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Quick answer: If your child loved Wonder by R.J. Palacio, try Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper, Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Restart by Gordon Korman, El Deafo by Cece Bell, Rules by Cynthia Lord and Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan.
Wonder follows Auggie Pullman, a boy with a facial difference, through his first year at a real school. It’s funny, sad and hopeful, and it has inspired countless classroom kindness projects. Kids who loved it often want more stories about being different, standing up for friends and finding courage. The picks below share those themes, with characters facing disabilities, learning differences, bullying or big life changes. Most suit ages 8–13, and many make great family or classroom read-alouds.
Table of Contents
Why Readers Love Wonder
Children love Wonder because Auggie is funny, honest and easy to root for. R.J. Palacio tells the story from several points of view, including his sister Via and his friend Jack, so readers see how one person’s differences affect everyone around him. It doesn’t pretend that kindness is easy, but it shows why it matters. The famous precept, choose kind, has become a classroom motto, and the 2017 film with Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson brought the book to even more families.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick below shares at least one thing readers loved about Wonder: its characters, its mood, its setting or the questions it raises. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious choices, and we noted the genre and who each book suits best in the table, so you can scan for the right fit before you read the blurbs.
We kept every description spoiler-free and flagged mature content where it matters, since some of these books are written for adults and others suit teens. If you’re not sure where to start, the tips near the end of this list match each pick to what you loved most. The FAQ at the bottom answers the questions readers ask most often.
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out of My Mind | Sharon M. Draper | 10–13 | Disability and voice |
| Fish in a Tree | Lynda Mullaly Hunt | 9–12 | Learning differences |
| Restart | Gordon Korman | 10–13 | Second chances |
| El Deafo | Cece Bell | 8–12 | Graphic novel memoir |
| Rules | Cynthia Lord | 9–12 | Siblings of kids with disabilities |
| Counting by 7s | Holly Goldberg Sloan | 10–13 | Unusual heroes |
| Auggie and Me | R.J. Palacio | 9–12 | More Wonder |
| White Bird | R.J. Palacio | 10–13 | Wonder fans ready for history |
| Wonderstruck | Brian Selznick | 9–13 | Deaf characters and mystery |
| The War That Saved My Life | Kimberly Brubaker Bradley | 9–12 | Overcoming hardship |
| A Kind of Spark | Elle McNicoll | 9–12 | Autistic heroine |
| Mockingbird | Kathryn Erskine | 10–13 | Grief and autism |
| Shouting at the Rain | Lynda Mullaly Hunt | 9–12 | Friendship and family |
| Freak the Mighty | Rodman Philbrick | 10–13 | Unlikely friends |
| Pony | R.J. Palacio | 9–12 | Palacio’s adventure story |
1. Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
Melody has cerebral palsy and a photographic memory, but she can’t speak. When she gets a device that lets her talk, she proves how smart she is. It’s powerful and moving.
2. Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Ally hides her dyslexia by making trouble, until a new teacher sees her potential. It’s hopeful and encouraging for kids who struggle at school.
3. Restart by Gordon Korman
After a fall gives him amnesia, a former bully discovers what kind of person he used to be and decides to change. It’s funny and thoughtful.
4. El Deafo by Cece Bell
Cece loses her hearing as a child and wears a powerful hearing aid that makes her feel like a superhero. It’s funny and honest about feeling different.
5. Rules by Cynthia Lord
Catherine loves her autistic brother but wishes for a normal life. When she befriends a boy who uses a wheelchair, she rethinks what normal means.
6. Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
A gifted girl loses her parents and finds a new family among unlikely people. It’s sad but full of warmth. Content note: parental death.
7. Auggie and Me by R.J. Palacio
Three new stories about Auggie from the points of view of Julian, Christopher and Charlotte. It’s a must for kids who wanted more.
8. White Bird by R.J. Palacio
Julian’s grandmother tells how a classmate hid her from the Nazis. This graphic novel connects to Wonder and teaches courage.
9. Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
Two deaf children, fifty years apart, search for answers in New York. It’s told in words and pictures.
10. The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Ada, born with a clubfoot, escapes her abusive mother during World War II. It’s a moving story about worth and belonging.
11. A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll
Addie, who is autistic, campaigns for a memorial to the women accused of witchcraft in her Scottish village. It’s warm and empowering.
12. Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
Caitlin, who has Asperger’s, struggles to understand her feelings after her brother dies. It’s tender and hopeful. Content note: school shooting in backstory.
13. Shouting at the Rain by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Delsie lives with her grandmother on Cape Cod and learns that families come in many forms. It has Hunt’s same warmth.
14. Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick
A big, quiet boy and a small, brilliant boy with a disability team up as Freak the Mighty. It’s short and powerful.
15. Pony by R.J. Palacio
Palacio’s novel Pony follows a boy and a ghostly companion across the American West. It’s different from Wonder but just as heartfelt.
How to Pick Your Child’s Next Read After Wonder
- Want more Auggie? Auggie and Me and White Bird.
- Loves stories about disability? Out of My Mind, El Deafo and A Kind of Spark.
- Struggles at school? Fish in a Tree will feel very personal.
- Wants a redemption story? Restart is perfect.
- Ready for history? The War That Saved My Life.
- Read aloud together. These books spark great family conversations.
Using These Books to Talk About Kindness
Books like Wonder are a gentle way to talk with kids about empathy. After reading, ask questions like: How do you think the main character felt on the first day? What could the other kids have done differently? Have you ever felt left out? Many teachers pair Wonder with Out of My Mind or Fish in a Tree for a unit on differences. Reading the books aloud together lets you pause on hard scenes and hear what your child thinks.
Related: what age Wonder is appropriate for and children’s books about being different.
Frequently Asked Questions
What book is most like Wonder?
Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper is the closest match, followed by Fish in a Tree and Restart.
What age is Wonder for?
Wonder suits ages 8–12 and works well as a family read-aloud.
Is there a sequel to Wonder?
Auggie and Me has three related stories, and White Bird is a graphic novel about Julian’s grandmother.