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Description edit
"I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse." August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Summary edit
Auggie Pullman was born with extreme facial abnormalities. He has been sheltered and home schooled, until 5th grade. His mom enrolls him in Beecher Prep. He just wants to be treated normally, but the students can’t get past his deformed face.
Characters/People edit
- August "Auggie" Pullman: Fifth grader with a major genetic facial abnormality. Even though it is very hard for him to be "normal" as other people, his kind mature mind moves other people's heart. Main character in the story.
- Olivia Pullman: Auggie's sister - entering high school (grade 10) and also Justin's boyfriend. Has a warm heart that is mature and always caring for Auggie. Hates people who look at Auggie in a weird way. Also known as Via.
- Isabel Pullman: Auggie's mother, also always caring of their son and daughter extremely
- Nate Pullman: Auggie's father, loves Auggie and Olivia and is caring
- Summer Dawson: Befriends Auggie on the first day of school, in the book says it is very pretty and "hot", popular but not known much because of her friendship with Auggie. Gets convinced by the most popular girl to hang out with them but refuses
- Jack Will: Becomes a very good friend to Auggie, who was introduced by Mr Tushman.
- Charlotte Cody: Peripheral character who is nice to Auggie and Jack Will. Tries to help them
- Julian Albans: One of the students who is told to help August by the principal. Hates August and tries to do everything that is mean to him only when a teacher is not there.
- Savanna Wittenberg: The 'popular girl' in fifth grade - convinces Summer to be in the popular group with her, but gets refused
- Amos: A cool kid in Auggie's class.
- Reid Kingsley: One of the kids that sticks with Auggie
- Ximena Chin: The smartest kid.
- Tristan: A pretty nice kid who's way into environmentalism.
- Luca: Jack's new lunch buddy.
- Miles: One of Julian's cronies.
- Maya Markowitz: A student
- Eleanor: Member of yearbook committee.
- Pablo: On Julian's side.
- Henry Joplin: Julian's big flunky.
- Isaiah: Jack's other new lunch buddy.
- Ellie: A student.
- Miranda: Friend of Via, who knew August from a child. They break up for a while because of Miranda's desire to be popular, but she still cares about Auggie more than anyone - even has his picture in her purse.
- Ella: One of Olivia's old friends.
- Justin: Via's boyfriend who thinks of Auggie's family as way better than his own.
- Mr. Lawrence Tushman: Vice principal of the school who introduces Jack Will, Charlotte, and Julian to Auggie. Known as the kind, caring principal, his name ('tush'man) and his extremely long announcements
- Ms. Petosa: Auggie's homeroom teacher.
- Mrs. Atanabi: Dance teacher.
- Mrs. Garcia: Mr. Tushman's assistant, really runs the school.
- Mr. Roche: History teacher.
- Molly: School nurse.
- Tom Browne: English teacher.
- Darth Daisy: The full name of the Pullman's dog. They call her Daisy for short.
- Christopher: Auggie's best friend prior to going to school.
- Grans: Auggie and Olivia Pullman's Grandmother (On mother's side)
- Poppa: Auggie's paternal grandfather
- Tata: Auggie's paternal grandmother
- Jamie Will: Jack's little brother.
- Aunt Kate: Auggie's maternal aunt.
- Alex: One of Auggie's old friends.
- Lisa: Christopher's mother.
- Amanda Will: Jack's mother.
- Philip Davenport: Director of Our Town.
- Zachary: Another of Auggie's old friends.
- Uncle Porter: Married to Aunt Kate
- Veronica: Jack's old babysitter
- Uncle Ben: Auggie's paternal uncle.
- John Will: Jack's dad.
- Edward Johnson: Add a description of this character.
- Bear: Auggie's new puppy.
Quotes edit
Setting & Locations edit
- North River Heights: Where the Pullmans live
- Montauk: A place that the pullmans visit.
- Beecher Prep: The school that Auggie attends.
First Sentence edit
I know I'm not an ordinary ten-year-old kid.
Table of Contents edit
Part One- August
Ordinary
Why I Didn't Go to School
How I Came to Life
Christopher's House
Driving
Paging Mr. Tushman
Nice Mrs. Garcia
Jack Will, Julian, and Charlotte
The Grand Tour
The Performance Space
The Deal
Home
First-Day Jitters
Locks
Around the Room
Lamb to the Slaughter
Choose Kind
Lunch
The Summer Table
One to Ten
Padawan
Wake Me Up when September Ends
Jack Will
Mr. Browne's October Precept
Apples
Halloween
School Pictures
The Cheese Touch
Costumes
The Bleeding Screem
Names
Part Two- Via
A Tour of the Galaxy
Before August
Seeing August
August Through the Peephole
High School
Major Tom
After School
The Padawan Bites the Dust
An Apparition at the Door
Breakfast
Genetics 101
The Punnett Square
Out with the Old
October 31
Trick or Treat
Time to Think
Part Three- Summer
Weird Kids
The Plague
The Halloween Party
November
Warning: This Kid is Rated R
The Egyptian Tomb
Part Four- Jack
The Call
Carvel
Why I Changed My Mind
Four Things
Ex-Friends
Snow
Fortune Favors the Bold
Private School
In Science
Partners
Detention
Season's Greetings
Letters, Emails, Facebook, Texts
Back from Winter Break
The War
Switching Tables
Why I Didn't Sit with August the First Day of School
Sides
August's House
The Boyfriend
Part Five- Justin
Olivia's Brother
Valentine's Day
OUR TOWN
Ladybug
The Bus Stop
Rehearsal
Bird
The Universe
Part Six- August
North Pole
The Auggie Doll
Lobot
Hearing Brightly
Via's Secret
My Cave
Goodbye
Daisy's Toys
Heaven
Understudy
The Ending
Part Seven- Miranda
Camp Lies
School
What I Miss Most
Extraordinary, but No One There to See
The Performance
After the Show
Part Eight- August
The Fifth-Grade Nature Retreat
Known For
Packing
Daybreak
Day One
The Fairgrounds
Be Kind to Nature
The Woods are Alive
Alien
Voices in the Dark
The Emperor's Guard
Sleep
Aftermath
Home
Bear
The Shift
Ducks
The Last Precept
The Drop-Off
Take Your Seats, Everyone
A Simple Thing
Awards
Floating
Pictures
The Walk Home
Appendix
Themes & Symbolism edit
- Kindness trumps all.: Describe this theme.
- Kindness
- Each of us faces personal challenges: How else could we have compassion for Auggie if we haven't felt shame or loneliness or disappointment...or pride and love!
Series & Lists edit
This book is in Good Reading: Best Books of 2012. (authoritative list)
Authors & Contributors edit
- R. J. Palacio (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Country: USA
Publication Date: February 2012
ISBN: 978-0-375-86902-0
Page Count: 315
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Country: USA
Publication Date: February 2012
ISBN: 978-0-375-86902-0
Page Count: 315
Awards edit
- Cybils Award (2012: Middle Grade Fiction)
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: PZ7.P17526 Wo 2012
- Dewey: Add the Dewey Classification.
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