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 Noteworthy  Novelworks         1  
     
 Hello Wonder fans!
 
This  sample  novel  study  for  Wonder,  by  R.J.  Palacio,  guides  students  
through  the  first  part  of    
the  novel,  which  is  told  from  the  perspective  of  August  Pullman.    
 
Each  reading  selection  includes  (4th-­‐-­‐6th)  CCSS  aligned,  text  dependent  
questions,  that  encourage  students  to  reread,  read  closely,  and  think  
critically  about  what  they  are  reading.    
 
If  you  enjoy  this  product,  please  rate!  
 
 
 
The  full  Noteworthy  Novelworks  novel  study  for  Wonder  is  available  
here:  
 
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Wonder-­‐by-­‐RJ-­‐
Palacio-­‐Novel-­‐Study-­‐Full-­‐Answer-­‐Key-­‐2115818    
 
If  you  like  this  freebie,  you’ll  love  the  full  novel  study!    Complete  
answer  key  with  discussion  suggestions  is  included,  along  with  text  
dependent  questions  and  graphic  organizers  for  the  entire  novel.

©  Noteworthy  Novelworks         2  
     
 Instructions for using this novel study:  
Students:
As  you  read  Wonder  by  R.J.  Palacio,  keep  up  with  the  story  by  answering  
the  questions  after  each  assigned  reading.    Good  readers  take  lots  of  
breaks  to  really  think  about  what  they  are  reading,  and  the  questions  in  
this  novel  study  are  designed  to  help  you  do  just  that…  THINK!      
 
It  is  OK  to  ask  for  help  with  this  novel  study,  but  always  try  to  work  
through  the  tough  thinking  questions  yourself.    You’ll  be  surprised  at  what  
you  can  come  up  with  on  your  own!    This  novel  study  is  great  for  reading  
groups  –  feel  free  to  discuss  the  questions  and  any  ideas  you  have  about  
the  book  with  the  friends  in  your  group  or  with  an  adult.    After  all,  reading  
is  all  about  communication.

Teachers:
The  answer  key  is  not  provided  in  this  special  freebie,  but  a  full  answer  
key  for  the  entire  novel  study  is  available  at  the  Noteworthy  Novelworks  
store  on  TPT.    However,  please  remember  that  many  of  these  questions  
are  open  to  interpretation.    Discussion  is  essential!    For  most  of  the  
questions  included  in  this  novel  study,  if  a  student  can  justify  his  or  her  
answer,  it’s  probably  correct!    Encourage  clear  responses  with  plenty  of  
reasoning  to  increase  students’  abilities  to  answer  text-­‐dependent  
questions  independently.    Many  of  the  questions  in  this  novel  require  
students  to  rely  on  their  own  background  knowledge  and  experiences  to  
respond.    Because  of  this,  these  responses  are  great  for  discussion  groups!    
However,  sensitive  topics  may  come  up  in  group  discussions,  so  it  is  
necessary  to  set  up  a  respectful  and  safe  discussion  space  within  the  
reading  group  so  students  can  really  get  the  most  out  of  this  novel.              
 
 
 

©  Noteworthy  Novelworks         3  
     
  
Part One

August
 
Fate  smiled  and  destiny  laughed    
as  she  came  to  my  cradle…  
-­‐ Natalie  Merchant  
 
 
 
 
 
After  you  read  Part  One  (pages  1-­‐80),  think  about  how  this  quote  matters  in  this  part  of  
the  book.    How  does  it  connect  to  the  story?    Why  is  it  important?    Write  your  answer  on  
the  lines  below:  
 
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©  Noteworthy  Novelworks         4  
     
Reading  Assignment:  Pages  3-­‐9  
Standards  Covered:  RL  4.1,  4.4,  5.1,  5.4,  6.1,  6.4  

Text Dependent Questions

 
1.    Based  on  the  chapter  Ordinary  (page  3)  how  would  you  describe  August’s  life?    How  would  you  describe  
his  family?    Use  specific  details  to  support  your  descriptions.  
 
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2.    Explain  the  phrase  “they’re  used  to  me”  as  it  is  used  in  the  sentence  below:  
 
And  since  they’ve  always  known  me  the  way  I  am,  they’re  used  to  me.  (pages  4-­‐5)  
 
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3.    Reread  pages  6  and  7,  where  you  learned  the  story  of  August’s  birth.    It  is  definitely  not  an  ordinary  
story!    Why  could  someone  say  that  this  story  has  two  sides  -­‐  a  happy  side  and  a  sad  side?    Explain  using  
specific  details  from  the  text.    
 
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4.    What  big  decision  is  coming  up  for  August’s  family?    What  do  you  think  they  should  do?    Why?  
 
