wonder-by-rj-palacio

["He\tput\this\treading\tglasses\ton\tagain,\tleafed\tthrough\ta\tbook,\tand\tstarted\tto\tread.\t\u201c\t\u2018Greatness,\u2019 wrote\tBeecher,\t\u2018lies\tnot\tin\tbeing\tstrong,\tbut\tin\tthe\tright\tusing\tof\tstrength.\u2026\tHe\tis\tthe\tgreatest whose\tstrength\tcarries\tup\tthe\tmost\thearts\t\u2026\u2019\t\u201d And\tagain,\tout\tof\tthe\tblue,\the\tgot\tall\tchoked\tup.\tHe\tput\this\ttwo\tindex\tfingers\tover\this\tmouth for\ta\tsecond\tbefore\tcontinuing. \u201c\t \u2018He\t is\t the\t greatest,\u2019\t \u201d\t he\t finally\t continued,\t \u201c\t \u2018whose\t strength\t carries\t up\t the\t most\t hearts\t by the\tattraction\tof\this\town.\u2019\tWithout\tfurther\tado,\tthis\tyear\tI\tam\tvery\tproud\tto\taward\tthe\tHenry Ward\tBeecher\tmedal\tto\tthe\tstudent\twhose\tquiet\tstrength\thas\tcarried\tup\tthe\tmost\thearts. \u201cSo\twill\tAugust\tPullman\tplease\tcome\tup\there\tto\treceive\tthis\taward?\u201d","Floating People\t started\t applauding\t before\t Mr.\t Tushman\u2019s\t words\t actually\t registered\t in\t my\t brain.\t I heard\t Maya,\t who\t was\t next\t to\t me,\t give\t a\t little\t happy\t scream\t when\t she\t heard\t my\t name,\t and Miles,\t who\t was\t on\t the\t other\t side\t of\t me,\t patted\t my\t back.\t \u201cStand\t up,\t get\t up!\u201d\t said\t kids\t all around\tme,\tand\tI\tfelt\tlots\tof\thands\tpushing\tme\tupward\tout\tof\tmy\tseat,\tguiding\tme\tto\tthe\tedge of\tthe\trow,\tpatting\tmy\tback,\thigh-fiving\tme.\t\u201cWay\tto\tgo,\tAuggie!\u201d\t\u201cNice\tgoing,\tAuggie!\u201d\tI\teven started\t hearing\t my\t name\t being\t chanted:\t \u201cAug-gie!\t Aug-gie!\t Aug-gie!\u201d\t I\t looked\t back\t and\t saw Jack\t leading\t the\t chant,\t fist\t in\t the\t air,\t smiling\t and\t signaling\t for\t me\t to\t keep\t going,\t and\t Amos shouting\tthrough\this\thands:\t\u201cWoo-hoo,\tlittle\tdude!\u201d Then\t I\t saw\t Summer\t smiling\t as\t I\t walked\t past\t her\t row,\t and\t when\t she\t saw\t me\t look\t at\t her,\t she gave\t me\t a\t secret\t little\t thumbs-up\t and\t mouthed\t a\t silent\t \u201ccool\t beans\u201d\t to\t me.\t I\t laughed\t and shook\tmy\thead\tlike\tI\tcouldn\u2019t\tbelieve\tit.\tI\treally\tcouldn\u2019t\tbelieve\tit. I\tthink\tI\twas\tsmiling.\tMaybe\tI\twas\tbeaming,\tI\tdon\u2019t\tknow.\tAs\tI\twalked\tup\tthe\taisle\ttoward\tthe stage,\t all\t I\t saw\t was\t a\t blur\t of\t happy\t bright\t faces\t looking\t at\t me,\t and\t hands\t clapping\t for\t me. And\tI\theard\tpeople\tyelling\tthings\tout\tat\tme:\t\u201cYou\tdeserve\tit,\tAuggie!\u201d\t\u201cGood\tfor\tyou,\tAuggie!\u201d I\t saw\t all\t my\t teachers\t in\t the\t aisle\t seats,\t Mr.\t Browne\t and\t Ms.\t Petosa\t and\t Mr.