Eighth-graders at Edmund W. Miles Middle School in the Amityville Union Free School recently completed thematic essays based on the novel “Wonder,” then shared their writing with their classmates.

Under the direction of English language arts teacher Marcia Ippolito, students read the book. In analyzing the characters, setting and theme patterns, they created characterization charts and story maps.

Each students then selected a theme for the story and wrote an essay. They had to discuss it in detail by locating specific examples from the book. Some of the themes that students wrote about included bullying, acceptance and making friends.