In the novel
Wonder, a main theme is that friends accept one another’s differences and like them just the way they are. Jack and Summer show that they are true friends to Auggie by hanging out with him and therefore accepting that his face is different from theirs. When Auggie first enters Beecher Prep, everyone is shocked and horrified by his face. For example, people stared and gasped at Auggie when he walked through the hallways, and whispered about him behind his back. This really hurt Auggie’s feelings. Jack and Summer are devoted friends because they didn’t get horrified about his face and acted like he was like everybody else. Summer, for instance, chose to sit with him at lunch and played with him at recess. Jack, although chosen by their principal to help Auggie, soon become real friends with him and hung out with him in the classes they had together. Jack and Summer were also really different from the rest of the school because they were the only ones who accepted Auggie in the beginning. Later in the book, friendship is shown by Henry, Miles, and Amos when they stand up and therefore accept Auggie on the class field trip While at the fairgrounds during the field trip, Auggie and Jack stumble upon a group of 7th graders while trying to find their way back. The Grade 7 students make fun of Auggie’s face and hit Jack. Henry, Miles, Amos, and Jack stand up for Auggie, and then help everyone escape from the bullies. Henry, Miles, and Amos show true friendship because they tried to protect Auggie although they knew that they might get hurt. As a result of their actions, Auggie knows that Henry, Miles, and Amos have finally put their differences aside and accepted him. Overall, in
Wonder, the actions of Jack, Summer, Henry, Miles, and Amos show that the main message is that loyal friends accept one another’s differences.
