Victoria Chzhan
How to fit in at school when you have facial deformations, get bullied, and just don't fit in? Augie Pullman from the novel "Wonder" will teach us not only how to do that but to make friends, change everyone around you, and become a hero.
School can be a very traumatic experience; a young person has to navigate the physical confrontations of bullying, and psychological challenges of trying to fit in, and even attempting to earn the confidence of the adults who take the responsibility of guiding young people to their desired futures. R.J. Palacio addresses these challenges in her book Wonder. The main character in Palacio's novel, August Pullman, referred to as Auggie, suffers from a facial deformity called Treacher-Collins Syndrome. The 27 surgeries to treat his condition helped him but left him so scarred that he was afraid to even attend a school.
But what was Auggie afraid of? It’s what makes kids skip class and hide in the bathroom, it’s what makes kids crouch into a ball and feel lonelier than ever, it’s what might lead to suicide: Bullying.
Bullying can cause moral or physical harm to children. According to statistics, approximately 1 in 5 children and adolescents in the United States have serious psychological health problems due to trauma, forced social
isolation, and bullying. However, only 20% of them receive assistance. Auggie’s sister and parents love him the way he is, but they are worried about how his new classmates will react to him. Will he be able to find some
friends at school?
Auggie’s first year at school wasn't easy. He had no friends, and a lot of kids were bullying him but, Auggie stood up for himself because he is a brave and strong-spirited boy. Love, friendship, and a sense of humor helped him overcome all challenges. He made a lot of friends and became one of the
popular kids at school.
Wonder is told in first person by (from the perspective of) Auggie, and also includes parts told in first person by August's sister Via, both of Auggie’s friends Summer and Jack, Via's boyfriend Justin and friend Miranda. Each of them tells his or her point of view about Auggie. We can see what it feels like not only to be Auggie, but also as his sister, his classmate, and his friend. In each of these characters we can recognize ourselves. Their stories are hard to read without tears because each of us is familiar with anger, sadness, loneliness, fear and pain of betrayal.
This story makes us think what would we feel if we were in Auggie's shoes. Could we go through the same obstacles? The answer to this question can change us. This book can really change people. That's why it's called Wonder. August is a Wonder. He changed the lives of many kids at his school.
He made them nicer, more tolerant and courageous. This book tells us that we shouldn't judge people by their appearance. Behind an outer appearance, there could be a good friendly and kind soul.
