Rindra Nuriza, 2014 A CHILD CHARACTER’S DEVELOPMENT IN R.J. PALACIO’S CHILDREN’S REALISTIC FICTION NOVEL
WONDER Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
| repository.upi.edu
| perpustakaan.upi.edu
CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This chapter provides the description of how the research was conducted to answer the research questions: 1 In what ways is the main character in R.J.
Palacio’s Wonder developed? 2 How does focalization contribute to the main character’s development in R.J. Palacio’s Wonder? Therefore, it covers the
explanation of object of the research, research method, context of the research and data presentation.
3.1 Object of the research
The research focuses on multiple characters’ focalization that indicates August character’s development—the main character in R.J. Palacio’s Wonder New
York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2012. The novel consists of 316 pages and has been translated into eight languages. It is regarded as children’s realistic fiction, since it
drops several hints of human’s abnormality, child’s self-importance and the issues
of school. In line with that, it takes the idea of childhood in different perspective
—utilizes a deformed child’s perspective in facing the problems of lif
e, thereby inviting and encouraging the writer’s interest in analyzing the development of a child character.
3.1.1 About the author
Raquel Jaramillo Palacio is both an art director and a book jacket designer. She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and two sons. After more than 20
years being a graphic designer, she materialized the urge to write her debut novel
—Wonder. Her son’s experience when encountering a kid with facial deformity inspired her to put her ideas out into the novel. Apparently, being the
author of a book which has ever been awarded 1 on The New York Times Bestseller, Texas Bluebonnet Award, Lunchs des Monats on lynx of the month by
Die Zeit Newspaper, Carnegie Medal in Literature Nominee, The Judy Lopez Memorial Award for Childrens Literature Medalist, NAIBA Book of the Year for
Rindra Nuriza, 2014 A CHILD CHARACTER’S DEVELOPMENT IN R.J. PALACIO’S CHILDREN’S REALISTIC FICTION NOVEL
WONDER Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
| repository.upi.edu
| perpustakaan.upi.edu
Middle Readers, and Waterstones Childrens Book Prize made her the nominee for the TIME For Kids’ 2012 person of the year. After the book was successfully
marketed, she
made an
anti-bullying program
on her
website choosekind.tumblr.com and then got thousands children’s supports to help end
bullying.
3.1.2 Synopsis of R.J. Palacio’s Wonder
R.J. Palacio’s Wonder New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2012 presents children’s realistic fiction story concerning a kid, named August Pullman, who was born
with a facial deformity struggling to convince the society that he is just as ordinary as other kids, regardless his appearance. The story starts when August is
about to enter the fifth grade at the age of ten. Before that, he was being homeschooled because the anomaly on his face needed to be cared every time.
Throughout the fifth grade year, there are problems he has to deal with. At the beginning, other kids look at him as if he has a plague. Therefore, no kids
want to befriend him. Moreover, he is often bullied by Julian’s gang, being mocked and jibed at his face. As the time goes by, there is a few kids gelling with
August —especially Jack and Summer—after realizing that August is just the
same as the kids in general. On the other hand, it does not stop August from getting trouble. There is a clash between August and Jack in the Halloween Day
which makes August decide to quit school. Though, August and Jack reunite eventually. At the same time, Julian’s gang often plays tricks on them, since they
know Jack has been being friend with August. The story reaches climax when the fifth graders of Beecher Prep go camping
at the end of the year. August encounters some students from another school who make fun of his face. Knowing this, some fifth graders, including Miles and
Henry who used to be August’s rivals, support and fight for him. Meanwhile, August’s family who used to baby August all the time realizes that August does
not want to be treated like he is still a baby. After getting through lots of problems during the year, August learns the
lesson from every event he has encountered which consequently evolves his
Rindra Nuriza, 2014 A CHILD CHARACTER’S DEVELOPMENT IN R.J. PALACIO’S CHILDREN’S REALISTIC FICTION NOVEL
WONDER Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
| repository.upi.edu
| perpustakaan.upi.edu
personalities. Hence, in the end, he got a medal from the school awards for inspiring other people. His social life becomes different and everything is changed
afterwards. The most important thing, August is then noticed for the way he is.
3.2 Research method
