The book Wonder, written by R.J. Palacio, is not a typical story about a normal boy. This story centers around August Pullman, a soon-to-be fifth grade student. August, "Auggie" for short, has never attended a real school. He was born with a facial deformity, a combination of hemifacial microsomia and Treacher Collins Syndrome, that caused him to have multiple reconstructive surgeries before age ten. Although Auggie receives support from his loving parents and older sister, Via, his life is not one without struggle.
Auggie enters fifth grade at Beecher Prep and almost immediately gets bullied by his classmates, especially by a boy named Julian. Although Julian is perceived as a "nice kid" by the principal and some teachers, Auggie quickly realizes that this is not the case. Auggie makes two friends at school, Summer and Jack Will and seems to find his place in the school. He loves his English class and teacher, Mr. Browne, who teaches the book's most recognized precept: When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind.
When Halloween arrives, Auggie dresses in a "bleeding scream" mask and is excited to walk around the school without anyone noticing his face. He feels free and happy until he overhears Jack talking poorly about him to Julian and some other boys.
As Auggie struggles with his own issues, so does his sister Via. Via, a high school student, realizes that friendships can change quickly over a summer and that it is hard to live life in the shadow of a younger sibling. Via struggles with feeling ignored by her family because a lot of attention needs to be given to Auggie and his condition.
Back at school, Auggie and Jack are assigned to be science partners. One day after class Julian tries to get Jack to switch partners and calls Auggie a freak. Jack then punches Julian and earns back Auggies friendship.
Despite his family's worries, Auggie attends an overnight school retreat. While at the retreat, Auggie is attacked by boys from a different school. Three boys from Beecher Prep help Auggie and he realizes that maybe not all of the kids at school are all bad.
After stealing the hearts of the school's principal, teachers, and students, Auggie wins the Henry Ward Beecher award at the end of the school year. The Henry Ward Beecher medal that Auggie wins is about having courage, being kind, being a friend, and having good character. Because of his "quiet strength and his ability to carry up the most hearts", Auggie accepts this award and looks out to a sea of cheering classmates.
The story ends with Auggie thanking his parents for making him go to school. His mom beamingly tells him that he truly is a "wonder".
Wonder features a 10-year-old protagonist named August who was born with a severe facial abnormality. Otherwise, he's just like every other kid, but he will never look like other kids. August has been homeschooled by his parents his entire life, but by the time he is ready to enter fifth grade, his parents decide to enroll him in a "regular" school. The story starts as August—also known as Auggie—readies for his first day at his new school. Things do not go well at first, as Auggie is alternately ignored or bullied by other students. Palacio gives other characters chapters of their own so they have the opportunity to talk about things from their perspectives, which gives us some insight into why some students bully Auggie. We also read a chapter written from his sister Olivia's point of view, which chronicles her desire to be a normal high school student instead of the sister of "the strange kid." Luckily, Auggie is very smart and his parents have instilled enough confidence in him that he's able to make friends despite his appearance. He also has a very strong and supportive family unit.
The plot of this great book revolves around August "Auggie" Pullman, who was born with severe facial abnormalities which had, up until the start of the book, resulted in him being homeschooled. The book starts in the summer before August goes for an orientation session at Beecher Prep.
The book follows August through his first year at Beecher, through the trials and tribulations that he goes through while trying to make friends and find his place on the social sphere. The two closest friends that he makes at school, Jack Will and Summer, become central characters in the story as they help August adjust to life at school.
The novel concludes with August being given a special award at school and finding out that his arch-nemesis, Julian, will not be returning to the school for sixth grade.
The plot of Wonder revolves around the life of August "Auggie" Pullman, who was born with a facial condition that led to him being educated at home through the fourth grade. He begins fifth grade at Beecher Prep, where he is bullied at the hands of many of his classmates—particularly by a boy named Julian Albans. Auggie makes two friends at school, Jack and Summer, and somewhat settles into the year until an incident on Halloween in which he overhears Jack make fun of him to Julian and several others. August's older sister, Via, feels largely ignored by her family and struggles socially in the new school year since she is no longer on speaking terms with Miranda and Ella, her two former best friends.
Auggie and Jack become friends again after Jack punches Julian to defend Auggie's honor. Auggie is devastated when the Pullman family's dog, Daisy, dies suddenly, which is coupled with hurt at realizing that Via does not want him to attend her school play and cause unwanted attention. Via and Miranda become friends again after Miranda fakes sickness so that Via can assume the starring role in the play. When Auggie is attacked by older boys on an overnight school retreat at the end of the year, three classmates who typically bully him come to his rescue, at which point he begins to feel accepted and school life becomes more tolerable.
At the end of the novel, Auggie wins a special award at school and learns that Julian will not attend Beecher Prep next year. He is also thrilled when the Pullman family gets a new puppy. Auggie has learned not only to navigate the everyday details of attending school, he has also formed meaningful friendships and gained confidence in his identity. The novel concludes with his mother proudly telling him that he is a "wonder."
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