Wonder

Auggie asks his mother to buy him a new duffel bag. His old one is Star Wars-themed, and he doesn’t want to be known for his love of Star Wars. In middle school, he reasons, everyone becomes known for something. Amos, for instance, is known as a good athlete, while Ximena is known for being smart. Though he knows that he’s really known for his face, he can’t do anything about it. He can, however, do something about the duffel bag. 

Auggie’s mom packs his things for the retreat and reminds him about several things, including wearing bug spray. He decides that he’ll take his favorite stuffed animal, Baboo, in case he gets scared, but he has his mother hide it deep in his backpack so no one will find it. His mom notes that his Star Wars poster is gone, and Auggie says, “I’m trying to, you know, change my image a bit” (254). His mother commends him for how much he’s grown as a person, and he underscores this by requesting to go to bed without her help. He promises to write, though they’ll most likely not receive the letters until he’s already back.

When he wakes the next morning, Auggie sees a vision of Daisy in his room. The presence comforts him, and it makes him realize that he’ll be fine. In answer to this, he takes Baboo out of his bag and places it in his covers where his mother will find it. He leaves a note for her, saying, “Dear Mom, I won’t need Baboo, but if you miss me, you can cuddle with him yourself. xo Auggie” (256).  

The bus ride to the nature retreat goes by quickly. Auggie is elated when he overhears that Julian isn’t coming on the trip. After lunch, the students go on a two-hour hike, which Auggie enjoys because, unlike Central Park, “these were real woods” (257). He also finds that he can hear many of the birds the guide points out before everyone else because of his Lobot hearing aids. It then begins to rain, but clears up in enough time for the kids to have campfires and makes smores. After the exciting day, Auggie’s able to fall asleep quickly.

On the second day of camp, the students go horseback riding. After a rest, they head to the fairgrounds for a night-time movie. “Out here in the fairgrounds,” says Auggie, “I could understand why ancient people used to think the world was flat and the sky was a dome that closed in on top of it” (259). Beecher Prep arrives first, so they get to choose the best seats. Other schools arrive later, and the kids go stock up on food from food trucks and concession stands. Then the lights go up and everyone cheers.

An announcer welcomes the different schools, and each school cheers its own name. The students are then instructed to be kind to nature by cleaning up after themselves. Moreover, the fairgrounds get dark at night, so they’re warned not to wander off the marked trails. To Auggie’s delight, the night’s movie is The Sound of Music. 

Jack Will has to pee, but the lines for the bathrooms are too long, so he and Auggie head into the woods despite the earlier warning. They see Miles, Henry, and Amos, and though Miles and Henry still aren’t talking to Jack Will, Amos says hi. After they finish peeing they smell firecrackers.

Jack Will and Auggie come upon a group of seventh graders who are up to no good. There are four boys and two girls, and as they ask what school the duo is from, one of the girls screams. The others notice Auggie, too, and they begin picking on him. Jack Will tries to get them to stop, but the main instigator, a boy named Eddie, pushes Jack Will onto the ground. The boys call Auggie various names, including Orc, Gollum, and Freddie Kreuger. When things seem like they’re about to escalate, Amos, Henry, and Miles show up. Amos charges at Eddie, knocking him over, then the Beecher Prep boys flee into the woods.

The Beecher Prep boys finally stop running, but they remain quiet so that the seventh graders, who’d been pursuing them, can’t find them. Auggie realizes that Henry is the one who grabbed him and began running. The boys make sure they’re all accounted for, and then they recap the crazy antics. They all make sure Auggie’s alright, slapping him on the back and giving each other high-fives. Jack Will discovers he has a bruise, and Auggie’s sweatshirt is completely ripped. He’s also bleeding. Then he realizes that he’s lost his hearing aids and breaks down crying. Though embarrassed, the boys support him, and when Auggie gives in to his grief Amos comforts him.

The boys walk back to the fairgrounds, though they have to walk around in the dark before finding the light of the big screen. Auggie mentions that he doesn’t want to report the kids. The others promise to protect him and warn him about walking around alone. As they head back to their section, Auggie feels “Like I had my own emperor’s guard” (272). 

Auggie’s unable to sleep after the ordeal. He recalls how they returned to the blankets and how odd it was that no one else knew what had just happened. For Auggie, this day was one of the worst days of his life, ranked with the day Daisy died. But then things begin to change. Amos, Miles, and Henry began telling others about what happened, and word spreads. People he doesn’t even really know begin asking him if he is alright. Soon enough, the teachers and facilitators find out what happened. Mr. Tushman tries to get information about the attackers, but Auggie doesn’t want to say anything. Despite the support, Auggie can’t get the kids’ faces out of his mind: “Like a lamb to the slaughter. I remember Dad saying that ages ago, but tonight I think I finally got what it meant” (274).

Auggie’s mom picks him up when the trip is over. Though the family has been contacted about what happened, his mother doesn’t press him for questions, to his relief. Broarwood Nature Reserve, feeling bad for what happened on its grounds, offers to pay for replacement hearing aids. Mr. Tushman hugs Auggie goodbye, but he also doesn’t say anything as Auggie and his mother walk home.

