Wonder Chapter 2 (Pages 15-30)

Summary

The script follows a young boy named August who is about to start at a new school, Beecher Prep. He meets the school's director, Mr. Tushman, and his assistant, Mrs. Garcia, before being introduced to his future classmates. August is nervous about making friends and fitting in, especially due to his facial differences. His new peers, Jack, Julian, and Charlotte, give him a tour of the school, during which Julian asks insensitive questions about his appearance. Despite the awkwardness, August connects with Jack, who acknowledges his smile, offering a glimmer of hope for friendship.

Takeaways

• 😄 The protagonist, August, is nervous about meeting Mr. Tushman and students from the new school due to his facial differences.
• 😅 August's initial impression of Mr. Tushman is influenced by his father's jokes, but he finds Mr. Tushman to be a normal, nice person.
• 👣 August and his mother visit Beecher Prep, where August is about to start school, and they meet various staff members including Mrs. Garcia.
• 🤗 Mrs. Garcia, the assistant, tries to make August feel comfortable, but her initial reaction to his appearance is noticeable, though she quickly recovers.
• 🏫 August is introduced to the concept of homeroom and the various school facilities, such as the science lab and performance space.
• 🤔 August's unfamiliarity with school routines is highlighted, as he doesn't understand what a homeroom is and has been homeschooled by his mother.
• 👦👧 August meets three students, Jack, Julian, and Charlotte, who are assigned to show him around the school before the school year starts.
• 😕 Julian makes insensitive comments about August's appearance, revealing a lack of understanding and empathy.
• 👍 Charlotte is supportive and tries to answer August's questions, providing explanations about school routines and electives.
• 😡 Julian's rude questioning about August's face causes tension, but Charlotte defends August and confronts Julian's insensitivity.
• 📚 The school tour includes a visit to the auditorium, where Charlotte shares her experience of performing in a school play.

Q & A

Who is Mr. Tushman and what is his role in the story?

Mr. Tushman is the Middle School Director at Beecher Prep, the school August, the protagonist, is about to attend. He is responsible for introducing August to the school environment and helping him transition into his new educational setting.

Why was August nervous about meeting Mr. Tushman and the new students?

August was nervous about meeting Mr. Tushman and the new students because he was not only new to the school but also had physical differences that made him feel self-conscious. His previous homeschooling experience had not exposed him to such social situations.

What was August's first impression of Mr. Tushman?

August's first impression of Mr. Tushman was that he was a normal-looking guy, tall and thin, and not as old as he had imagined. He found Mr. Tushman to be nice and approachable, contrary to the jokes his father had made about his name.

How did Mrs. Garcia's initial reaction to meeting August affect him?

Mrs. Garcia's initial reaction, where her eyes dropped for a second, made August feel self-conscious about his appearance. However, he later appreciated her warmth and reassurance that she would take good care of him.

What is the significance of the framed painting that August thought was a pumpkin?

The painting that August thought was a pumpkin turned out to be a portrait of Mr. Tushman, which served as a humorous moment in the script, highlighting Mr. Tushman's ability to laugh at himself and making August feel more comfortable.

Why did Julian question August's ability to handle the science elective?

Julian questioned August's ability to handle the science elective because he was unaware of August's homeschooling background and assumed that since August had never been to a school before, he might not be academically prepared for a challenging course.

What does the interaction between the students and August during the school tour reveal about their attitudes?

The interaction reveals that while Charlotte is friendly and tries to include August, Julian exhibits a mix of curiosity and insensitivity, and Jack Will seems indifferent but eventually shows a moment of understanding and kindness.

What is the significance of August's smile to Jack Will?

August's smile is significant to Jack Will because it shows a moment of connection between them. Despite August's facial differences, Jack Will recognizes the smile and responds in kind, indicating a potential friendship or at least a level of empathy.

Why did August's mother decide to have him meet the students before the school year started?

August's mother and Mr. Tushman thought it would be beneficial for him to meet some students before school started to help him feel more comfortable and integrated into the school environment.

What does the script suggest about the social dynamics August might face at his new school?

The script suggests that August might face a range of reactions from his peers, from curiosity and potential friendship to insensitivity and possible ostracization due to his physical appearance.

How does the script use humor to lighten the mood and make August's situation more relatable?

The script uses humor through Mr. Tushman's self-deprecating jokes about his name and the pumpkin painting, as well as August's internal thoughts, to create a lighter tone and make the story more engaging and relatable to the reader.