Wonder

The war between most of the boys and Jack Will is at its worst in February. Julian, Henry, and Miles put mean notes in Jack Will’s and Auggie’s lockers, and vice versa. Though the girls are largely neutral, everyone is pretty much sick of the animosity by March. When Julian takes Jack Will’s backpack and puts pencil shavings in it, for instance, Amos, who’s one of Julian’s friends, defends Jack Will. The tipping point for the rest is when Julian “makes up” a story about Jack Will hiring a hitman to scare him. Only Miles and Henry support Julian.

One day, Auggie jokes about the Uglydoll stationary that Maya is using being modeled after him. Maya and a few other girls laugh after realizing that he’s alright with it. The next day, Maya leaves an Uglydoll keychain on his desk with a kind note. Six months prior, this would have never happened. The kids all stop playing the Plague also, and they don’t even make fun of Auggie’s hearing aids.

Auggie has always been nervous about his ears. With his syndrome, it’s been a miracle that he can hear at all. As of late, however, his hearing has been getting worse, and despite the doctors having told him that he’ll need hearing aids eventually, he doesn’t want them. Then, he fails his hearing test. When the doctor shows him the hearing aids, he again refuses. For starters, they’re big and clunky. Because his ears sit lower than usual, they have to attach the aids to a headband. The doctor and Auggie’s mom reassure him that he’ll just look like he’s wearing headphones, but he says he’ll look like Lobot, which is a character from Star Wars. Auggie is shocked when he realizes that the doctor knows a lot about Star Wars, though he’s still upset about the hearing aids. The doctor assures him that he’ll like them once they’re on, which Auggie doubts. 

Though Auggie doesn’t initially like the look of his hearing aids, he loves them once they’re turned on. “The ocean just wasn’t living inside my head anymore. It was gone. I could hear sounds like shiny lights in my brain” (214). When he goes to school, no one makes a big deal out of his hearing aids, leaving Auggie questioning why he himself made such a big deal about them.

Auggie overhears Via and his mom argue about a school play that Via never told them about.

By dinnertime, Auggie’s mother and sister have cooled down. When he asks if they’re going to the play, however, tensions flare again. Auggie realizes that Via doesn’t want them to go because of him. Though his mother tries to reason with him, he gets angry and calls them both liars, then storms out of the dining room. In his room, he makes a cave from covers and stuffed animals, and sulks. Usually, his mother comes running in to make him feel better. For some reason, no one comes to check on him. Finally, Via comes in, albeit softly and quietly.

Though Auggie’s upset, Via explains that Daisy is sick. This is why their mom hasn’t come in to check on Auggie. She threw up and got real sick as soon as Auggie stormed out the room. Their mother calls the vet and decides to take Daisy to the hospital, but it’s most likely the last time they’ll see her. Auggie doesn’t believe it and hopes the doctor can fix Daisy, but they have to say their goodbyes. 

Justin comes over to be with Via, and Via and Auggie assemble all of Daisy’s toys in one spot. Auggie is shocked to learn that not only has Daisy bitten their mom (from fear when their mother was checking her stomach) but that she’s been sick for some time (hence the throwing up). Their parents finally arrive from the hospital without Daisy, and they realize Daisy didn’t make it. Their parents explain how peaceful Daisy’s last minutes were and how she didn’t feel a thing. Before bed, Auggie sees his dad crying. He goes to talk with Via, but his mother is comforting Via because she’s also crying. Auggie tucks himself into bed.

Auggie wakes up during the night and asks his mother if he can sleep with them. Though he can tell she’s tired, he asks his mother several questions about heaven and the afterlife. He wonders if Daisy is in heaven with Grans, and if people look the same in heaven as they do on earth. Though his mother finally nods off, he’s unable to sleep.

Auggie and his family attend the production of Our Town at Via’s school. Auggie tries to keep his head down to minimize the staring from both parents and students. His mom explains the concept of an understudy to him, and he’s excited to see both Justin and Miranda perform. When it’s time for Miranda’s part as Ella, however, the family is shocked to see Via come on stage instead.

The play receives a standing ovation, and both Justin and Via are excellent in their roles. Backstage, everyone is congratulating the cast. When Auggie gets introduced to Mr. Davenport, the teacher looks shocked, but then Justin whizzes him away to meet his parents. Auggie gets separated from Via and his parents, and with the closeness and amount of shocked eyes on him, he begins to panic. All of a sudden, someone hugs him from behind and says, “Hey, Major Tom” (234). He turns around and sees Miranda.