He loves Halloween, because he can wear a mask and pretend that he is not who he is in fact, he used to wear an astronaut helmet almost everywhere he went until he lost it. Halloween approaches, and Auggie decides to be Boba Fett from Star Wars. He assumes that what is going on is like the "Cheese Touch" from Diary of a Wimpy Kid and does not feel good about the situation. Unfortunately, at school, Auggie has noticed that people make a point of not touching him. Only a few kids come, but Auggie has a great time with his friends and family.
For Auggie's birthday on October 10th, Auggie's family plans a bowling party and invites his entire homeroom plus Summer, not wanting to exclude anyone. Auggie starts to cry, and asks why he has to be so ugly.Īuggie makes it through September, hanging out a lot with Jack Will, who has become his closest friend. Dad is pleased with this decision, and refers to Auggie by his nickname, "Auggie Doggie." Mom comes to tuck Auggie in, and reads him a few pages from The Hobbit. That night, he cuts off the Padawan braid. When he gets home from school that day, Auggie tells his mother that his experience was not so bad. They notice the similarity in their "summery" names, and joke that they could set aside a "summer only" lunch table, musing over whose names are summery enough to be allowed access. Surprisingly, though, a girl named Summer comes over to sit with him. Lunch is a challenge Auggie does not know whom to sit with, so he sits alone. Browne has each of the students designate a section in his or her notebook to write all the precepts down, and says that many of his students write their own precepts over the summer and send them back to him. September's is "When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind." Mr. The students will have a new precept from Mr. Browne introduces the fifth-graders to the idea of precepts - rules and mottoes about extremely important things. This initially seems like a harmless question, but Auggie remembers that Darth Sidious is a character whose face becomes deformed. He tells Julian that his favorite character is Jango Fett, and Julian asks how Auggie feels about Darth Sidious. Auggie is obsessed with all things Star Wars. All of the students in the homeroom introduce themselves when it's Auggie's turn, Julian asks if the braid in the back of his head is a Padawan braid. Petosa, hesitate just a moment when she first sees his face. Jack and Charlotte greet him Julian ignores him. The first day of school comes and Auggie goes straight to his homeroom, keeping his head down so that the other kids cannot look at him. Mom is shocked that Julian asked about Auggie's face, and says that Auggie does not have to go to school Auggie realizes, though, that he actually does want to go. When he gets home, Auggie tells Mom how the tour went. Julian asks what happened to Auggie's face Charlotte scolds Julian for being rude, and Jack defends Auggie as well. These students take Auggie on a tour of the school, showing him where he will have homeroom. Tushman then introduces Auggie to three kids who will be in his grade at Beecher Prep Middle School: Jack Will, Julian, and Charlotte. Mom takes Auggie to the school to meet Mr. It turns out that Auggie is very smart and passes the test with flying colors. Tushman, and they secretly gave Auggie an IQ test to get him admitted to the school. At first, Auggie resists the idea of going to a real school his Dad sides with him, worried that Auggie is not ready and remarking that he doesn't want to send Auggie off like a "lamb to the slaughter," but Auggie's Mom insists that her son needs to learn more than she alone can teach him. Auggie had three really good friends - Christopher, Zachary, and Alex - but Christopher moved away and seldom meets up with Auggie, and Zachary and Alex have made new friends.Īuggie is just about to start fifth grade - his first time at a regular school because his mother has always home-schooled him. His parents and his big sister Via always defend him, but he has gotten used to uncomfortable reactions by now. He was born with a facial deformity consequently, other people always stare at him and make faces. The protagonist, August "Auggie" Pullman, begins by explaining that he knows he is not an ordinary ten-year-old kid.