\t Roche\t and\t Mrs. Atanabi\t and\t Nurse\t Molly\t and\t all\t the\t others:\t and\t they\t were\t cheering\t for\t me,\t woo-hooing\t and whistling. I\t felt\t like\t I\t was\t floating.\t It\t was\t so\t weird.\t Like\t the\t sun\t was\t shining\t full\t force\t on\t my\t face\t and the\twind\twas\tblowing.\tAs\tI\tgot\tcloser\tto\tthe\tstage,\tI\tsaw\tMs.\tRubin\twaving\tat\tme\tin\tthe\tfront row,\tand\t then\t next\t to\t her\t was\t Mrs.\t G,\t who\t was\t crying\t hysterically\u2014a\t happy\t crying\u2014smiling and\tcla\t pping\t the\t whole\t time.\t And\t as\t I\t walked\t up\t the\t steps\t to\t the\t stage,\t the\t most\t amazing thing\t happened:\t everyone\t started\t standing\t up.\t Not\t just\t the\t front\t rows,\t but\t the\t whole audience\t suddenly\t got\t up\t on\t their\t feet,\t whooping,\t hollering,\t clapping\t like\t crazy.\t It\t was\t a standing\tovation.\tFor\tme. I\t walked\t across\t the\t stage\t to\t Mr.\t Tushman,\t who\t shook\t my\t hand\t with\t both\t his\t hands\t and whispered\tin\tmy\tear:\t\u201cWell\tdone,\tAuggie.\u201d\tThen\the\tplaced\tthe\tgold\tmedal\tover\tmy\thead,\tjust like\tthey\tdo\tin\tthe\tOlympics,\tand\thad\tme\tturn\tto\tface\tthe\taudience.\tIt\tfelt\tlike\tI\twas\twatching myself\t in\t a\t movie,\t almost,\t like\t I\t was\t someone\t else.\t It\t was\t like\t that\t last\t scene\t in\t Star\t Wars Episode\t IV:\t A\t New\t Hope\t when\t Luke\t Skywalker,\t Han\t Solo,\t and\t Chewbacca\t are\t being applauded\t for\t destroying\t the\t Death\t Star.\t I\t could\t almost\t hear\t the\t Star\t Wars\t theme\t music playing\tin\tmy\thead\tas\tI\tstood\ton\tthe\tstage. I\twasn\u2019t\teven\tsure\twhy\tI\twas\tgetting\tthis\tmedal,\treally. No,\tthat\u2019s\tnot\ttrue.\tI\tknew\twhy. It\u2019s\t like\t people\t you\t see\t sometimes,\t and\t you\t can\u2019t\t imagine\t what\t it\t would\t be\t like\t to\t be\t that person,\twhether\tit\u2019s\tsomebody\tin\ta\twheelchair\tor\tsomebody\twho\tcan\u2019t\ttalk.\tOnly,\tI\tknow\tthat I\u2019m\tthat\tperson\tto\tother\tpeople,\tmaybe\tto\tevery\tsingle\tperson\tin\tthat\twhole\tauditorium. To\tme,\tthough,\tI\u2019m\tjust\tme.\tAn\tordinary\tkid. But\they,\tif\tthey\twant\tto\tgive\tme\ta\tmedal\tfor\tbeing\tme,\tthat\u2019s\tokay.\tI\u2019ll\ttake\tit.\tI\tdidn\u2019t\tdestroy\ta Death\tStar\tor\tanything\tlike\tthat,\tbut\tI\tdid\tjust\tget\tthrough\tthe\tfifth\tgrade.\tAnd\tthat\u2019s\tnot\teasy, even\tif\tyou\u2019re\tnot\tme.","Pictures Afterward\tthere\twas\ta\treception\tfor\tthe\tfifth\tand\tsixth\tgraders\tunder\ta\thuge\twhite\ttent\tin\tthe back\t of\t the\t school.\t All\t the\t kids\t found\t their\t parents,\t and\t I\t didn\u2019t\t mind\t at\t all\t when\t Mom\t and Dad\thugged\tme\tlike\tcrazy,\tor\twhen\tVia\twrapped\ther\tarms\taround\tme\tand\tswung\tme\tleft\tand right\tabout\ttwenty\ttimes.