We have changed our privacy policy. In addition, we use cookies on our website for various purposes. By continuing on our website, you consent to our use of cookies. You can learn about our practices by reading our privacy policy.

Wonder Chapter 1 Summary

Ordinary

  • Part 1 of Wonder is called "August"—as in our main man, not the last month of summer vacation.
  • With this in mind, it makes sense that the book begins with Auggie introducing himself by explaining some of the ways he is and isn't ordinary.
  • Ordinary: he eats ice cream, rides his bike, has an Xbox and a dog.
  • Not ordinary: ordinary kids run screaming when they see his face.
  • If he had only one wish ever in his entire life, Auggie would wish for a normal face.
  • Auggie's family has gotten pretty good at ignoring the reactions of others when they see his face. Except for Via, his sister, that is—she still isn't any good at tolerating rudeness.
  • Auggie can boil the ordinary/not-ordinary discussion down to "the only reason I'm not ordinary is that no one else sees me that way" (1.Ordinary.2).
  • And no, he's not going to describe himself.