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©  Noteworthy  Novelworks         5  
     
Reading  Assignment:  Pages  10-­‐23  
Standards  Covered:  RL  4.1,  4.4,  5.1,  5.4,  6.1,  6.4  

Text Dependent Questions

 
1.    Read  the  passage  below  and  answer  the  question  that  follows.  
“So  sending  him  off  to  middle  school  like  a  lamb  to  the  slaughter…,”  Dad  answered  angrily,  but  he  didn’t  
even  finish  his  sentence  because  he  saw  me  in  the  mirror  looking  up.  (page  10)  
 
August  doesn’t  understand  the  idiom,  “like  a  lamb  to  the  slaughter”  when  his  dad  is  speaking.    Can  you  
guess  what  it  might  mean,  based  on  the  clues  in  this  chapter?    (Hint:  Think  about  the  situation  August’s  parents  are  
discussing  and  how  it  might  be  for  August  to  go  to  school!)  
 
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2.    What  does  August  mean  on  page  17  when  he  thinks,  “Then  that  thing  happened  that  I’ve  seen  happen  a  
million  times  before”?    What  is  that  thing  that  he  refers  to?    How  do  you  think  it  affects  him  to  have  seen  it  
happen  “a  million  times  before”?      
 
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3.    On  pages  19-­‐20,  you  get  a  very  clear  picture  of  what  type  of  person  Mr.  Tushman  is.    Use  your  inference  
skills  to  decide  if  you  think  he  might  be  a  good  school  leader  or  not.    Make  sure  to  use  details  from  the  text  
to  support  your  inference.      
 
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4.  On  page  23,  August  notices  that  his  mom  “seemed  more  scared  than  I  was.”    Why  do  you  think  that  
might  be?  
 
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©  Noteworthy  Novelworks         6  
     
Reading  Assignment:  Pages  24  -­‐  42  
Standards  Covered:  RL  4.1,  5.1,  6.1  
 
Text Dependent Questions
 
1.    Reread  or  skim  pages  24  –  30.    Then,  fill  out  the  characterization  graphic  organizer  below  to  record  what  
August’s  new  classmates  say,  think,  and  how  they  behave.    These  might  be  specific  details  from  the  text  or  
inferences  that  you  made  while  reading!    Pick  out  what  you  believe  are  the  most  important  details.  You  
don’t  need  to  write  every  single  thing  down!  
Characterization  Notes  
   
Jack  Will  

   
Julian  

   
Charlotte  

 
2.  Read  the  passage  below  and  answer  the  question  that  follows.  
         The  moment  we  got  inside  the  house,  I  ran  to  my  room  and  threw  myself  on  to  my  bed.    I  could  tell  
Mom  didn’t  know  what  was  up,  and  I  guess  I  really  didn’t,  either.    I  felt  very  sad  and  a  tiny  bit  happy  at  the  
exact  same  time,  kind  of  like  that  laughing-­‐crying  feeling  all  over  again.  (page  33)  
 
Use  your  inference  skills  to  describe  how  August  is  feeling  in  your  own  words.    You  may  want  to  underline  
details  from  the  passage  that  helped  you  come  to  your  conclusions.  
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3.    On  pages  35-­‐42,  you  witness  a  part  of  August’s  first  day  ever  as  a  student  in  a  school.    In  your  opinion,  
which  challenges  that  he  faces  in  this  section  of  the  book  seem  to  be  the  biggest?    Why?    
 
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©  Noteworthy  Novelworks         7  
     
Reading  Assignment:  Pages  43-­‐48  
Standards  Covered:  RL  4.1,  4.4,  4.7,  5.1,  5.4,  5.7,  6.1,  6.4,  6.5  

Text Dependent Questions

 
1.    On  page  43,  you  learned  what  “lamb  to  the  slaughter”  means  when  August  decided  to  research  the  
phrase  on  Google.    Describe  what  the  term  means  in  your  own  words,  and  then  decide  if  you  believe  it  is  an  
accurate  description  of  August  going  to  school  for  the  first  time.      
 
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2.    What  does  August  mean  when  he  thinks,  “Yeah,  he  knew  what  he  was  saying”  on  page  44?      
 
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3.    Mr.  Browne’s  class  is  much  different  from  August’s  first  class  with  Ms.  Petosa.    What  mood  is  there  
during  Mr.  Browne’s  first  lesson?    In  other  words,  what  feeling  do  you  think  you  would  have  if  you  were  a  
student  in  his  class?  
     
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4.    How  does  the  text  font  and/or  size  and  the  dialogue  this  chapter  help  the  author  convey  the  mood  of  
this  chapter?    Give  examples  to  help  support  your  answer.              
 
