, the author thought the publishing of her book was mere fancy and those many late-night hours she spent on it were a “fruitless endeavor.” But with the affirmation of her son, R. J. thought that perhaps someone would read what she had written, and so, now armed with a bit more courage, the author sent her book to a publishing firm. On February 14, 2012, R.J. Palacio’s Wonder went on sale, astounding countless with the simple story of August Pullman.
At the core of Auggie’s story is bravery; at the center of those around Auggie is empathy; and at the very heart of Wonder is kindness. This February, let’s not forget to show love, but also kindness, for it is the most free thing we humans have to give that reaps the highest reward. As Plato once said, Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle, and as movie Auggie adds on, If you really want to see what people are, all you have to do is look.
