A boy with a different face walks into fifth grade and rewrites what ordinary means.
Who drives the story
A ten-year-old with Treacher Collins syndrome and twenty-seven surgeries behind him, entering mainstream school for the first time. He wants to be seen as ordinary—and by June, a standing ovation grants it.
Auggie's older sister, starting ninth grade, who loves her brother and resents being a planet orbiting his sun. She gets her moment in the spotlight when Miranda hands her the lead in Our Town.
The boy assigned to be Auggie's welcome buddy who starts out nice out of pity and ends up genuinely loyal—willing to punch Julian and eat a suspension for it.
The girl who sits with Auggie at lunch because it's the only empty table and stays because she likes him. She's the one who quietly hands Jack the clue that fixes everything.
The polished, two-faced ringleader whose cruelty—"were you in a fire or something?"—fuels the class war. His parents ultimately pull him from the school.
Beecher Prep's principal, whose name Auggie jokes sounds like "Mr. Tush," who arranges the welcome tour and ends the year awarding Auggie the Henry Ward Beecher Medal.
Also in the story
Via's former best friend, who has been avoiding her for reasons unknown to Via, and who invented a dead little brother at camp. On opening night she fakes illness so Via can shine, and the two reconcile.
Via's boyfriend, who meets Auggie expecting awkwardness and finds a funny, smart kid handling an unkind universe with grace.
How they are connected
Via (Olivia) PullmanAugust "Auggie" Pullman
Auggie's older sister, starting ninth grade, who loves her brother and resents being a planet orbiting his sun.
She gets her moment in the spotlight when Miranda hands her the lead in Our Town.
Jack WillAugust "Auggie" Pullman
The boy assigned to be Auggie's welcome buddy who starts out nice out of pity and ends up genuinely loyal—willing to punch Julian and eat a suspension for it.
The boy assigned to be Auggie's welcome buddy who starts out nice out of pity and ends up genuinely loyal—willing to punch Julian and eat a suspension for it.
The girl who sits with Auggie at lunch because it's the only empty table and stays because she likes him.
She's the one who quietly hands Jack the clue that fixes everything.
Via's boyfriend, who meets Auggie expecting awkwardness and finds a funny, smart kid handling an unkind universe with grace.
Via's boyfriend, who meets Auggie expecting awkwardness and finds a funny, smart kid handling an unkind universe with grace.
Mr. TushmanAugust "Auggie" Pullman
Beecher Prep's principal, whose name Auggie jokes sounds like "Mr.
Go deeper
Kindness as a choice · Ordinariness as a privilege · The siblings in the shadow · Two-faced cruelty
Themes explainedThe full story act by act, the ending explained and a quick quiz.
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