Literary Devices in Wonder
Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
Setting
The Pullman family lives in a town house in present day Upper Manhattan in New York City. Auggie's middle school, Beecher Prep, is within walking distance from home. Via's school, on the other hand...
Narrator Point of View
Wonder is narrated in the first person throughout… but that doesn't mean it's the same person guiding us from start to finish. Instead—and pretty uniquely—each part of this book features a di...
Genre
Since Wonder is all about ten-year-old August Pullman's struggle for acceptance in middle school, it definitely fits into the young adult lit category. From trying to be popular to just trying to f...
Tone
WistfulWhen we meet Auggie, he's a pretty wistful little guy. He says:If I found a magic lamp and I would have one wish, I would wish that I had a normal face that no one ever noticed at all. I wou...
Writing Style
Reading Wonder is a little like getting to read excerpts from six different diaries. And though Auggie's story gets expanded by each different narrator, the narrators always start out by talking ab...
What's Up With the Title?
Are you wondering what the title of this book is all about? Worry not—Shmoop is here to help.Wonder works on a couple of levels. And while the significance of the title is deepened greatly as the...
What's Up With the Epigraph?
Doctors have come from distant citiesJust to see meStand over my bedDisbelieving what they're seeingThe say I must be one of the wondersOf god's own creationAnd as far as they can see they can offe...
What's Up With the Ending?
Auggie's mom whispers in his ear, "You really are a wonder Auggie. You are a wonder," and when she does, she's marveling at how beautifully August has adapted to middle school despite having had a...
Tough-o-Meter
Wonder is a page-turner, a literary piece of cake so sweet that you might want to brush your teeth when you finish it. It's super accessible, immediately relatable, and tremendously uplifting. The...
Plot Analysis
Out of the IncubatorBecause of all his medical issues, ten-year-old August Pullman has always been home schooled. Now that he's more medically stable, his parents want him to start school. He likes...
Trivia
NPR's All Things Considered "How One Unkind Moment Gave Way to Wonder" explains where it all began. (Source)Natalie Merchant discusses the inspiration for her song, "Wonder." (And th...
Steaminess Rating
The steamiest scene in Wonder is a kiss between Auggie's older sister and her boyfriend on the front porch while Auggie and his friend giggle about it. The kids in fifth grade are crushing on one a...
Allusions
Gospel of John (1.How I Came To Life.5)The Hobbit (1.Padawan.40-42)Diary of a Wimpy Kid (1.The Cheese Touch.5; 4.Sides.15)War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy (2.The Padawan Bites the Dust.11; 2.Breakfast.26...