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Jack: Sides
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
In the middle of January, August insists that he and Jack need to work on their science fair project. They go to August's house, even though Jack is nervous in case August told his parents about the Halloween incident. Jack is shocked to see all the Star Wars things in August's room and thinks that Daisy is an awesome dog. As August suggests projects, Jack tries to steer the conversation to anything else but science. August decides that they'll make a potato battery.
August’s concern about the science fair project reinforces that he is, first and foremost, a normal kid with homework and obligations. Jack's shock at seeing all the Star Wars stuff suggests that August is trying hard to tone down his outward expression of his love of Star Wars to somewhat control how others see him.
Themes
Via knocks on August's door and lets herself in. She's clearly not expecting to see Jack and when August introduces him, Jack can tell that Via heard about the Halloween incident and also remembers his reaction at seeing August the first time. She explains that she has a friend coming over and kicks August's chair when he teases her about having a boyfriend. After Via leaves, Jack says that she's hot and asks if she hates him. August confirms she does.
Via's obvious distaste for Jack makes it clear to Jack that just because he's one of August's friends now, he'll never escape the fact that he was once unspeakably cruel. This shows that Jack will have to continue to make good and kind choices going forward and that can make him a better person in the long run, but his past is still relevant.
Themes
