Summary
In the book Wonder, the main character August (or Auggie) is a fifth grader who has a facial deformity. Although he has been homeschooled for his entire life, he enters Beecher Prep, a middle school, for the first time. As he struggles to fit into the trials of school and a bully named Julian, Auggie makes new friends, including Summer Dawson and Jack Will. Yet, after Auggie overhears Jack insulting him on Halloween. Auggie avoids his friend. As time passes, Jack apologizes for his mistakes to Auggie and Jack begins to eat lunch with August and Summer. Soon, Auggie becomes familiar with many students, and after he attends a sleepaway camp for a few days, he makes friends with many other peers. Julian soon ceases his bullying and is to leave Beecher Prep. In the end, Auggie receives an award for his courage and bravery. There are many other stories that take place throughout the book, including Auggie’s sister Olivia (or Via) Pullman, who struggles and learns through friendship, dating, her school play, and her brother’s condition.
Characters
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August (Auggie) Pullman (a perspective in Wonder): the main character. He is a fifth grader at Beecher Prep and has a facial deformity (Treacher Collins syndrome and a hemifacial microsomia). He has had 27 surgeries and is a fan of Star Wars.
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Olivia (Via) Pullman (a perspective in Wonder): Auggie’s older sister and first year in high school. She used to be friends with Miranda and is currently dating Justin. She is the understudy for the play for Our Town.
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Summer Dawson (a perspective in Wonder): a friend of Auggie. She sits with Auggie during lunch and is very understanding. She takes English with Auggie and extremely understanding.
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Justin (a perspective in Wonder): Via’s boyfriend. He plays the fiddle and stars in the play Our Town. He defends Jack from bullies and is understanding.
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Miranda (a perspective in Wonder): Via’s former friend. She is very caring of Auggie and pretends that Auggie is her younger brother. Grows apart from Via from the start of high school and has the role of Emily in Our Town.
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Julian Albans: a bully in Beecher Prep. He makes fun of Auggie for his difference. Later, he bullies Jack for standing up for Auggie. He is considered popular among friends.
Discussion Questions
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Why do you think Auggie agreed to go to school? What lead him to continue?
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How does Auggie view himself? How does this perception of himself translate to others?
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How do people around Auggie treat him? How does this change throughout the book and why?
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Why does Auggie wear the astronaut helmet and enjoy Halloween?
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Do you think Jack was genuine to Auggie from the beginning? How does he change throughout the book?
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Why does Via not tell her family about the play she is in?
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Why do Via and Miranda grow apart? Do you think anybody was at fault?
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Why do you think Julian leaves Beecher Prep?
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What does Auggie learn by the end of the year?
Nonfiction Topics
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Treacher Collins syndrome: a genetic condition that affects development around the face. It is very rare and occurs since the start of birth.
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Hemifacial Microsomia: a condition when one side of the face is less or asymmetrically developed than the other side and is the second most common facial birth defect.
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Our Town: the play that is performed at Via’s school, which Via, Justin, and Miranda participate in. The play is lead by a “Stage Manager” who leads the audience through a town called Grover's Corners and through the lives of many of the characters.
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The Sound of Music: a musical movie set in Austia during the rule of Nazi Germany. A governess named Maria is hired for the seven Von Trapp children, whose father is Captain Von Trapp. As Maria becomes closer with the children, she soon falls into a romance with Captain Von Trapp