R.J. Palacio was inspired to write Wonder after she had an experience involvinga girl with a facial deformity like Auggie’s. She was with her young son, who began to cry after seeing the girl’s face. Worried that her son would create a scene, she quickly removed him from the area. Palacio realized later that, even though she was trying to be helpful, her actions could have hurt the young girl’s feelings even more.
After the incident, Palacio heard a song called “Wonder” by Natalie Merchant, which inspired her to begin writing the novel. The song is also about a child born with a deformity caused by a genetic condition. The song offers the hope that such children will surprise others and leadhappy lives full of wonder.
