The following version of the novel was used to create this study guide: Palacio, R.J. Auggie and Me: Three Wonder Stories. Knopf Books for Young Readers, November 14, 2017. Kindle.

In the children’s novel Auggie and Me: Three Wonder Stories, by R.J. Palacio, students Julian Albans, Chris Blake, and Charlotte Cody narrate the memorable experiences involving Auggie during their fifth-grade years. Julian learns the meaning of remorse when he discovers he was named after a physically deformed boy who saved his grandmother’s life. Chris understands the value of even difficult friendships when Auggie helps him through a tough day. Charlotte realizes that being popular should not be more important than being kind.

In the story “The Julian Chapter,” Julian, who was one of the most popular kids in his fourth-grade class, struggles when Auggie begins attending Beecher Prep. Among other things, Julian called Auggie names and initiated a game he called the plague. If a student touched Auggie, he would have to wash his hands or he would die. Things escalated when a student punched Julian in the face after he made a hateful comment about Auggie. Julian continued to escalate tensions by putting notes in Auggie’s locker suggesting that Auggie’s mother regretted having him and that he should die.

Julian was expelled from school after the notes were discovered. Julian was shunned when he returned to school. He was still upset by what happened and blamed Auggie for ruining his school year when it was time for summer break. Julian spent the summer with his grandmother who did not react as Julian expected her to when she saw the picture of Auggie. She told him the story of how a boy the students in her class called Tourteau because his legs were deformed by polio saved her life when Nazi soldiers came looking for Jewish children at her school. Before that, his grandmother had ignored Tourteau because she was afraid of him. She comes to realize, Tourteau, whose real name is Julian was a very likable person despite his disability. He and his family hid her from the Nazis for two years even though they were risking their lives to do so. Two months before liberation, Tourteau was taken by the Nazis and killed in the gas chambers because he was physically deformed. Julian cried when he learned the story about his name. He was remorseful that he had made life so difficult for another boy who was like Tourteau. Julian took responsibility for his actions and wrote an apology to Auggie.

In the story “Pluto,” Chris and Auggie were friends from almost the moment they were born all through their developmental years until Chris and his family moved away. Chris’ mother encouraged Chris to stay in touch with his oldest friend, but Chris struggles with the difficulty in maintaining a relationship with Auggie because of Auggie’s deformities. Chris’ new friends make fun of Auggie when they see his face. Chris also is involved in so many extra-curricular activities that it makes it difficult for him to schedule the time to spend with Auggie.

One day, Chris and his mother arrived at school to find that Chris had forgotten his science paper, his gym shorts, and his trombone. Chris had already been hateful to his mother that morning. Now he pressed her to hurry back to the house and return with his things so he would not get his grades docked. When she told him she loved him, Chris called his mother by her first name, which he knew she hated and did not say he loved her in return.

Chris waited all day, but his mother never returned with his things. It was only when Chris’ father picked him up after band practice that Chris learned his mother had been in a car wreck. Chris worried the wreck was his fault. The reality of what might have happened, combined with Chris’ stress over his math test the next day, caused him to break down when talking on the phone with Isabel, Auggie’s mother. Isabel and Auggie both showered Chris with concern, demonstrating that even though their friendship has been difficult, it has been worthwhile. Additionally, Auggie helped Chris prepare for his math test. Before he went to bed that night, Chris packed his things for school so he would not forget anything the following morning.

In “Shingaling,” Charlotte was known around the school as a Goody Two-shoes. She was nice to everyone, especially to Auggie because she was one of his welcome buddies, and she even helped with the school’s coat drive. Charlotte was not popular, but she was looking for every option to join the group of popular girls into which her former best friend, Ellie, had been incorporated.

Charlotte began to learn about friendship and the differences between being nice and being kind when she was chosen to be in a dance routine with Summer and Ximena, two very different students. Summer sat with Auggie at lunch because she wanted to, a behavior for which Ximena labeled Summer a saint. Ximena, a girl who many people believed was arrogant because she was friends with only one, extremely popular girl, was snarky and hateful. She accused Charlotte of being hypocritical because she made a point to be nice to Auggie, but seemed to be doing it only for show. When Charlotte got to know Ximena better, she learned that Ximena used her snarkiness as a way to protect herself. Charlotte was never invited to join the group of popular girls, but in the end, decided it did not matter. Her constant friend, Maya, had been loyal to her since they first met one another, unlike Ellie who left her for people who seemed more influential.

Charlotte additionally impressed Mr. Tushman when she agreed with him that Auggie should be awarded the Beecher Medal for encouraging kindness at the school. Charlotte had expected to receive the medal for her work with the coat drive. Instead, Charlotte suggested that Summer also be awarded the honor because she had been the first to befriend Auggie. As she and Mr. Tushman discussed how Summer might feel about the award, Charlotte realized that Summer would not want a medal for being kind, that was just who she was. Charlotte decided to strive to be more like Summer.