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©  Noteworthy  Novelworks         8  
     
Reading  Assignment:  Pages  49-­‐62  
Standards  Covered:  RL  4.1,  4.4,  5.1,  5.4,  6.1,  6.4  

Text Dependent Questions

 
1.    Choose  3  details  from  the  chapter  The  Summer  Table  (pages  51-­‐53)  that  help  support  the  inference  that  
Summer  might  be  a  good  friend  for  August.  
Detail   Page  #  
   

   

   

 
2.    Read  the  passage  below,  and  answer  the  question  that  follows.  
     I  honestly  don’t  know  why  I  was  kind  of  mad  at  Mom,  but  I  was.    We  crossed  Amesfort  Avenue,  and  she  
didn’t  say  anything  else  until  we  turned  onto  our  block.  (page  55)  
 
What  can  you  infer  about  how  August  is  feeling  in  this  moment  (besides  “kind  of  mad”)?    Why  do  you  think  
he  is  feeling  this  way?  
 
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3.    Reread  the  passage  below,  and  answer  the  question  that  follows.  
         And  being  at  school  was  awful  in  the  beginning.    Every  new  class  I  had  was  like  a  new  chance  for  kids  to  
“not  stare”  at  me.    They  would  sneak  peeks  at  me  from  behind  their  notebooks  or  when  they  thought  I  
wasn’t  looking.    They  would  take  the  longest  way  around  me  to  avoid  bumping  into  me  in  any  way,  like  I  
had  some  germ  they  could  catch,  like  my  face  was  contagious.  (page  61)  
 
Why  do  you  think  the  author  chose  to  put  the  phrase  “not  stare”  in  quotation  marks  in  the  passage  above?    
Underline  the  evidence  in  this  passage  that  helped  you  draw  your  conclusion  about  this  phrase.  
 
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©  Noteworthy  Novelworks         9  
     
Reading  Assignment:  Pages  63-­‐75  
Standards  Covered:  RL  4.1,  4.4,  5.1,  5.4,  6.1,  6.4  

Text Dependent Questions

 
1.  Reread  /  skim  pages  63-­‐64.  In  your  own  words,  using  details  from  the  text  to  support  your  answer,  how  
would  you  describe  the  relationship  between  Jack  Will  and  August?  
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2.    On  page  65,  Mr.  Browne  taught  his  class  the  precept:  YOUR  DEEDS  ARE  YOUR  MONUMENTS.    Based  on  
what  August  wrote  as  his  homework,  and  your  own  interpretations,  explain  the  precept  in  your  own  words  
on  the  “homework  assignment”  below:  
 
Homework  for  Mr.  Browne  
Write  a  paragraph  about  what  you  think  the  precept  means  and  /  or  how  you  feel  about  it.    Due:  tomorrow  
during  class!  

   
3.    If  you  have  read  the  book  Diary  of  a  Wimpy  Kid  (or  if  you’ve  seen  the  movie!)  you  can  understand  the  
“cheese  touch”  connection  that  August  makes  on  page  72.    Using  August’s  cheese  touch  example,  and  the  
events  of  this  reading  section,  describe  what  challenges  August  faces  at  school  in  this  section.  
 
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©  Noteworthy  Novelworks         10  
     
Reading  Assignment:  Pages  76-­‐80  
Standards  Covered:  RL  4.1,  4.4,  4.6,  5.1,  5.4,  5.6,  6.1,  6.4,  6.6  

Text Dependent Questions

 
1a.  In  The  Bleeding  Scream  (pages  76-­‐78),  August’s  day  undergoes  a  big  transformation.    How  does  his  day  
change?      
 
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1b.Pull  two  quotes  from  the  chapter  that  show  the  two  different  extremes  that  August  feels  in  this  chapter.      
 
My  evidence:  
Quote  that  shows  a  positive  feeling:   Quote  that  shows  a  negative  feeling:  
   

 
2.    Reread  the  first  paragraph  on  page  79.    The  author  uses  repetition,  or  the  same  phrase  over  and  over  
again,  to  allow  you  to  make  an  inference  about  the  character  in  the  moment.    Which  phrase  is  repeated  in  
this  paragraph?    What  inference  can  you  make  about  how  August  is  feeling,  based  on  the  repetition  in  this  
paragraph?  
 
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3.  Page  80  is  the  last  page  of  August’s  perspective  for  a  pretty  long  time.    Before  you  move  on  to  Via’s  
perspective,  reflect  on  how  it  has  been  to  read  the  story  from  August’s  perspective.  
     
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*Don’t  forget  to  go  to  page  4  to  reflect  on  the  quote  for  Part  One!  
©  Noteworthy  Novelworks         11  
     
  
 
 
 

Credits / Terms of Use

 
A  BIG  thank  you  to  R.  J.  Palacio  for  writing  this  wonderful  novel  that  is  sure  to  inspire  
students  for  many  years.      
 
Cover  background  and  clip  art  provided  by:  Graphics  from  the  Pond  
http://frompond.blogspot.com    
 
Border  images  provided  by  Krista  Wallden  at  Creative  Clips  by  Krista  Wallden  
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Krista-­‐-­‐Wallden.      
 
Last  but  not  least,  cover  fonts  provided  by:  Teaches  Third  in  Georgia  
http://teachesthirdingeorgia.blogspot.com/  
 
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Happy  reading!    
 

©  Noteworthy  Novelworks         12