Engaging Children in Discussions of Disfigurement and Disability: The Wonder of Palacio's Wonder

Abstract

This study examined children's engagement with Wonder by RJ Palacio and explored the ways in which the children's literature could be used to pro- mote critical, reflective and broad discussions of complex themes, such as disfigurement and disability, among young children. Eight middle school and elementary school students were assigned the reading of Wonder. They participated in an individual interview followed by a focus group. Results indicated that children differentially engage with Wonder: four were en- gaged with both the novel and discussion, two were engaged with only the novel, one was engaged with only the discussion, and one was engaged with neither. Children are capable of using Wonder to inform their own real-life experiences of and encounters with bullying, disfigurement and disability as well as discuss these social issues beyond the scope of the novel. Further- more, children are not only capable of discussing Wonder through critical lenses such as disfigurement and disability studies, but doing so adds crucial nuance to their simplistic initial interpretations of the novel and its themes.