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The untold tale of a 10-year-old boy named Auggie, played by the talented Jacob Tremblay, unfolds in the captivating film adaptation of R.J. Palacio's best-seller, Wonder. Directed by Stephen Chbosky, known for The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Wonder tells the inspiring story of Auggie, who faces unique challenges as he attending the local fifth grade after being born with facial differences that kept him out of school until now.
Auggie yearns to be just an ordinary kid, but his sister reminds him that you can't be ordinary when you were born to stand out. As he steps into the world of the fifth grade, he faces a universe of students who don't yet know how to face him back. Auggie's story is one of friendship, courage, kindness, and self-discovery, as he navigates the ups and downs of this transformative year and unites the entire community in the process.
Wonder's touching narrative seamlessly weaves together the perspectives of many characters, giving viewers a multifaceted look at the true meaning of being human. With its moving mix of humor and poignancy, Wonder encourages audiences to reflect on the importance of compassion, kindness, and acceptance.
More about White Bird: A Wonder Story
In 2013, R.J. Palacio's novel Wonder took the world by surprise. Despite its unconventional premise, the book resonated with readers, revealing the human need to connect and see beyond surfaces.
Wonder shines a light on the overlooked corners of the world, illustrating the extraordinary power of ordinary acts of kindness. With its unique blend of perspectives and humor, the novel sparked a grassroots "Choose Kind" movement and inspired countless readers to share their own stories of overcoming adversity.
Hollywood soon took notice, with producers Todd Lieberman and David Hoberman eagerly jumping on board the project after reading the manuscript. They were drawn to the heartwarming tale of friendship, compassion, and the reality that we all have felt like outsiders at some point in our lives.
R.J. Palacio teamed up with Stephen Chbosky, Steven Conrad, and Jack Thorne to adapt her beloved novel. Palacio was adamant that the film adaptation would remain true to the book's style, avoiding any attempts to soften Auggie's reality. She wanted to ensure that the audience would see Auggie front and center from the very beginning, just as she had envisioned him.
A Candid Look
Arguably, the inspiration for Auggie was rooted in an incident that occurred in 2008, when R.J. Palacio found herself running from rather than engaging with a child who looked different in an ice cream parlor. This encounter inspired her to write a book from the perspective of the child who unwittingly sparked such a response.
Palacio's empowering message about kindness, empathy, and acceptance resonated deeply with both the craniofacial anomaly community and those who have known the loneliness of being different in any way. Her philosophy that kindness is something we must consistently practice and cultivate has resonated with millions of readers across the globe.
Julia Roberts, who read the book with her children, was moved by its poignant themes and took the role of Auggie's mother, Isabel Pullman, in the film adaptation. Roberts commented that Wonder serves as a reminder to find more ways in a day to choose the nicer, more understanding path rather than the faster or negative one.
Filming Wonder marked a significant and meaningful collaboration between Palacio and director Stephen Chbosky, who was initially hesitant to take on another school-based project after The Perks of Being a Wallflower. However, with the support of producers Lieberman and Hoberman, as well as the inspiring message of the story, Chbosky couldn't resist the opportunity to adapt Wonder for the big screen.
Chbosky, Thorne, and Conrad worked diligently with Palacio to create a faithful adaptation of the novel, ensuring that the film retained the essence of the book while still engaging audiences with its powerful themes. The result was a heartwarming and poignant film that touching audience hearts and minds across the globe.
R.J. Palacio, the author of Wonder, collaborated with Stephen Chbosky to adapt her book into a movie, ensuring that the film accurately represented Auggie's unique perspective and challenges. This writing duo, along with Steven Conrad and Jack Thorne, crafted a faithful adaptation that embodied the book's heartwarming tale, inspiring messages of kindness, empathy, and acceptance.
In addition to her work on Wonder, Palacio's writing career expanded to include a companion book, White Bird: A Wonder Story, further exploring the themes of compassion and human connection. This book, like Wonder, is expected to captivate audiences across various platforms, including books, movies, and TV within the realm of entertainment.