\tThen\tPoppa\tand\tTata\thugged\tme,\tand\tAunt\tKate\tand\tUncle\tPo,\tand Uncle\tBen\u2014everyone\tkind\tof\tteary-eyed\tand\twet-cheeked.\tBut\tMiranda\twas\tthe\tfunniest:\tshe was\tcrying\tmore\tthan\tanyone\tand\tsqueezed\tme\tso\ttight\tthat\tVia\thad\tto\tpractically\tpry\ther\toff of\tme,\twhich\tmade\tthem\tboth\tlaugh. Everyone\t started\t taking\t pictures\t of\t me\t and\t pulling\t out\t their\t Flips,\t and\t then\t Dad\t got\t me, Summer,\tand\tJack\ttogether\tfor\ta\tgroup\tshot.\tWe\tput\tour\tarms\taround\teach\tother\u2019s\tshoulders, and\tfor\tthe\tfirst\ttime\tI\tcan\tremember,\tI\twasn\u2019t\teven\tthinking\tabout\tmy\tface.\tI\twas\tjust\tsmiling a\t big\t fat\t happy\t smile\t for\t all\t the\t different\t cameras\t clicking\t away\t at\t me.\t Flash,\t flash,\t click, click:\t smiling\t away\t as\t Jack\u2019s\t parents\t and\t Summer\u2019s\t mom\t started\t clicking.\t Then\t Reid\t and Maya\t came\t over.\t Flash,\t flash,\t click,\t click.\t And\t then\t Charlotte\t came\t over\t and\t asked\t if\t she could\t take\t a\t picture\t with\t us,\t and\t we\t were\t like,\t \u201cSure,\t of\t course!\u201d\t And\t then\t Charlotte\u2019s parents\twere\tsnapping\taway\tat\tour\tlittle\tgroup\talong\twith\teveryone\telse\u2019s\tparents. And\tthe\tnext\tthing\tI\tknew,\tthe\ttwo\tMaxes\thad\tcome\tover,\tand\tHenry\tand\tMiles,\tand\tSavanna. Then\tAmos\tcame\tover,\tand\tXimena.\tAnd\twe\twere\tall\tin\tthis\tbig\ttight\thuddle\tas\tparents\tclicked away\tlike\twe\twere\ton\ta\tred\tcarpet\tsomewhere.\tLuca.\tIsaiah.\tNino.\tPablo.\tTristan.\tEllie.\tI\tlost track\t of\t who\t else\t came\t over.\t Everybody,\t practically.\t All\t I\t knew\t for\t sure\t is\t that\t we\t were\t all laughing\t and\t squeezing\t in\t tight\t against\t each\t other,\t and\t no\t one\t seemed\t to\t care\t if\t it\t was\t my face\t that\t was\t next\t to\t theirs\t or\t not.\t In\t fact,\t and\t I\t don\u2019t\t mean\t to\t brag\t here,\t but\t it\t kind\t of\t felt like\teveryone\twanted\tto\tget\tclose\tto\tme.","The\tWalk\tHome We\twalked\tto\tour\thouse\tfor\tcake\tand\tice\tcream\tafter\tthe\treception.\tJack\tand\this\tparents\tand his\t little\t brother,\t Jamie.\t Summer\t and\t her\t mother.\t Uncle\t Po\t and\t Aunt\t Kate.\t Uncle\t Ben,\t Tata and\tPoppa.\tJustin\tand\tVia\tand\tMiranda.\tMom\tand\tDad. It\twas\tone\tof\tthose\tgreat\tJune\tdays\twhen\tthe\tsky\tis\tcompletely\tblue\tand\tthe\tsun\tis\tshining\tbut it\t isn\u2019t\t so\t hot\t that\t you\t wish\t you\t were\t on\t the\t beach\t instead.\t It\t was\t just\t the\t perfect\t day. Everyone\twas\thappy.\tI\tstill\tfelt\tlike\tI\twas\tfloating,\tthe\tStar\tWars\thero\tmusic\tin\tmy\thead. I\t walked\t with\t Summer\t and\t Jack,\t and\t we\t just\t couldn\u2019t\t stop\t cracking\t up.