Wonder by R.J. Palacio: Reading Comprehension Questions and Key Answers

Question: Compare Justin’s parents to Olivia’s parents. (p. 191)

Answer: Justin’s parents don’t pay attention or talk to him; they got divorced and hate each other. In contrast, Olivia’s parents pay close attention, talk, and laugh with their children and with each other.

Question: What wish do you think Olivia wished for on the ladybug? (p. 195)

Answer: Listen to your child’s / student’s answers.

Question: What did Justin do for Jack when he saw Miles, Henry, and Julian in the subway station? (p. 199)

Answer: He scrunched up his face, looked mean while holding his violin case threateningly, and told them in a Clint Eastwood voice to leave Jack alone.

Question: What metaphor does Justin use to describe Olivia on page 203? (p. 203)

Answer: He compares her to a bird: how her feathers get ruffled when she’s mad, and how when she feels fragile, she is like a little lost bird looking for its nest. So, he wants to provide her with a wing to hide under.

Question: How did Jack and August respond to the notes Julian left in their lockers? (p. 208)

Answer: They wrote love notes from a pretend girl named Beulah and left them in Julian’s locker.

Question: Why didn’t August want to wear hearing aids? (p. 211)

Answer: He was already nervous about his ears and felt extremely self-conscious.

Question: Why didn’t Olivia want to invite her family to her play? (p. 218)

Answer: She didn’t want August to attend because the other kids at her new high school did not know about him.

Question: What happened to Daisy? (p. 220)

Answer: She became very sick and died.

Question: What did August wonder about heaven? (p. 227)

Answer: He wondered what it would be like to not have his face matter anymore.

Question: How did August feel about the play as it began? (p. 230)

Answer: He enjoyed it because it made him feel grown up.

Question: Describe the war going on between Jack and the other boys in fifth grade. (p. 172)

Answer: Julian has convinced the other boys that August is dragging Jack down. As a result, they have stopped talking to Jack and hanging out with him. They hope to wake him up and pressure him to stop associating with August.

Question: Compare Justin’s parents to Olivia’s parents. (p. 191)

Answer: Justin’s parents don’t pay attention or talk to him; they got divorced and hate each other. Olivia’s parents pay attention, talk, and laugh with their children and with each other.

Question: What wish do you think Olivia wished for on the ladybug? (p. 195)

Answer: Listen to your child’s / student’s answers.