A Review of "Wonder"

If you're wondering whether or not you should see the movie Wonder, the answer is yes! Set in Manhattan, New York, Wonder is about a boy named August "Auggie" Pullman, who has mandibulofacial dysostosis, also known as Treacher Collins syndrome (TCS). Occurring in approximately one in 50,000 people, TCS is a genetic disorder in which the ears, eyes, cheekbones, and chin are deformed. Children with severe cases of TCS have breathing problems, difficulty seeing, a cleft palate, and/or hearing loss, but they are of normal intelligence. They can manage symptoms with reconstructive surgery, speech therapy, and hearing aids and other assistive devices. Life expectancy for those with TCS is normal in general. For more information about TCS, go to https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/946143-overview.

Based on R.J. Palacio's 2012 novel of the same name, Wonder (starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, and Jacob Tremblay as Auggie) takes us through Auggie's first year of physically going to school; he had been home-schooled prior to the fifth grade due to recovering from 27 surgeries. At first, Auggie has trouble fitting in, but he eventually makes friends and does well with his studies. By the end of the school year, he feels accepted by his classmates. Wonder is a wonderful family movie that reminds us to overcome our challenges and to be kind to everyone.