"Arriving at Adolescence" might be a slightly more apt description of this particular theme, since the kids in Auggie's class at Beecher Prep are only around ten and eleven years old. But even though they aren't exactly nearing adulthood (which is what we'd expect for "Coming of Age"), they are in a major transition from childhood to adolescence. And it's a perfectly tumultuous time in its own right. (Not to be overlooked, Via and her friends in high school are all dealing with painful growing up stuff, too.)
In Wonder, what we're treating as a coming-of-age-type feat is Auggie's transition from the very warm, sheltered cocoon of his family to, well, the merciless halls of middle school. Will Auggie survive, or will he a doomed lamb to the slaughter?
Questions About Coming of Age
- In what ways does Auggie grow up as the school year unfolds?
- How does Auggie and Via's relationship change over the course of the story?
- Which things do not change for August, and do those things demonstrate immaturity or maturity?
- How do Mr. Browne's precepts tie in with the theme of Coming of Age?
Chew on This
Kids in Wonder make changes on the outside that help them express inner change to the world.
Auggie's Star Wars obsession signifies his childhood tendency to live in a fantasy world rather than the real one. When he cuts off his Padawan braid, it is a statement that he's leaving one world and entering another.