Wonder

August isn't much different than most kids. He plays outside, jumps in rain puddles, and has an obbsession with Star Wars. But most people don't see August as the fun kid. They see him as a zombie. August was born with a rare condition causing the features on his face to be deformed. He doesn't look like other kids and most people try to avoid him completely. August was homeschooled all of his life until this year, which is his 5th grade year.

As you can imagine, it was probably incredibly difficult for August to go to a real school, considering he doesn't get much of a break out of school. The principal of August's new school invited August to take a tour of the school with some other students. These students were to act mature and kind to August. But like most people, they can't avoid looking at him, even if it is by no means rude.

August meets Jack on this tour of the school. Instantly, Jack and August become friends. "Fourthly, now that I know him, I would say I actually do want to be friends with August. At first, I admit it, I was only friendly to him because Mr. Tushman asked me to be especially nice and all that. But now I would choose to hang out with him. He laughs at all my jokes. And I kind of feel like I can tell August anything. Like he's a good friend. Like, if all the guys in the fifth grade were lined up against the wall and I got to choose anyone I wanted to hang out with, I would choose August." (Palacio, 147). This quote shows how one student, Jack, was able to overcome August's appearance and see the real August.

Jack helps August feel comfortable and confident at school, which makes August feel like he is on top of the entire world. It also makes him feel like he is just another normal kid going to school. Jack was one of the first people to see August for who he truly was, a fun, happy kid who just wants to fit in. I know this is a real issue in society because everybody is different, some just appear more different than others. I think this is what builds barriers between people-they get so caught up in silly things like image and forget about the important qualities, like character.

I hope that everybody reads this book at some time in their life. In fact, I was talking to my sister at the dinner table yesterday about this book and it just so happens that she read it in English class last year. I think it is great that a teacher is having students read the book as a class because it is an important topic and it teaches great morals and character.