This book centers on a person whose early medical issues have a significant impact on the future, particularly in regard to relationships, very much like Auggie in Wonder.
Cece Bell, the author of these graphic novels, was motivated by her own early struggles with hearing loss.
Readers accompany Cece as she struggles to blend in and manages her quite obvious hearing aid. She first struggles to make friends, but she ultimately comes into her own.
Pros
Well written and relatable.
Teaches great disability awareness.
Cons
Some readers found the book inappropriate for young children.
Themes: Family and Friendship, Celebrating Differences, Empathy
Although Chase wasn’t always a good kid, it doesn’t matter now since he tumbled off a roof and is unable to recall his previous existence. He discovers that not all people are happy with who they used to be when he returns to school.
Some children like him, some do not, and some are simply very angry with him. Middle school is challenging, but trying to restart your life makes it even more challenging.
This book will excite you in the end and demonstrates the complexity of middle school hierarchy.
Pros
Effectively tackles themes of friendship and bullying.
Funny, engaging writing style.
Cons
Some parts of the story are a little slow.
Themes: Family and Friendship, Celebrating Differences, Empathy
Young Melody decides it’s time for everyone to see who she truly is on the inside when she discovers that the entire world has entirely underestimated her.
When you have cerebral palsy, it might be challenging to communicate your needs.
Melody, on the other hand, is utterly intelligent and even possesses a photographic memory. Sadly, none of her doctors think she is intelligent.
This novel, which is a story about struggling for the universe to perceive you as what you truly are, touches on many of the same topics as Wonder.
Pros
Realistic and compelling storyline.
Helps change perceptions of disability.
Cons
Readers found the ending didn’t fit the main character’s personality.
Themes: Family and Friendship, Celebrating Differences, Empathy
Everybody constantly discusses everyone else. Just the way things are. For Elyse, it’s a little different.
Her physique instantly displays the adjectives that people use to describe her. When Elyse was younger, this was okay, but as she gets older, things start to change.
Elyse now has to confront the reality that people aren’t as kind as they once were.
The majority of middle-grade books, like Wonder, always touch on some aspect of self-acceptance, but this book tackles that subject head-on.
A book with many perspectives This tale revolves around coming together, exactly like Wonder. Mr. Terupt is not a dull professor.
In fact, the majority of his students say he was their best instructor ever.
However, everyone reacts differently to the painful situation that Mr. Terupt’s fifth-grade class encounters on a snowy day at school.
Each character in the book adds something special and distinctive. Everyone comes to realize that, after all, being different from one another isn’t actually such a huge thing.
Pros
Authentic, relatable characters.
Skilfully arranged brief chapters to keep readers engaged.
Cons
Some readers found the story too predictable.
Themes: Family and Friendship, Celebrating Differences, Empathy
When young Lucy is struck by lightning, she acquires mathematical abilities.
Lucy is not required to attend school because, like Auggie throughout the novel Wonder, she has been homeschooled following her accident.
She is 12 years old and has the option to enroll right away in college. However, Lucy’s grandmother has other plans and wants her to try middle school for only one year.
She is expected to make friends, participate in some kind of activity, as well as read something other than a math textbook.
Simple for some, but Lucy finds that to be a tremendous task.
Pros
Fresh, smart, and funny storytelling.
Great characters and focus on the celebration of friendship.
Cons
Some readers found the reading level to be too low.
Themes: Family and Friendship, Celebrating Differences, Empathy
A tragic event is causing Rachel to experience ups and downs. She also lives in an African American neighborhood and resembles her Danish mother too much.
She is unsure of her identity and the direction her life will go.
Going through the processes of loss and mourning is difficult, especially if you don’t feel truly at home anywhere.
This book offers insightful analysis on a variety of topics, like ethnicity, tragedy, and self-discovery.
Pros
Thought-provoking scenes.
Heartbreakingly captivating storyline throughout.
