That after twenty-seven surgeries Auggie can still be an upbeat kid who likes to ride his bike and skateboard makes him kind of a wonder.
That he still bothers to interact with people after ten years of being stared at, gasped over, whispered about, pointed to, and screamed at also makes him kind of a wonder.
And that he wins over the sympathy, loyalty, and friendship of all but one kid in the fifth grade definitely makes him a wonder.
As much as Auggie survives—even triumphs—in Wonder, he suffers too. He is treated like a freak by strangers, shunned by his classmates, betrayed by his best friend, and made to suffer a lifetime of his dad's cornball humor. (That last one he's okay with.) He wishes for and laments the normal life he has never had and never will have, and he struggles to keep his dignity and self-esteem through all the shocked reactions. But man, he does not give up—no matter how much he suffers.
Questions About Suffering
- How does Auggie handle his sadness and his suffering?
- Describe how Via suffers as the sibling of a kid like Auggie.
- What does Auggie learn through his suffering? What does Via learn? How about Jack? Miranda?
Chew on This
What hurts Auggie the most isn't the Plague game, or the ignoring, or the staring—it is his friend Jack's betrayal.
Family, friends, kindness, and principles can all help us not only endure, but also overcome suffering.