Auggie is a ten-year-old boy with Treacher-Collins Syndrome who faces the challenges of attending school for the first time, navigating both the cruelty and kindness of his peers.
Sister of Protagonist
Olivia "Via" Pullman
Mature, independent, compassionate
Via is Auggie's older sister, who grapples with her own identity while being a fiercely protective and loving sibling to her brother.
Auggie's Friend
Jack Will
Loyal, kind, courageous
Jack Will is one of Auggie's first friends at Beecher Prep, who learns important lessons about loyalty and the true meaning of friendship.
Key Info: Born with a facial difference due to Treacher Collins syndrome, attends a mainstream school for the first time.
A ten-year-old boy with facial disfigurement who braves school for the first time.
Background: Auggie has been homeschooled due to his numerous surgeries and health issues. He enters fifth grade at Beecher Prep and faces challenges regarding appearance and social acceptance.
Personality: Despite his struggles, Auggie is intelligent, witty, and compassionate. At the story’s start, he wears a space helmet because he is sensitive about his looks.
Development: Throughout the novel, Auggie learns to embrace his uniqueness and gains confidence as he forms friendships and earns the respect of his peers.
Significance: Auggie’s journey is at the heart of the novel, symbolizing the struggle for acceptance and the triumph of inner beauty over external appearances.
Auggie is introduced as a boy who “is not an ordinary kid” because of his medical condition. His love for Star Wars and his self-awareness about his appearance is evident in how he narrates his story, often using humor to cope with his challenges. The novel closely follows Auggie’s experiences as he navigates the complexities of making friends and overcoming the prejudice he faces due to his appearance.
Olivia “Via” Pullman
Role: Auggie’s older sister
Key Info: Protective of Auggie, but struggles with feeling overlooked by her parents.
Auggie’s older sister, who struggles with balancing her own identity and her deep love for her brother.
Background: Via is a high school student who has always been Auggie’s protector. However, she often feels neglected as her parents focus on Auggie’s needs.
Personality: Via is mature, thoughtful, and fiercely independent. She loves her brother deeply but yearns for a sense of normalcy in her own life.
Development: Via learns to express her own needs and emotions, balancing her protective instincts toward Auggie with her desire for independence.
Significance: Via’s narrative provides insight into the impact of Auggie’s condition on the family dynamic, highlighting the often-overlooked struggles of siblings in such situations.
Via’s sections in the novel reveal her deep love for Auggie and her feelings of being in the background. She describes herself as the “only one in the family who has ever seen Auggie as a regular kid,” and her narrative explores her internal conflict between her love for Auggie and her desire to be recognized for her achievements and needs.
Jack Will
Role: Auggie’s friend
Key Info: Initially befriends Auggie under Mr. Tushman’s guidance but genuinely comes to care for him.
Auggie’s loyal friend at Beecher Prep who learns the value of true friendship and courage.
Background: Jack Will is a classmate of Auggie’s who, despite initial reservations, becomes one of his closest friends. He struggles with peer pressure and the fear of social ostracism.
Personality: Jack is kind-hearted and loyal but faces internal conflicts about standing up for what he believes is right versus fitting in with his peers
Development: Jack learns to navigate the complexities of friendship, ultimately choosing to stand by Auggie even when it’s difficult.
Significance: Jack’s character demonstrates the challenges and rewards of true friendship, particularly in the face of social pressure.
Jack’s perspective is revealed in the “Jack” section, where he candidly discusses the reasons behind his initial friendship with Auggie. His internal conflict is highlighted when he admits that, despite his initial hesitation, he genuinely likes Auggie and feels guilty about betraying him. Jack’s growth is evident as he reconciles his feelings and decides to stand by Auggie, showcasing the novel’s theme of loyalty.
Summer Dawson
Role: Auggie’s friend
Key Info: Befriends Auggie out of genuine kindness, not due to Mr. Tushman’s request.
A kind and empathetic classmate who befriends Auggie despite social pressures.
Background:Summer is a classmate who, unlike many others, chooses to sit with Auggie at lunch simply because she wants to. Her friendship is not motivated by pity but by a genuine connection.
Personality: Summer is compassionate, independent, and unafraid to go against the social norms of her peers.
Development: Summer’s unwavering friendship with Auggie remains constant throughout the novel, serving as a model of kindness and integrity.
Significance: Summer’s character reinforces the novel’s central message of kindness and the importance of seeing beyond appearances.
Summer’s kindness is emphasized in her section, where she reflects on how she felt drawn to sit with Auggie simply because she didn’t like the idea of him eating alone. Her genuine nature is further highlighted when she defends her friendship with Auggie against her peers’ judgments, illustrating her strong moral compass.
Julian Albans
Role: Antagonist
Key Info: The main bully who targets Auggie because of his appearance..
The primary antagonist who bullies Auggie; he is prejudiced and cruel.
Julian’s cruelty is evident in how he and his friends make life difficult for Auggie, from the “Plague” game to his hurtful comments. Julian’s lack of remorse and his parents’ defense of his actions starkly contrast the kindness shown by other characters, underscoring the novel’s critique of prejudice and the importance of empathy.
Miranda Navas
Role: Via’s former best friend
Key Info: Estranged from Via but still cares deeply for Auggie.
Via’s former best friend who reconnects with her and shows deep affection for Auggie.
Background: Miranda and Via were close friends until high school, when Miranda’s life took a different turn. Despite their estrangement, Miranda remains connected to Auggie, whom she affectionately calls “Major Tom.”
Personality: Miranda is complex and conflicted, dealing with her own insecurities and family issues while still feeling a strong bond with Auggie and his family.
