The three stories reviewed here are off shoots of the fabulous book Wonder by R. J. Palacio which does need to be read first in order to understand The Julian Chapter, Pluto, and Shingaling.
Wonder, tells the story of Auggie Pullman, a boy entering school (middle school) for the first time in his life and how he copes with how others treat him. Auggie was born with a facial deformity and is often shunned by those who aren’t closest to him. While most of Wonder is told from Auggie’s point of view, several of the chapters are told from other’s perspectives, including his sister and friends, Summer and Jack. However, we never hear from the bully Julian’s side of things…until The Julian Chapter.
The Julian Chapter briefly recaps the fifth grade school year from Julian’s perspective including the real reason he didn’t go to camp with the rest of his class and his lack of remorse for bullying Auggie (and Jack) throughout the year. The burning question before starting the story was whether Julian would ever reform and realize that his actions were hurtful and wrong. This question is answered during Julian’s summer break, when he goes to stay with his grandmother in France. His grandmother quickly catches on to how Julian had been acting during the school year and decides to tell him a story of when she had to flee from the Germans in WWII and of the boy, handicapped from polio, who hid her until the war was over. The Julian Chapter is worth reading for Julian’s grandmother’s story if not for Julian’s change of heart.
Pluto tells the story from Auggie’s childhood friend, Christopher’s point of view. Also entering fifth grade, Christopher is trying to deal with his bad habit of always forgetting his school stuff at home, choosing sides in his band group, and his parent’s talk of divorce. After forgetting his school work once again, his mom drives back home to get his stuff and gets into a car accident on the way. The accident makes everyone realize what is important in life. This was an enjoyable short story but not as rewarding as The Julian Chapter.
Shingaling tells the story from Charlotte’s perspective, who had been one of Auggie’s “welcome” buddies at the beginning of the school year. Charlotte’s year is full of gossip, figuring out how to change her social status, and of her making new friends with her afterschool dance group who are learning to dance the shingaling. Some of Charlotte’s story was interesting, such as her budding friendships with Summer and Ximena and the mystery of the homeless man, but if stories full of Truth or Dare, quarrels over who sits at which lunch table, and gossip aren’t your thing you probably want to give this one a pass.
J FIC Pal Auggie & Me: Three Wonder Stories
THESE TITLES ARE ALSO AVAILBLE ON AUDIO CD WHICH IS HOW I READ THE BOOKS.