Cons
Some readers found the book too bleak to enjoy.
Themes: Family and Friendship, Celebrating Differences, Empathy
Jessica has always only wanted to run. When it’s taken away from her, that becomes even clearer. To clarify, Jessica loses her leg in a vehicle accident.
Fortunately, she received a prosthetic and may eventually be able to run once more, but the situation is more complicated than that.
Jessica learns a lot about herself and her new friend while receiving tutoring from a classmate who has cerebral palsy.
Young readers everywhere will undoubtedly be motivated by it.
Pros
Powerful, healing storyline.
Fast-paced and well-written.
Cons
Some readers found the book predictable and uneventful.
Themes: Family and Friendship, Celebrating Differences, Empathy
This book shares similarities with Wonder in terms of family conflicts and interpersonal interactions.
David accidentally spent $2000 after using his mother’s credit card to bet on a food item.
In addition to the stress of competing in an eating contest to recoup the funds, David must also consider his siblings.
His older sister’s new boyfriend is annoying, and his younger brother has autism. Like many other kids, David places a great deal of stress on himself all through this book.
Pros
The well-rounded, likable main character.
Humorous and enjoyable storyline.
Cons
Some readers found parts of the story boring.
Themes: Family and Friendship, Celebrating Differences, Empathy
Calliope, a person with Tourette syndrome, is primarily interested in astronomy. Calliope and her mother ultimately relocate to a new city.
It’s just another location where people will eventually notice her differences.
However, this new location isn’t all that horrible. Things aren’t all that bad until she meets an acquaintance who just so happens to be well-known.
The continual change that is imposed upon Calliope’s life is the problem. She may experience yet another transformation when she is finally beginning to feel at ease.
Pros
Creative, captivating, and heartfelt storyline.
Fast-paced and hard to put down.
Cons
Some readers found the book too long.
Themes: Family and Friendship, Celebrating Differences, Empathy
Robert, who was born with a tumor in the center of his face, is the subject of this book. Fortunately, this was removed, but not without leaving behind some unsightly effects.
Robert experiences bullying and is criticized for his appearance, just like Auggie in the movie Wonder.
The tale demonstrates the cruelty that both children and adults are capable of, as well as how anybody is worthy of overcoming challenges.
Anyone looking for a novel that is extremely comparable to Wonder should definitely read it.
Pros
Easy, engaging read for kids.
Honest and heartwarming plot.
Cons
Some found the writing style a little bland.
Themes: Family and Friendship, Celebrating Differences, Empathy
This narrative follows four youngsters through one chaotic day from several points of view.
A bully among the children attempts to play a practical joke on another child, but things turn out badly.
A rescue operation is launched, and with a lot of good fortune, everything works well.
This book, like Wonder, is all about perseverance and demonstrating to readers that good always triumphs in the end.
Yes, people aren’t always the most polite, but there’ll always be individuals willing to help.
Pros
Well written with multiple perspectives and narratives.
Likable, well-developed characters.
Cons
Some readers disliked the formatting of the chapters.
Themes: Family and Friendship, Celebrating Differences, Empathy
Final Thoughts
If you enjoyed Wonder, you’re sure to appreciate some of the excellent selections on this list of novels.
All of these novels tackle themes from Wonder, such as living with differences in a world that discriminates.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this article and that you’ve found something new to read!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Grade-Level Book Is Wonder?
Wonder is recommended for grades 5 through 7. The Lexile rating is 790 L, so children between these grades should have no problems reading it.
The themes are also highly relevant to middle schoolers.
Is Wonder Ableist?
Some people agree that there are a few ableist themes in Wonder, however, some people argue that Wonder is a highly accurate account of what it would be like to live with Auggie’s differences.
Hi, my name is Anna Davis and I have been working with books for five years now. I got a job at my local library, so I could be closer to all of the books! I created this website in the hopes of inspiring others to start reading again. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your new favorite book from my site!
