Wonder

"Because it's not enough to be kind. One should be kinder than needed." (Palacio 300)

This November, there is a new movie coming out that has brought much excitement to the halls and classrooms of OCCS. It is a movie based on R.J. Palacio's book Wonder. Students in grades 6-8 had the opportunity to enjoy this book in literature class during the first quarter of the school year.

Wonder is the story of August, a fifth grader who is going to school for the first time in his 11 years of life. While this could be challenging for any 11-year-old, August has a special challenge: he was born with a severe craniofacial disfigurement - one that has already required twenty-seven surgeries in his short life span. This has left him looking very different from his classmates. He is used to getting strange looks and rude comments, but none of this can completely prepare him for the flood of new eyes coming his way on the first day of school and throughout the year.

The story follows August through the joys and challenges of his entire 5th grade year, but you don't only hear from August. You also get to hear from August's older sister, two of the students that choose to befriend August, and others. Each new perspective helps you to better understand August, his story, and how his story affects those around him. There are many lessons to be learned through his story about friendship, kindness, and understanding the perspective of others. This is what some students have to say about the book and what it taught them:

It taught me about friendship - not wanting to be friends with the most popular people, but being friends with who YOU want to be friends with. 
                                                                                                            - Kirsten, 7th grade

We should be insanely kind to people because we don't know how they are struggling on the inside.
                                                                                                            - Sam, 7th grade

This book taught me that if you have the chance to be kind, take it. It also taught me that if you break a friendship you should try really hard to fix it.
                                                                                                            - Landon, 7th grade

You will never truly know a person's motives behind their actions unless you see through their perspective. It is important to be kind in all the ways you can. It could earn you a friend.
                                                                                                            - Courtney, 8th grade

This book impacted me by reminding me no matter how different a person is, we should treat them as we want to be treated. It also taught me that the friends you hang out with influence the decisions you make. 
                                                                                                            - Landon, 8th grade

The book taught me that friendship doesn't judge and it stands up for the other person, not only when it's difficult and embarrassing, but especially then. It also taught me that kindness won't cost me much, usually, and it really will make a huge difference in other people's lives. I need to remember that everyone, whether it's a close friend or someone I pass on the street, has feelings and emotions just as complex as mine. I can't judge them because I don't know what their life is like.
                                                                                                            - Naomi, 8th grade

One important part of the story was when August and his classmates were given precepts by their language teacher, Mr. Browne. Mr. Browne's precepts challenged his students to think about their actions and inspired them to choose kindness. The characters of the story even wrote some of their own precepts, which are listed at the end of the book. These precepts inspired the 6th graders at OCCS to choose a quote, a Bible verse, or their own writing as a personal precept. These precepts were then displayed in the hallways.

Mikayla, 6th grade

Ella, 6th grade

Students were also able to discuss how this story, though not necessarily written from a Christian perspective, connected in so many ways to the truths of God's word. 7th and 8th graders were challenged to choose a scripture or Christian song that connected the story to those truths. Here are some of their choices:

The song I chose is "We Are the Body" by Casting Crowns. It talks about how we need to reach out to other people who are hurting, and we need to help them. We need to bring them into the body of Christ.
                                                                                                               - Gavin 8th grade

Deuteronomy 31:6: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you." Don't give up or quit because God is always with you, and he won't leave you.
                                                                                                               - James, 8th grade

"More Beautiful You" by Johnny Diaz. I think that this song fits the book because of these lines: "That beauty is within your heart, And you were made with such care, your skin, your body and your hair, Are perfect just the way they are." This shows that even though YOU may think that you don't look right, God made you just the way you are. The way HE wanted you to be.
                                                                                                              - Aubrey, 7th grade

6th graders ended the unit by creating a poster. Students chose one section of the poster to color. They then wrote three blessings, gifts, or talents God has given them, reminding them that we are all, each one of us, Wonders of God.

"You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made."  Psalm 139:14