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"Wonder" was published in 2012 and it has been a success ever since, selling in millions of copies.
PLOT
The novel centers around the character of Auggie Pullman, a boy who has a severe medical condition. Auggie suffers of physical deformities, his face is disfigured. This is why his family has not sent him to school. He has been homeschooled. The book develops around Auggie's struggle and efforts to integrate into regular schools, the relations he has with his family and his schoolmates.
But by the time August turns ten, his parents are beginning to think about the long-term aspect of his life.They began to think about Auggie's future and about preparing him for dealing with the world outside their home. At first both Auggie and his dad hate the idea, but his mother insists so he goes to Beecher Prep. Mr. Tushman, the principal of Beecher Prep asks three kids to befriend Auggie, show him around, and help him into school life: Charlotte, Jack and Julian. Auggie manages to make some friends. Summer is a pretty girl who sits next to him during lunches(first out of pity), Jack sits next to him in classes. The kids realize that once they can get used to his face deformity, Auggie is a cool boy and a good friend. He is also very smart. Still. one day, Auggie overhears Jack talking bad about him with his other friends. He is very disappointed, he feels betrayed. This happens on Halloween, so Jack does not realize Auggie heard his conversation. Auggie decides never to return to school again. Luckily his big sister, Via, convinces him to return, saying that learning to deal with the awful days is part of growing up and facing life.The turning point of the book happens during a field trip when a few schoolmates take Auggies's side and decide to help him when a few six graders bully him. Auggie's painful days and isolation are finished. He has been accepted as an equal by his schoolmates.His colleagues finally accept him, they realize he has a kind heart, a great sense of humor and he is very intelligent. His first year in school ends well and he is admired by students and teachers for his courage.
CHARACTERS
The Pullman family: August(Auggie), Olivia (Via), Isabel and Nate.
Auggie Pullman is a ten years old boy who suffers from physical deformities on his face. He is an intelligent boy who wants to feel NORMAL. It is a very sad situation for a child his age to have to get used to being stared at at gossiped and avoided.
Auggie's older sister, Via, has moments when she feels like being less important than her brother because all the family's attention has been focused on Auggie. Both Via and Auggie start new chapters in their lives,going to a brand new high school (Via) and going to school (Auggie). Via feels that now she will be appreciated for her true self, not as being the sister of a deformed little brother.
Auggie's mother, Isabel, loves him very much and wants the best for him, but because of that she can be overprotective. Ever since Auggie was born, she has focused on him, she has devoted herself to making him feel normal. This affects her relationship with her daughter, Via, who feels left aside. It is her who pushes Auggie to go to school, even though she's more scared than the boy is. She hides all her negative thoughts and feelings from the young boy, only showing the positive side of every situation.
Auggie's father, Nate, has a special relationship with his son, he too wants to protect him, but recognizes that it is important that Auggie grows up and mature. Nate has a great sense of humor and this helps him deal with bad situations.
I liked the relationship between the Pullman family members a lot. There is a very strong connection between the four. His family is always there for August, when he needs comfort and support. They are always there to encourage him.
His schoolmates and friends: Jack, Summer, Julian
Jack has been asked by the principal of the school to befriend Auggie and help him during this transition period in his life. At first he does not want to do it, he knows Auggie from before and now he is against this idea. He accepts and eventually becomes good friends with Auggie.
Summer is a nice girl who, at the beginning out of pity, sits down next to Auggie during lunches and discovers that he is a great boy, with a great sense of humor, and that conversation with him is very pleasant. They become good friends.
Julian is the "bad" character in the book. He is always rude to Auggie, making jokes about the way his face looks like, insulting him. He tries to turn everybody against Auggie and Jack.
What I really liked about this book is the Auggie character. Not because he is the main character, not out of pity (although sometimes I felt really sorry for him). But because I admire his attitude towards life.Despite all his problems, he manages to cope, to enjoy life, to be happy. He knows how to use humor to get out of difficult situations, to make teachers like him, to make other students at his school envy and admire him. He allows nothing to let him down, he sees the good part in everything. Of course, he has good moments and bad moments. But he is lucky to have his family always by his aside.
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