Auggie’s mom makes him a grilled cheese sandwich and chocolate milk. He finally begins talking about his experience at camp, the good and the bad. Though he thinks his father might be upset about losing his hearing aids, his mother reassures him that they’re all just glad that he’s alright. He asks her if he’s going to have to deal with people like Eddie all his life. His mom says, “There are always going to be jerks in the world, Auggie” (279), but she and his father believe that the good will always outweigh the bad. His father calls and says that he and Via are nearly home. Before going to bed, Auggie greets his father and sister, and then he sees a box. When he opens it, he finds a puppy inside.

They name the puppy “Bear” because Auggie’s mom likens him to a bear cub. They give Daisy’s toys to Bear. The parents allow Auggie and Via to skip school the next day and stay home with Bear. Auggie likes this because it reminds him of when he was homeschooled and got to play with Via every day.

When Auggie returns to school, the entire scene has changed. Everyone’s heard about the fight in the woods, which has been doctored and retold by Amos, Henry, Miles, and Jack Will. Now, everyone is kind to Auggie. Even older athletes joke with him and call him “little dude” (282). Moreover, Amos is popular now, and Julian isn’t because he wasn’t there. Miles and Henry stop hanging out with Julian and start hanging out with Amos. Despite all this, Julian is still mean to Auggie.

Auggie gets called into Mr. Tushman’s office the day before the last day of school and identifies Eddie as one of his assailants. The boys have been caught, and Eddie has Auggie’s hearing aids in his locker. Mr. Tushman will speak with Auggie’s parents about pressing charges. He then queries Auggie about the year and his time at Beecher Prep, as well as congratulating him on getting onto the High Honor Roll. Auggie learns that Mr. Tushman knows all about how Julian’s been treating him. Mr. Tushman jokes that teachers know everything, but tells Auggie to inform teachers when he’s picked on in the future. He also informs Auggie that Julian won’t be attending Beecher Prep anymore.

Auggie sees his self-portrait project in Mr. Tushman’s room. The kids all had to draw themselves as an animal, and Auggie represented himself as a duck. Mr. Tushman liked the drawing so much that he asked Auggie’s teacher if he could have it.

Mr. Browne’s last precept is: “Just follow the day and reach for the sun!” (288). He leaves a note for the students as well reminding them to send him a precept over the summer.

Auggie’s father drives him to graduation. He and his dad sing aloud to one of their favorite songs. Auggie’s dad admits that, though he didn’t hate the Padawan braid, he hated the astronaut helmet. In fact, he threw the astronaut helmet away. Auggie is shocked and angry at this revelation. “Dad, I loved that helmet! It meant a lot to me! I was bummed beyond belief when it got lost—don’t you remember?” (291). Though his father apologizes, he admits that he didn’t like Auggie always hiding himself behind the helmet. He loves Auggie for who he is and for what he looks like. His father also admits that his mom doesn’t know that he threw the helmet out, and Auggie sort of jokes that he’s going to blackmail his father for things he really wants. When Jack Will arrives, Auggie promises that he’s forgiven his father and that he won’t tell his mother, then leaves.

Mrs. G tries to corral the students into place, but they’re largely ignoring her. Summer arrives with makeup on and a dress, and based on Jack Will’s behavior, Auggie can tell that Jack Will has a crush on Summer. He then sees the program and learns that both Mr. Jansen and Mr. Tushman give long speeches. Mrs. G then forces the students to go sit alphabetically.

Mr. Tushman gives the middle-school address, where he focuses on the concept of kindness, saying, “Because it’s not enough to be kind. One should be kinder than needed” (300). He maintains that if everyone acts a little kinder than is needed or necessary that the world can truly be a better place.

After the students’ names are called, awards are given out. As Jack Will and Summer alluded to while they were taking their seats earlier, Ximena and Charlotte receive most of the awards. Auggie also gets to stand up with his peers for the High Honor Roll. Mr. Tushman then presents the Henry Ward Beecher medal. It’s to “honor students who have been notable or exemplary in certain areas throughout the school year” (303). He goes back to his focus on kindness, adding courage, friendship, and character as admirable traits. Mr. Tushman begins choking up as he speaks, and then announces that Auggie has won the medal. 

Auggie’s shocked, but as he receives congratulations from his peers, the entire audience erupts in applause and he receives a standing ovation. Auggie initially doesn’t understand why he’s getting the award. Then he realizes that he’s getting it for being himself. “To me, though, I’m just me. An ordinary kid. But hey, if they want to give me a medal for being me, that’s okay. I’ll take it” (306).

Afterwards, there’s a reception for the fifth and sixth graders. Auggie’s relatives are there and take pictures with him. Then his friends take pictures with him, and soon enough, nearly everyone is asking to take pictures with Auggie.

Auggie, his relatives, his friends, and their parents all walk to his house for cake and ice cream. His father, as usual, makes everyone laugh with his jokes. Auggie thanks his mom for making him go to school, and she thanks Auggie. When he asks why she’s thanking him, she says, “You really are a wonder, Auggie. You are a wonder” (310).