Wonder: more than a movie, a lesson in life

This post is a collaboration with Lionsgate for the movie Wonder. All opinions, typos and grammatical errors are my own.

If you read the book you know the movie is going to make you cry. Not a better time for the movie to be released that when the world has been experiencing so much hate and intolerance for every single little thing. Not a better time to remind everyone to be kind, to love itself and to respect others.

About the movie

​Based on the New York Times bestseller, Wonder tells the inspiring and heartwarming story of August Pullman.  Born with facial differences that, up until now, have prevented him from going to a mainstream school, Auggie becomes the most unlikely of heroes when he enters the local fifth grade.  As his family, his new classmates, and the larger community all struggle to find their compassion and acceptance, Auggie's extraordinary journey will unite them all and prove you can't blend in when you were born to stand out.
 
The story of a 10 year-old boy with facial differences becomes a multifaceted look at what it means to be human in the film adaptation of R.J. Palacio’s bestseller Wonder.  Golden Globe nominee Jacob Tremblay ( Room ) tackles the one-of-a-kind role of Auggie Pullman, whose birth defects and multiple surgeries have kept him out of school -- until now.  Jettisoned into what is for him the brave new world of the 5th grade, Auggie steps into an unexpected journey.  
 
All Auggie ever wanted was to be an ordinary kid, but as his sister keeps telling him, you can’t be ordinary when you were born to stand out.  Though he once found solace inside a space helmet, suddenly he must face a whole universe of gawking kids who don’t yet know how to face him back. Now, in a year by turns funny, tough and beautiful -- Auggie and all around him are transformed by the things that count most: friendship, courage and the everyday choice to be kind to everyone in your path.  
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Watch a trailer

Why you should take your kids to watch the movie?

Did you know that about 49% of children in grades 4–12 reported being bullied by other students at school at least once during the past month. Learning about bullying and how to accept itself is a very important lesson.

• Between 1 in 4 and 1 in 3 U.S. students say they have been bullied at school. A few have been cyberbullied.
• Young people who are perceived as different from their peers are often at risk for being bullied. 
• Studies also have shown that adults, including parents, can help prevent bullying by keeping the lines of communication open, talking to their children about bullying, encouraging them to do what they love, modeling kindness and respect, and encouraging them to get help when they are involved in bullying or know others who need help.
• Research indicates that persistent bullying can lead to or worsen feelings of isolation, rejection, exclusion, and despair, as well as depression and anxiety, which can contribute to suicidal behavior.
• You and your kids can learn the importance of acts of kindness, acceptance, and inclusion to life.
• Kids can learn that is important  to never to judge anyone by their appearance. Never judge a book by its cover (pun intended).
• Kids can learn that they should accept themselves for who they are.
• Life is better for everyone when you #ChooseKind 

Wonder in theaters November 17th!