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August: Aftermath
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Wonder, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Difficulty of Kindness
Independence and Growing Up
Status and Bullying
Identity
Parenting and Guidance
Summary
Analysis
Mom and August walk home in near silence. When they get home, Mom wraps her arms around August, kisses him, and holds him close. August assures her he's fine and asks for a grilled cheese. While Mom makes it, she explains that Dad and Via are almost home. She allows August to lead the conversation about his camping trip, and he assures her that he had a great time but the kids at the movie ruined it for him. Mom assures August that she and Dad aren't mad about the hearing aids as August tells her about how big the seventh graders were. He also tells Mom about how Jack and Amos stood up for him.
When Mom allows August to dictate the course of their conversation, it shows that she recognizes that August is the keeper of his story and because of that, it's his to do with what he wants. This is, essentially, Mom starting to give up some of her parental power over him, something that naturally happens as kids enter puberty and grow up.
Themes
August asks for chocolate milk and while Mom whisks chocolate powder into milk, he tells her that he and Jack were in the woods because Jack had to use the bathroom and didn't want to wait in line. Mom agrees to not push him when August says he'd rather tell the entire story later after Dad and Via are home. When August is done eating, he asks Mom if he'll always have to worry about jerks. Mom thinks for a moment before saying that there will always be jerks, but she and Dad believe that there are more good people like Jack and Amos around than jerks, and the good people look out for each other.
Mom's answer to August's question reinforces the idea that kindness is a choice that anyone is capable of making, as evidenced by the fact that Amos, Miles, and Henry turned their behavior around, “chose kind,” and protected August. However, Mom also implies that as August grows, it'll also become his responsibility to look out for other nice people and return the kindnesses that others have shown him throughout his life.
Themes
August is satisfied with this and decides to go take a nap. Mom thanks him for leaving Baboo, but is interrupted by her ringing cell phone before she can say anything else. She beams during the short conversation and then tells August to wait to nap. Minutes later, Dad and Via get home. Dad has a box with a puppy inside.
The puppy represents a turning point for the entire Pullman family, as it suggests that they're moving on from Daisy's death and are entering a new chapter where August is more adult, Via is more supported, and this puppy can continue Daisy's project of showing unfettered kindness.
Themes
