In the novel, Wonder, we read a book that tells one story in many different points of view. The author, R.J. Palacio, made sure to make each character important and to make each character round. She does an outstanding job of capturing the feelings of children, teenagers, and adults.
I really enjoyed this book! It was really hard to put down and I just wanted to reach out and give August a hug. I was so moved by this story and I think it taught me a huge lesson to give people a chance and to not treat people differently based on their appearance. I will most definitely keep this book on my shelf when I become a teacher.
I also really loved the authors style. Most characters in books are just told by one narrator. It was cool to read everyone's point of view!
August is an extraordinary fifth grader who was born with a facial deformity that has caused him a lot of grief over the years. He rieterates countless times how he does not care when people stare at him or look at him funny, but it is evident that he really does care. What bothers him the most is that he knows he is a normal kid, but no one else will let him feel like he is. It was very sad to realize how fearful he was to sign up for school. It was also sad that he felt better off just not seeing any kids his age because of the fear of what they might say or act like around him. I cannot imagine being stared at where ever I go, or in some cases making people scream or say "uh!" when they get a first glance of me. It is so hard for me to imagine what that would be like. Reading this part made me realize that maybe I have a tendency to stare at people who are different from me, whether I realize it or not.
Part 2
VIA
Via is a very kind hearted older sister to August. She was always very protective of August growing up and would yell at people for staring at her brother. She is also "the most understanding little girl in the whole world." Via had always been dealt the short end of the stick when it comes to August. Luckily for Via, she was born a beautiful girl with no health issues, however, Via never really had a lot of attention growing up. She had to entertain herself and learn things for herself. She knew that her parents were doing the best they could to be good parents to her, and she knew that whatever she was feeling August was feeling worse. She knew to never complain even though most of the time she just wanted to feel loved. Up until recently, she was able to deal with her problems alone, but now that high school has started, and drama with friends, and a new boyfriend has begun, she really needs her parents to talk to. I feel sorry for Via, because even though August problems are far worse, her problems matter too.Part 3 SUMMER
Summer is the truest friend August had ever had. Summer was the girl who sat next to August in the lunch room and treated him like just a normal kid. At first, she sat next to him because she felt sorry for him, but the more she got to know August, the more she liked him for who he was. Summer never once flaked out on their friendship and chose being friends with August, instead of being friends with the most popular kids in school. She liked his company, and he liked hers. They would hang out together after school and do mummy projects together. She would even get mad at him if he treated her wrong, which is something no one else did except for his family. She made him feel like the normal kid he is.
Part 4 JACK
Jack really is a good kid at heart. His mother taught him to always treat people nicely and to do things for others. Jack has all of these good qualities about him, but sometimes he is not brave enough to act on them. Jack is one of August's best friends and even though at first he was asked to spend time with him, Jack realized later that he really does like August and he likes how genuine of a friend August is. In one quote he says, that if his whole fifth grade class was lined up and he got to choose who he could hang out with, he would choose August. His friendship with August was tested when Jullian started to make fun of August when they thought August was not around. Jack began to chime in and make fun of August so that Jullian would not think he was uncool. Jack realized that this was wrong of him later on in the story, and that even though someone is not around to hear the mean things he was saying, it still is not something a good friend would do. He later apologizes for his actions, and cuts Jullian out of his life.
Justin is Olivia's boyfriend that she met in high school. He is a theater kid who wears glasses and always carries his violin with him. He has a nervous tick and it really showed when he first met Olivia's parents. He was soon relaxed when he realized how nice her parents were. Olivia told Justin that August had a "craniofacial abnormality," but when Justin first got the chance to meet him he was very surprised by his appearance. He was never rude to August and he liked both August and Jack. Justin became the big brother type when he saw Jack being bullied by Jullian and Jullian's friends. Justin told them to stay away from Jack and to leave him alone. Justin showed a lot of courage helping Jack whom he barely even knew.
Part 6 AUGUST
August was starting to be happier at his school when Jack apologizes to him and became his friend again. August no longer had to fight his battles or "war" alone with Jack by his side. Jack is finally realizing what it is like for people to ignore him and not talk to him. In other words, he is realizing what August goes through every single day of his life. Together they are able to laugh at the whole situation by putting funny "Beuhla" notes in Jullian's locker.
August was really irritated at first when his parents took him to get his hearing aids. He was even more horrified when he saw how big they were. When he put them on for the first time, he was amazed by how much better everything sounded and the ocean sound finally went away. He called them his robot ears.
Later on in the story, Via's parents find out that she is in a school play. Her mother was really mad that Via did not even tell them about it or invite them. Via admits to her mother that she really just does not want August to go so she can have a normal life at school. For once, she did not want to be known as the kid with the deformity's sister. Her mother understood, and told August that the play would not be something he would like. August understood the subtle message and got really upset. He went in his room and waited for them to apologize to them. His problems were no longer a thing of concern when their beloved dog passed away. Later on, once everything started settling down, Via realized that she was being selfish and gave tickets to her play to her whole family, including August.
Part 7 MIRANDA
Miranda used to be Olivia's best friend through out grade school. She was especially nice to August and gave him his favorite astronaut helmet that he wore everywhere when he was little. Miranda never really had a good family life, but she loved Via's family and how they always made her feel at home. Miranda and Olivia had a falling out when Miranda went to camp. At first, Miranda hated camp until she started telling little white lies about herself. She told everyone at camp that she had a little brother with a facial deformity and everyone started to be intrigued with her. She started to change her whole image at camp and she liked the attention and she liked fitting in. She died her hair bright pink, she started smoking, and she started to become a rebel child. When she got back from camp, she was a completely different person. She tried to hang out with Via, but she felt like Via was just judging her. They ended up going their separate ways even though they both still care about each other. Miranda even gave Via the chance of a life time when she dropped out of the lead role of the play so that Via could take the spot light. I think that if the story continued any more, that Miranda and Via would end up being friends again.
Part 8 AUGUST
August was really nervous when he was leaving for his class camping trip. He was not used to being away from home. During the trip, August was having the time of his life up until the second night at the drive inn movie. Jack and August went to go to the bathroom in the woods when some 7th grade boys started taunting August. Jack tried to stand up for August, but he was outnumbered and outsized. Amos and Henry came over to the scene to see what was happening and they started to stand up for August too. Although they were still outsized, they got their point across and started running from them. For the first time, August felt accepted by his class mates. He noticed a huge change when he got back to school. Everyone was giving him pats on his back and were no longer afraid to touch him. He was talked to by everyone (except for Jack) and he was included. At his fifth grad graduation ceremony, everyone stood and gave him a standing ovation when he accepted his Beecher award. August was finally happy and he no longer hid his face.
"He really is a wonder."
I teared up so much when I read this quote. I never really knew what the title meant until one of the last lines in the book.
I think that this is such a happy ending, and beginning for August. Maybe now, he can become more confident with himself and embrace what makes him different. August made a lot of people realize that you should not just assume someone is not a good person or a good friend, just by their appearance. Always give people a chance and "Do not judge a book by it's cover."
Questions I need answered!
Why were some of the parts told in all lower case letters?
Why were some parts told with no quotation marks?
Do you think Jullian will ever stop being mean? Or is he just going through a middle school phase?
Do you think life gets better for Auggie after fifth grade? What about High school?
Do Miranda and Via become friends again?