\t Everything\t made\t us laugh.\tWe\twere\tin\tthat\tgiggly\tkind\tof\tmood\twhere\tall\tsomeone\thas\tto\tdo\tis\tlook\tat\tyou\tand\tyou start\tlaughing. I\t heard\t Dad\u2019s\t voice\t up\t ahead\t and\t looked\t up.\t He\t was\t telling\t everyone\t a\t funny\t story\t as\t they walked\tdown\tAmesfort\tAvenue.\tThe\tgrown-ups\twere\tall\tlaughing,\ttoo.\tIt\twas\tlike\tMom\talways said:\tDad\tcould\tbe\ta\tcomedian. I\t noticed\t Mom\t wasn\u2019t\t walking\t with\t the\t group\t of\t grown-ups,\t so\t I\t looked\t behind\t me.\t She\t was hanging\t back\t a\t bit,\t smiling\t to\t herself\t like\t she\t was\t thinking\t of\t something\t sweet.\t She\t seemed happy. I\t took\t a\t few\t steps\t back\t and\t surprised\t her\t by\t hugging\t her\t as\t she\t walked.\t She\t put\t her\t arm around\tme\tand\tgave\tme\ta\tsqueeze. \u201cThank\tyou\tfor\tmaking\tme\tgo\tto\tschool,\u201d\tI\tsaid\tquietly. She\thugged\tme\tclose\tand\tleaned\tdown\tand\tkissed\tthe\ttop\tof\tmy\thead. \u201cThank\tyou,\tAuggie,\u201d\tshe\tanswered\tsoftly. \u201cFor\twhat?\u201d \u201cFor\teverything\tyou\u2019ve\tgiven\tus,\u201d\tshe\tsaid.\t\u201cFor\tcoming\tinto\tour\tlives.\tFor\tbeing\tyou.\u201d She\tbent\tdown\tand\twhispered\tin\tmy\tear.\t\u201cYou\treally\tare\ta\twonder,\tAuggie.\tYou\tare\ta\twonder.\u201d","APPENDIX MR.\tBROWNE\u2019S\tPRECEPTS SEPTEMBER When\tgiven\tthe\tchoice\tbetween\tbeing\tright\tor\tbeing\tkind,\tchoose\tkind.\t\u2014Dr.\tWayne\tW.\tDyer OCTOBER Your\tdeeds\tare\tyour\tmonuments.\t\u2014inscription\ton\tan\tEgyptian\ttomb NOVEMBER Have\tno\tfriends\tnot\tequal\tto\tyourself.\t\u2014Confucius DECEMBER Audentes\tfortuna\tiuvat.\t(Fortune\tfavors\tthe\tbold.)\t\u2014Virgil JANUARY No\tman\tis\tan\tisland,\tentire\tof\titself.\t\u2014John\tDonne FEBRUARY It\tis\tbetter\tto\tknow\tsome\tof\tthe\tquestions\tthan\tall\tof\tthe\tanswers.\t\u2014James\tThurber MARCH Kind\twords\tdo\tnot\tcost\tmuch.\tYet\tthey\taccomplish\tmuch. \u2014Blaise\tPascal APRIL What\tis\tbeautiful\tis\tgood,\tand\twho\tis\tgood\twill\tsoon\tbe\tbeautiful. \u2014Sappho MAY Do\tall\tthe\tgood\tyou\tcan, By\tall\tthe\tmeans\tyou\tcan, In\tall\tthe\tways\tyou\tcan, \t In\tall\tthe\tplaces\tyou\tcan, At\tall\tthe\ttimes\tyou\tcan, To\tall\tthe\tpeople\tyou\tcan, As\tlong\tas\tyou\tever\tcan. \u2014John\tWesley\u2019s\tRule JUNE Just\tfollow\tthe\tday\tand\treach\tfor\tthe\tsun!\t\u2014The\tPolyphonic\tSpree,\t\u201cLight\tand\tDay\u201d","POSTCARD\tPRECEPTS CHARLOTTE\tCODY\u2019S\tPRECEPT It\u2019s\tnot\tenough\tto\tbe\tfriendly.\tYou\thave\tto\tbe\ta\tfriend. REID\tKINGSLEY\u2019S\tPRECEPT Save\tthe\toceans,\tsave\tthe\tworld!\t\u2014Me! TRISTAN\tFIEDLEHOLTZEN\u2019S\tPRECEPT If\tyou\treally\twant\tsomething\tin\tthis\tlife,\tyou\thave\tto\twork\tfor\tit.