This is a book which deals with physical difference and discrimination. ’’My name is August, by the way. I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse’’. This quote is very suggestive because August, apart from having a severe facial deformity, is as normal as any other child of his age. He has to learn to accept that no matter how normal he perceives himself, the others still view him differently. Even if he does ordinary things, he is aware of the fact that others do not see him this way. What is amazing is that he knows that not even his parents or sister can see him as ordinary: ’’Via doesn’t see me as ordinary. She says she does, but if I were ordinary, she wouldn’t feel like she needs to protect me as much. And Mom and Dad don’t see me as ordinary, either. They see me as extraordinary. I think the only person in the world who realizes how ordinary I am is me’’.
The book is surprising because its narrated from various points of view. We don’t have only Auggie’s perspective over the story. The reader has the chance to know him better by viewing the things from various angles. I think that all the narrators are reliable because there is no contradiction between their versions. The story told by one narrator is confirmed somehow by the others.
I really enjoyed the book because it deals with a very controversial subject of nowadays. It is scientifically demonstrated that when we meet a new person for the first time, we are unable to see beyond appearances and we judge people by how they look from the outside. Sometimes a moment is enough to accept or ignore someone. According to Olivia Puerta it was demonstrated that little children are are always attracted to beautiful faces. So, we all say that people are equal, no matter of sex, colour, skin etc. But it is in our human nature to be prejudiced although sometimes we don’t intend to. This can be seen when looking for a job. Most of the time unattractive people are not given the chance for an interview just because they are not pretty. Maybe because most of the people associate good looks with a good behavior.
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Hopefully reading Auggie's story they will appreciate more what they have.