That book was Wonder, by R.J. Palacio. The novel focuses on Auggie, a boy with a severe craniofacial deformity. The story recounts Auggie's first year in school after attending homeschool, how he learns to embrace his condition despite struggles in school, and how his growth eventually touches the lives of those around him.
The book has garnered widespread critical acclaim from parents and educators for its positive message and realistic, kid-friendly story. For this reason, the Wonder Project has been developed by myFace, an organization dedicated to supporting individuals with craniofacial deformities and helping them receive medical care at the Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery at NYU's Langone Medical Center.
The Wonder Project is a classroom collaboration between myFace and educators throughout the country. It provides an uplifting, empathy-oriented language arts curriculum aimed at children struggling with bullying and self-esteem issues in school. As more and more schools adopt the Wonder Project curriculum, myFace hopes to spread the positive message of Wonder to kids and parents across the nation.