Mike Moody first picked up R.J. Palacio’s novel Wonder at the age of 21 and immediately connected with Auggie, the young protagonist. Moody was born with Crouzon syndrome, a craniofacial disorder similar to Auggie’s. A UK-based writer, Moody was impressed with Palacio’s ability to create a character with Auggie’s condition “so truthfully,” she said by email. The movie is another matter. Released by Lionsgate on November 17, Wonder stars 11-year-old Jacob Tremblay as Auggie and Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson as his parents. Not all are excited about the on-screen adaptation of the best-selling book. Moody isn’t happy that the producers made Tremblay appear disfigured, instead of hiring an actor who is. “The film just seems to hop on the bandwagon of disability. It’s ‘inspiration porn’, the same driven by films like The Theory of Everything—films that treat disability as a costume,” she said. “That kind of attitude permeates through the films to the audience. Actors who portray disabled people are revered, and disabled people (especially actors) are ignored.” Writing Wonder, Palacio left the specifics of Auggie’s face vague. His condition, thought by some to be Treacher Collins syndrome but never explicitly described, is characterized by facial differences that can be expressed around the eyes, ears, nose, and jawbone. Children born with the syndrome often undergo multiple painful reconstructive surgeries to improve breathing and other health issues. Educator Laura Jiménez thinks that Tremblay may have been made up to soften the visual impact of what someone with a craniofacial condition can look like—and to make viewers without the disability feel more comfortable.

Disability made "more palatable"

“That comfort is not for people who have cranial facial deformities,” says Jiménez, a lecturer on literacy at Boston University who specializes in reading comprehension and motivation in children. “The comfort is to make that disability more palatable.” Kayla Whaley, senior editor of website Disability in Kidlit, believes that decisions about disabled characters’ appearance often reflect an ableist point of view, a social prejudice where people with disabilities are seen as less-than, which permeates books and movies. “When that media collectively portrays disabled characters in a handful of ableist ways, that ableism is bound to crop up again and again,” Whaley says. Jiménez says that casting an actor with a craniofacial condition could have brought a level of authenticity to the role. She points to precedents including the character JJ in ABC’s comedy Speechless, played by actor Micah Fowler, who has cerebral palsy, as does JJ in the series. “He is not non-verbal, but he can reflect and bring that authenticity to the character,” Jiménez says. “It probably is difficult for the cast and crew to make the set accessible to him, and yet they do it.” “Disfigurement is not a mask,” adds Moody. “We can’t take our faces off at the end of the day. There are many young disfigured actors who would jump at the chance to portray [Auggie].” Wonder producers David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman considered hiring an actor with a craniofacial condition, they said in a statement to SLJ from Lionsgate. “We looked at children in and out of the craniofacial community and non-actors across the country to play Auggie,” they said. “Jacob Tremblay is a once-in-a-generation talent, and we all felt that he was the best creative choice for the film. We’re thrilled to have met so many beautiful and supportive people within the craniofacial community throughout this process and are humbled by their incredible support of the movie.” Palacio did not have input in the casting, but the filmmakers’ choices mirror the essence of her story, she said in a separate statement to SLJ. “While I wasn’t involved in that creative decision, I believe the movie captures the spirit of the book with great poignancy and tenderness,” Palacio said. “It is a compassionate, beautiful movie about the power of kindness.” That sentiment relates a campaign connected to the book and film, Choose Kind, to combat bullying and foster empathy. Choose Kind resources and activities are available for teachers and librarians, with downloadable stickers and posters and suggestions for hosting a community event. A teacher toolkit is also available. Moody says that such initiatives “[force] marginalised (sic) people to be ever gracious and polite in the face of people who ignore, mock, or vilify us. Meanwhile, students in Illinois, New Jersey, and across the country have been embracing Choose Kind and its antibullying message.