'Choose Kind' Author Shares Story Behind 'Wonder' With Middle Schoolers

New York Times best selling author R.J. Palacio shared how she came to write her debut novel, 'Wonder,' with students and their families Monday night at Lawton C. Johnson Middle School.

Starting off the 'Night of Wonder,' the middle school's chorus sang Linda Perry's 'Beautiful,' which Palacio said was one of the best choral performances she'd ever heard.

The author, who has spent the majority of her career designing book jackets for other writers, told the full auditorium that when her novel was published in February 2012, she never expected it to receive the attention that it has. The story of 10-year-old August Pullman, born with a series of genetic abnormalities that make it nearly impossible for him to fit in, has spent the past 46 weeks atop the New York Times Children's Middle Grade Best Seller's List and has become a call to all who've read it to "Choose Kind."

A website launched in conjunction with the novel urges visitors to sign a pledge of kindness, recognizing that one small act can make a lifelong impact. Approximately 17,000 have signed it thus far, Palacio said. 

"I don't think we can teach empathy, but we can inspire it," said the author, who receives a constant stream of emails from readers who have been touched by her book.

The mom of two boys shared that the idea for the story came about after she took her children out for milkshakes and saw a little girl who resembled what Auggie might look like. Palacio recalled that her younger son, 3 at the time, was sitting in his stroller while her older son, 10, was ordering their drinks.

The author said she began to worry about her younger son's reaction should he notice the girl. Nervous about what he might say or do, Palacio said she wanted to avoid anything happening that might hurt the girl's feeling. Unfortunately, the scene that she was hoping to avoid is exactly what played out, Palacio said, with her younger son crying and while she nervously tried to move him away. In her haste to leave, Palacio said she caused her older son to drop the milkshakes, making matters worse.

Palacio said she regretted her actions for the rest of the day and also felt as if she had lost what could have been a "teaching moment" with her sons. She said she became obsessed with the idea of having "to face a world every day that doesn’t know how to face you back.”

That evening, she said, she heard Natalie Merchant's song 'Wonder' and after listening to the lyrics, was filled with optimism.

"It all clicked for me," she said. 

Palacio, whose real name is Raquel Jaramillo, chose her pseudonym to honor her late mother, who always believed she'd be a writer and served as the inspiration for the character of Auggie's grandmother in the story.

Told from multiple points of view, Palacio said she wanted to share how other characters perceived Auggie. She also wanted to give Via, Auggie's sister, a voice because she said in families where a sibling has special needs, brothers and sisters can often feel overshadowed. 

Following her presentation, Palacio fielded questions from the audience. She shared that there would not be a sequel to 'Wonder' because she believes the story left Auggie at the place where he was meant to be. She did say she is at work on a second novel but only described it as "top secret." 

The author also said the story has been optioned and explained to students that someone is currently working on a screenplay. The same people who turned 'The Hunger Games' and 'Twilight' into films, would like to bring Auggie's story to life. Palacio added that she hopes producers choose a child who really looks like Auggie rather than an actor who would require makeup for the role. By a show of hands, the audience clearly agreed. 

In closing, Palacio, who posed for a photo with the middle schoolers before signing their books, said choosing kindness is more than simply "being nice." It "takes guts," she said, and encouraged all in attendance to remember the lasting impact kindness can have on someone else's life.