As I began reading this book, I started thinking to myself..."What would my life be like if I was like Auggie?" Would I be as brave as he? Would I pretend to not notice when I see people staring at me? Would I start talking and hanging out with Jack after I heard what he had to say about me? The answer to all of these questions are NO. No, I wouldn't be as brave. No, I WOULD notice and probably even make a scene when I saw someone staring at me. No, I would NOT befriend Jack again if he said those things about me.But, you see, that is the difference between ordinary and extraordinary people. Ordinary people let things bother them, Extraordinary people take the road less traveled. Meaning, they become the bigger person.Growing up my parents always told me that, "to be the bigger person" if someone does you wrong, that does not mean you do it to them. And in this book, Auggie does just that. He is the bigger person. He does not show his fear, when people make fun of him, he does not lash out. Auggie is a bigger person, when he is the one that has so much more to worry about. I suggest that anyone who is anyone, that has gone through any type of problem in school or in life, to read this book. IT RELATES! Yes, the circumstances are a little different than "normal" problems but it just shows that someone always has it worse than you.
When reading the book, one part stuck out to me the most. It was when Julian made the Star Wars comment about Auggie's hair.Which made Auggie want to cut off his braid as soon as he got home, after he had grown that braid out for awhile. It just proves that, whether people mean to or not, the words we say influences the lives around us. It sure made me think twice about what I will say to people for now on. If a comment like that could make a kid feel like a "loser" or whatever, then what do harsher comments make people feel like? I never really thought about it that way before, until I read this book. I just thought people were "joking around" when I would hear them say a mean or sarcastic comment to someone. But I never thought of the affect it would have on the person that was receiving that comment. What if the comment you make towards someone changes that persons life? Would you want to be held responsible for that? I know Julian just made a comment about a hairstyle, but it was the hidden meaning behind it that makes the difference in the situation.
When Via's section of the novel came, I was definitely ready to learn about her true thoughts. Especially since she was just starting High School. High school is a big change, so I can kind of understand why she wanted to keep August a secret, and start being called by Olivia. Change. Whether it is good or bad, we all go through it. I was actually surprised that she introduced Justin to August as soon as she did, mainly because she did not want anyone at her new school to really know about Auggie. Because she cared what people thought about her... but here is my thought about that, she isn't the one that has August's face, she is just his sister. Why would she want to hide that from the world? I understand that high school is different and new for her, but why does her reputation rely so heavily on Auggie, on whether or not people know about him? Should friends like you for you? Not for who your siblings are? I kchnow, harder said than done... It's obvious that she loves her brother, but she feels bad for him, but she also wants a life that is not ALL ABOUT HIM. I get that. She wants her own life, or at least that is what I took away from her..
The book also shows that even though the appearance of people may change, does not mean they have completely changed. Miranda is the one who shows me this, because even though she is a pink-headed cheerleader, she still cares a lot about Auggie. You can tell this because she calls him and she carries him picture in her wallet. Though Via doesn't see it, the girl Miranda that she grew up with is still there, just looks different. Within the same topic, (looking different), the entire book is really based on Auggie and how is face makes him different, look different. By the last part of the book you see transformation, from the kids at school playing the "plague" game behind his back at the beginning of school and now at the end he is making more friends. More kids are beginning to talk to him more and they aren't afraid to touch him either! See this is a prime example that you can't judge a book by its cover. You have to get to know someone before deciding whether or not you like them. That is something you should base just off of appearance.
I will end this section with my favorite quote, or well precept from the book:
Everyone in the world should get a standing ovation at least once in their life because we all overcometh the world. -AuggieI chose this as my favorite quote because of the fact that in the story, August was the one who went through all the new adventures, such as going to school for the first time, getting bullied, making new friends..and yet he still stayed positive.