\tNow\tquiet,\tthey\u2019re\tabout\tto announce\tthe\tlottery\tnumbers!\t\u2014Homer\tSimpson SAVANNA\tWITTENBERG\u2019S\tPRECEPT Flowers\tare\tgreat,\tbut\tlove\tis\tbetter.\t\u2014Justin\tBieber HENRY\tJOPLIN\u2019S\tPRECEPT Don\u2019t\tbe\tfriends\twith\tjerks.\t\u2014Henry\tJoplin MAYA\tMARKOWITZ\u2019S\tPRECEPT All\tyou\tneed\tis\tlove.\t\u2014The\tBeatles AMOS\tCONTI\u2019S\tPRECEPT Don\u2019t\ttry\ttoo\thard\tto\tbe\tcool.\tIt\talways\tshows,\tand\tthat\u2019s\tuncool.\t\u2014Amos\tConti XIMENA\tCHIN\u2019S\tPRECEPT To\tthine\town\tself\tbe\ttrue.\t\u2014Hamlet,\tShakespeare JULIAN\tALBANS\u2019S\tPRECEPT Sometimes\tit\u2019s\tgood\tto\tstart\tover.\t\u2014Julian\tAlbans SUMMER\tDAWSON\u2019S\tPRECEPT If\tyou\tcan\tget\tthrough\tmiddle\tschool\twithout\thurting\tanyone\u2019s\tfeelings,\tthat\u2019s\treally\tcool beans.\t\u2014Summer\tDawson JACK\tWILL\u2019S\tPRECEPT Keep\tcalm\tand\tcarry\ton!\t\u2014some\tsaying\tfrom\tWorld\tWar\tII AUGUST\tPULLMAN\u2019S\tPRECEPT Everyone\tin\tthe\tworld\tshould\tget\ta\tstanding\tovation\tat\tleast\tonce\tin\ttheir\tlife\tbecause\twe\tall overcometh\tthe\tworld.\t\u2014Auggie","ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I\t am\t grateful\t beyond\t measure\t to\t my\t amazing\t agent,\t Alyssa\t Eisner\t Henkin,\t for\t loving\t this manuscript\t even\t in\t its\t earliest\t drafts\t and\t being\t such\t a\t strong\t champion\t for\t Jill\t Aramor,\t R.\t J. Palacio,\t or\t whatever\t name\t I\t decided\t to\t call\t myself.\t Thanks\t to\t Joan\t Slattery,\t whose\t joyful enthusiasm\t brought\t me\t to\t Knopf.\t And\t most\t especially,\t thank\t you\t to\t Erin\t Clarke,\t editor extraordinaire,\t who\t made\t this\t book\t as\t good\t as\t it\t could\t be\t and\t for\t taking\t such\t good\t care\t of Auggie\t&\tCompany:\tI\tknew\twe\twere\tall\tin\tgood\thands. Thank\tyou\tto\tthe\twonderful\tteam\twho\tworked\ton\tWonder.\tIris\tBroudy,\tI\tam\tprivileged\tto\tcall you\t my\t copy\t editor.\t Kate\t Gartner\t and\t Tad\t Carpenter,\t thank\t you\t for\t the\t brilliant\t jacket.\t Long before\t I\t wrote\t this\t book,\t I\t was\t lucky\t to\t work\t side\t by\t side\t with\t copy\t editors,\t proofreaders, designers,\tproduction\tmanagers,\tmarketing\tassistants,\tpublicists,\tand\tall\tthe\tmen\tand\twomen quietly\t toiling\t behind\t the\t curtain\t to\t make\t books\t happen\u2014and\t I\t know\t it\t ain\u2019t\t for\t the\t money! It\u2019s\tfor\tlove.\tThank\tyou\tto\tthe\tsales\treps\tand\tthe\tbook\tbuyers\tand\tthe\tbooksellers\twho\tare\tin an\timpossible\tbut\tbeautiful\tindustry. Thank\t you\t to\t my\t amazing\t sons,\t Caleb\t and\t Joseph,\t for\t all\t the\t joy\t you\t bring\t me,\t for understanding\t all\t those\t times\t when\t Mom\t needed\t to\t write,\t and\t for\t always\t choosing\t \u201ckind.