doesn't talk about most of these incidents, so his parents don't intervene directly—but on several occasions they demonstrate support for him that gives him the tools to handle Julian's bullying.

The first time Auggie meets Julian, at a summer tour of Beecher Prep with two other kids, his mother thinks Julian is nice and polite. "No, not nice," says Auggie, and his mother realizes Julian is "the kind of kid who's one way in front of grown-ups and another way in front of kids." She offers Auggie the opportunity to continue being homeschooled, putting the power and decision in his hands. Trusted and given the chance to choose for himself, Auggie chooses to attend Beecher Prep.

Several weeks into the school year, Auggie has a birthday party and wants to invite everyone in his homeroom—even Julian, because "I don't want anyone to get their feelings hurt if they find out other people are invited and they aren't." His mother questions his desire to invite Julian, offering Auggie the chance to keep his distance: again she gives him the power to decide how to respond. Auggie chooses to demonstrate fairness and compassion by inviting all students and tells his mother to let go of Julian's rudeness. Julian's parents prove to be the only ones who don't RSVP for the party, indicating that "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree"—a phrase Auggie's mother uses to indicate that Julian's rudeness is learned from his parents.