Development: Miranda’s character arc involves reconciling with Via and finding her place in a world that has changed significantly for her.
Significance: Miranda’s story highlights the complexities of teenage friendships and the impact of external circumstances on personal relationships.
Miranda’s narrative reveals her struggles with her own identity and the impact of her parents’ divorce on her life. Her continued affection for Auggie, despite her distance from Via, shows her deep connection to the Pullman family. Miranda’s decision to help Via’s family by giving up her role in the school play is a testament to her enduring loyalty.
Justin
Role: Via’s boyfriend
Key Info: Musician, empathetic, and supportive of Via and her family.
Via’s supportive boyfriend, who appreciates the warmth of the Pullman family and treats Auggie with kindness.
Background: Justin is Via’s boyfriend. He is a high school student who loves playing the violin in a zydeco band. His family is less emotionally connected, which makes him appreciate the warmth and closeness of the Pullman family.
Personality: Justin is gentle, kind, and reflective. He is deeply empathetic, particularly towards Via and August, and his quiet strength provides a sense of stability in Via’s life.
Development: Justin’s relationship with Via helps him realize the importance of family and emotional support. He becomes more confident in expressing his feelings and standing up for those he cares about.
Significance: Justin’s character underscores the theme of acceptance and highlights the contrast between different family dynamics. His outsider perspective offers a fresh view of the Pullman family, emphasizing their love and resilience.
Justin’s section in “Wonder” is written in a unique, lowercase style, reflecting his laid-back and artistic personality. He immediately notices the tension between Via and her parents. He is struck by the warmth and love that permeates the Pullman household, something he has not experienced in his own family. His narrative shows his growing attachment to Via and his protective instincts toward August, as seen when he stands up to Julian’s friends, who have been bullying Jack.
Mr. and Mrs. Pullman
Role: Auggie’s parents
Key Info: Supportive, loving, resilient.
Auggie’s loving and protective parents, who provide unwavering support and encouragement.
Background: Isabel and Nate Pullman are Auggie’s devoted parents, who provide unwavering support and love as he goes through the difficult first days of school and social acceptance.
Personality: Mrs. Pullman is nurturing, protective, and deeply involved in her children’s lives, especially Auggie’s. Mr. Pullman is more laid-back, using humor and optimism to provide emotional balance in the family.
Development: Throughout the novel, they adapt to the challenges of raising a child with a disability while ensuring that Via feels valued and supported.
Significance: Their characters highlight the importance of family support in overcoming adversity and underscore the novel’s themes of unconditional love and resilience.
Mr. and Mrs. Pullman’s unwavering love and support for Auggie is pivotal in helping him develop the grit and confidence needed to face his challenges. At the same time, their efforts to balance attention between Auggie and Via reflect the complexities of parenting in a family with unique needs. Mrs. Pullman focuses on protection and careful planning. Her cautious and detail-oriented nature ensures that Auggie is well cared for, though it sometimes makes her overly protective. Mr. Pullman offers support through humor and a positive outlook, making their home a place of love and encouragement. He encourages Auggie to take risks and face challenges, fostering resilience and independence.
Mr. Tushman
Role: Principal at Beecher Prep
Key Info: Supportive and kind, he plays a crucial role in Auggie’s adjustment to Beecher Prep.
The principal of Beecher Prep, who is compassionate and works to create an inclusive environment for Auggie.
Background: Mr. Tushman is the principal of Beecher Prep and is instrumental in Auggie’s transition into school life. He carefully selects students like Jack to befriend Auggie and sets a tone of inclusivity in the school.
Personality: Mr. Tushman is wise, compassionate, and deeply understands Auggie’s challenges. He is committed to fostering a supportive environment at school.
Development: Mr. Tushman consistently works to ensure Auggie’s well-being, demonstrating the importance of leadership in creating an inclusive community.
Significance: His role in the novel emphasizes the impact that empathetic and proactive leadership can have in a school setting.
Mr. Tushman’s letters and speeches throughout the novel, including his heartfelt graduation speech, reflect his deep concern for the emotional and social well-being of his students. His efforts to integrate Auggie into the school community and his understanding of the dynamics at play among the students highlight his role as a compassionate leader.
Mr. Browne
Role: Auggie’s English Teacher
Key Info: Inspirational, reflective, thoughtful.
The insightful English teacher who encourages his students to reflect on important life principles through monthly precepts.
Background: Mr. Browne is Auggie’s English teacher. He is known for his precepts: moral sayings that he shares with his students to inspire thoughtful reflection and personal growth.
Personality: He is inspirational and reflective, encouraging his students to think deeply about their values and interactions with others.
Development: Through his precepts, Mr. Browne fosters a classroom environment where students are encouraged to be kind, thoughtful, and reflective.
Significance: Mr. Browne’s role in the novel highlights the impact of positive role models in education and the importance of teaching values alongside academic subjects.
Mr. Browne serves as a guiding figure for the students at Beecher Prep, using his precepts to encourage them to reflect on their actions and the kind of people they want to be. His influence on the students, particularly Auggie, is profound, as he helps to shape their understanding of kindness, empathy, and moral integrity. Mr. Browne’s character reinforces the novel’s message that education is not just about academic achievement but also about developing character and values that will guide students throughout their lives.
Ebuka Igbokwe is the founder and former leader of a book club, the Liber Book Club, in 2016 and managed it for four years. Ebuka has also authored several children's books. He shares philosophical insights on his newsletter, Carefree Sketches and has published several short stories on a few literary blogs online.