\u201d You\tare\tmy\twonders. And\t most\t of\t all,\t thank\t you\t to\t my\t incredible\t husband,\t Russell,\t for\t your\t inspiring\t insights, instincts,\tand\tunwavering\tsupport\u2014not\tjust\tfor\tthis\tproject\tbut\tfor\tall\tof\tthem\tover\tthe\tyears\u2014 and\t for\t being\t my\t first\t reader,\t my\t first\t love,\t my\t everything.\t Like\t Maria\t said,\t \u201cSomewhere\t in my\tyouth\tor\tchildhood,\tI\tmust\thave\tdone\tsomething\tgood.\u201d\tHow\telse\tto\texplain\tthis\tlife\twe\u2019ve built\ttogether?\tI\tam\tgrateful\tevery\tday. Lastly,\tbut\tnot\tleast,\tI\twould\tlike\tto\tthank\tthe\tlittle\tgirl\tin\tfront\tof\tthe\tice\tcream\tshop\tand\tall the\tother\t\u201cAuggies,\u201d\twhose\tstories\thave\tinspired\tme\tto\twrite\tthis\tbook. \u2014R.J.","PERMISSIONS Grateful\t acknowledgment\t is\t made\t to\t the\t following\t for\t permission\t to\t reprint\t previously published\tmaterial: Gay\t and\t Loud\t Music:\t Excerpt\t from\t \u201cThe\t Luckiest\t Guy\t on\t the\t Lower\t East\t Side,\u201d\t written\t by Stephin\tMerritt\tand\tperformed\tby\tthe\tMagnetic\tFields,\tcopyright\t\u00a9\t1999\tby\tStephin\tMerritt. Published\t by\t Gay\t and\t Loud\t Music\t (ASCAP).\t All\t rights\t reserved.\t Reprinted\t by\t permission\t of Gay\tand\tLoud\tMusic. Indian\t Love\t Bride\t Music:\t Excerpt\t from\t \u201cWonder,\u201d\t written\t by\t Natalie\t Merchant,\t copyright\t \u00a9 1995\t by\t Natalie\t Merchant\t (ASCAP).\t All\t rights\t reserved.\t Reprinted\t by\t permission\t of\t In\t dian Love\tBride\tMusic. Sony\/ATV\t Music\t Publishing\t LLC:\t Excerpt\t from\t \u201cBeautiful,\u201d\t written\t by\t Linda\t Perry\t and performed\t by\t Christina\t Aguilera,\t copyright\t \u00a9\t 2002\t by\t Sony\/ATV\t Music\t Publishing\t LLC\t and Stuck\t in\t the\t Throat\t Music.\t All\t rights\t administered\t by\t Sony\/ATV\t Music\t Publishing\t LLC,\t 8 Music\t Square\t West,\t Nashville,\t TN\t 37203.\t All\t rights\t reserved.\t Reprinted\t by\t permission\t of Sony\/ATV\tMusic\tPublishing\tLLC\tand\tStuck\tin\tthe\tThroat\tMusic. Talpa\t Music:\t Excerpt\t from\t \u201cBeautiful\t Things,\u201d\t written\t by\t Josh\t Gabriel,\t Mavie\t Marcos,\t and David\t Penner.\t Copyright\t \u00a9\t Published\t by\t Talpa\t Music.\t All\t rights\t reserved.\t Reprinted\t by permission\tof\tTalpa\tMusic. TRO-Essex\tMusic\tInternational,\tInc.:\tExcerpt\tfrom\t\u201cSpace\tOddity,\u201d\twords\tand\tmusic\tby\tDavid Bowie,\t copyright\t \u00a9\t 1969,\t copyright\t renewed\t 1997\t by\t Onward\t Music\t Ltd,\t London,\t England. All\t rights\t reserved.\t International\t copyright\t secured.\t Reprinted\t by\t permission\t of\t TRO-Essex Music\tInternational,\tInc.,\tNew\tYork.","",""]