Student Question
Why is Halloween positive for August in Wonder?
Quick answer:
Halloween is positive for August in Wonder because it allows him to blend in with other students, wearing a mask that conceals his facial disfigurement. This gives him a sense of normalcy and acceptance, as he can interact without being judged by his appearance. August treasures Halloween as it lets him feel like a regular kid, highlighting his desire to be appreciated for his personality and talents rather than his looks.
Wonder, a novel by R. J. Palacio, presents the story of August Pullman (Auggie), a boy with a facial disfigurement as he attends a private middle school and learns to deal with life outside the protective circle of his family. During the course of the school year, August learns about his capacity to deal with hardships, the strength of his family’s love, and who his true friends are.
Halloween is a positive experience for August because when everyone is wearing masks and costumes, he feels he’s on equal footing with the other students and doesn’t have to stand out.
In the chapter “Costumes,” August relates:
For me, Halloween is the best holiday in the world. It even beats Christmas. I get to dress up in a costume. I get to wear a mask. I get to go around like every other kid with a mask and nobody thinks...
Unlock This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
I look weird. Nobody knows me. I wish every day could be Halloween.
This poignant confession demonstrates how much August wants to be a regular kid who lives a normal, everyday life. He wants to be accepted for his personality and talents and not to be judged by his appearance.
August goes on to describe in detail the previous costumes he’s worn (including the story’s iconic astronaut helmet), revealing his imagination and love of books and pop culture. He also indicates his mother’s level of understanding of his needs with the quick aside, “Mom’s good at costumes.”
The events in the next chapter, “The Bleeding Scream,” seem to prove August’s ideas about the safety of costumes as correct, at first. When he sees another student wearing a similar outfit, August gets a high-five but then begins to see past the safety of a disguise by realizing people still might know who he is:
… I wondered for a second if he would have ever done that if he’d known it was me under the mask.
August then encounters a new challenge when he enters homeroom and realizes how the other students regard him, no matter how creative his costumes are. This event leads to another turn in the story’s plot and development of August’s character.