Auggie & Me by R.J. Palacio Summary

Auggie & Me is a companion book to Wonder featuring three interconnected stories told from different perspectives. The book includes "The Julian Chapter" (narrated by Auggie's bully), "Pluto" (told by Auggie's childhood friend Christopher), and "Shingaling" (from classmate Charlotte's viewpoint). Each story reveals how August Pullman, a boy with facial differences, touched and transformed the lives of those around him during his first year at Beecher Prep.

Auggie & Me is ideal for readers who loved Wonder and want deeper insight into secondary characters' experiences. Middle-grade students, parents, and educators exploring themes of kindness, bullying, and empathy will find value in these stories. The book particularly appeals to those interested in multiple perspectives on friendship, acceptance, and personal growth. Fans seeking to extend their time in Auggie's world without a direct sequel will appreciate this thought-provoking companion piece.

Auggie & Me is worth reading for Wonder fans seeking additional context and character development. While not as impactful as the original novel, the book provides meaningful perspective shifts that illuminate why characters behaved as they did. The Julian Chapter offers particularly powerful storytelling with a Holocaust connection, while Pluto and Shingaling explore friendship complexities and social dynamics. Readers gain deeper understanding of empathy, redemption, and the ripple effects of kindness.

R.J. Palacio (a pseudonym for Raquel Jaramillo) is a New York-based author who worked as an art director for over twenty years before writing Wonder. She created Auggie & Me as a companion book in 2015 to satisfy readers who wanted more from Auggie's world. The book allows Palacio to explore how Auggie's presence affected others—from his bully Julian to longtime friend Christopher—providing three-dimensional character development beyond the original narrative.

Reading Wonder before Auggie & Me is strongly recommended for full comprehension and emotional impact. Auggie & Me serves as a companion piece that expands on events from Wonder rather than continuing the story. The three novellas reference situations, relationships, and character dynamics established in the original book. Without reading Wonder first, readers miss crucial context about Auggie Pullman's condition, his first year at Beecher Prep, and the foundational relationships that make these alternative perspectives meaningful.

The three stories in Auggie & Me are "The Julian Chapter," "Pluto," and "Shingaling". "The Julian Chapter" follows Julian Albans, the boy who bullied Auggie, and reveals his grandmother's Holocaust survival story involving a disabled boy named Tourteau. "Pluto" chronicles Christopher Blake, Auggie's oldest friend who moved to Bridgeport, navigating distance and family struggles. "Shingaling" features Charlotte's perspective on maintaining friendships while managing social pressures and girl drama during Auggie's first year.

The Julian Chapter explores why Julian bullied Auggie at Beecher Prep, revealing his childhood nightmares, social anxieties, and misguided parenting. After creating "the plague" game and leaving hateful notes, Julian is suspended and becomes socially isolated. During summer in Paris, his grandmother shares how a disabled classmate named Tourteau (also named Julian) saved her from Nazis during World War II. This revelation transforms Julian's perspective, leading him to apologize to Auggie and convince his parents to drop their lawsuit against the school.

Pluto follows Christopher Blake, Auggie's childhood best friend who moved from New York City to Bridgeport. The story alternates between past memories of their friendship and Christopher's current struggles with his parents' separation. When Christopher's mother has a car accident while retrieving forgotten items, he experiences guilt and emotional turmoil. Auggie reaches out after his dog Daisy dies, and their video call provides comfort. Christopher ultimately chooses loyalty to his friend John over social climbing with older band members.

Shingaling tells Charlotte's story during the time period covered in Wonder, focusing on her navigation of friendships, social dynamics, and "girl drama" at Beecher Prep. As one of Auggie's new classmates, Charlotte faces the challenge of maintaining old friendships while forming new ones and dealing with social pressures. The story explores her personal growth and how knowing Auggie influenced her choices. This perspective provides heart-warming insights into kindness and the complexities of middle school social relationships.

Auggie & Me explores friendship, empathy, bullying, redemption, and perspective-taking as central themes. The book examines how one person's presence can transform multiple lives in unexpected ways. Through Julian's story, it addresses intergenerational trauma, historical courage, and moral growth. Christopher's narrative tackles loyalty, family stress, and maintaining connections across distance. Charlotte's tale explores social dynamics and authentic friendship. Together, these stories emphasize that everyone has their own struggles and reasons for behavior.

Auggie & Me expands Wonder by revealing what happened before and during Auggie's first year at Beecher Prep from three new viewpoints. Readers discover Julian's backstory and family influences that contextualize his bullying behavior. Christopher's story shows Auggie's life before attending Beecher Prep and how childhood friendships evolved. Charlotte's perspective illuminates the social pressures classmates faced while befriending Auggie. These narratives provide depth to secondary characters and demonstrate the wider impact of Auggie's presence beyond what the original novel covered.

Auggie & Me is not a sequel to Wonder but a companion book that runs parallel to the original story. Rather than continuing Auggie's journey into sixth grade, the book revisits his fifth-grade year from three different characters' perspectives. The stories occur before and during the events of Wonder, offering alternative viewpoints rather than forward progression. Readers seeking what happens next will be disappointed, but those wanting deeper understanding of Wonder's secondary characters will find these thought-provoking, complementary narratives valuable.