How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Mom says the farting nurse turned out to be a very nice woman. She stayed with Mom the whole time. Didn't leave her side even after Dad came back and the doctors told them how sick I was. Mom remembers exactly what the nurse whispered in her ear when the doctor told her I probably wouldn't live through the night: "Everyone born of God overcometh the world." (1.How I Came to Life.5)
It takes grit (and courage) to hang in there with people who are in the middle of really tough times. The nice nurse is, well, pleasant. But it is the now-legendary farting nurse who really hangs in there with Auggie's mom through what must have been agony: not knowing if her baby would live or die. The farting nurse shares her strength and courage unflinchingly.
Quote #2
"Julian's a jerk," he whispered before Julian and Charlotte reached us. "But, dude, you're gonna have to talk." He said this seriously, like he was trying to help me. (1.The Performance Space.37)
Even though he doesn't really know August yet, Jack goes out on a limb to give August a heads up about Julian (whom he has known since kindergarten), and offer important basic survival advice.
Quote #3
We were all quiet for a second, all of us just kind of nodding, looking at the floor. Then I looked up at Julian.
"The word's 'supposedly," by the way," I said.
"What are you talking about?"
"You said 'supposably' before," I said. (1.The Performance Space.40-42)
Jack knows the ropes of going to school, and has just told Auggie that he needs to start talking. So Auggie musters up some courage, and pushes back against Julian's boorish behavior.
Quote #4
"I'm so sorry, Auggie," she said quietly. Her cheeks were bright red.
"No, it's okay, Mom, really."
"You don't have to go to school if you don't want, sweetie."
"I want to," I said.
"Auggie…."
Really, Mom. I want to." And I wasn't lying. (1.Home.25-30)
Auggie is not unfazed, but he sure is not going to let Julian's unkindness stop him from taking this next big step in his life. His mom is rattled, while Auggie is resolute.
Quote #5
I thought about this a lot, to be truthful. I have to say that I think the bravest thing I ever did was become friends with August. But I couldn't write about that, of course. I was afraid we'd have to read these out loud, or Mr. Browne would put them up on the bulletin board like he does sometimes. So instead, I wrote this lame thing about how I used to be afraid of the ocean when I was little. It was dumb, but I couldn't think of anything else.
I wonder what August wrote about. He probably had a lot of things to choose from. (4.Fortune Favors the Bold.2-3)
The irony of this paragraph may be lost on Jack, but we're loving it. He wants to write about how brave befriending August was, but also seems to know somewhere deep down inside that anyone who reads that paper is going to think he's a jerk.
Quote #6
I heard Summer had sat down with August, which surprised me because I knew for a fact she wasn't one of the kids that Tushman had talked to about being friends with Auggie. So I knew she was doing it just to be nice, and that was pretty brave, I thought. (4.Why I Didn't Sit With August the First Day of School.3)
Hey, Jack—you might want to start taking notes. Summer doesn't just talk the talk.
Quote #7
he shakes his head like i'm hopeless. let's just say, he says, i'm friends with someone who isn't exactly the most popular kid in the school.
then it hits me, what he's not coming out and saying: august. this is all about his being friends with august. (5.The Bus Stop.36-37)
By this point in the story, Jack has learned that his friendship with Auggie is going to come at the price of his social status. Big time. But he's also decided that Auggie's friendship is absolutely worth it. So Jack finds the courage to stand by Auggie as his friend, even when everyone stops talking to him, leaves mean notes in his locker, and harasses him.
Quote #8
Anyway, it's not that I care that people react to me. Like I've said a gazillion times: I'm used to that by now. I don't let it bother me. It's like when you go outside and it's drizzling a little. You don't put on boots for a drizzle. You don't even open your umbrella. You walk through it and barely notice your hair getting wet.
But when it's a huge gym full of parents, the drizzle becomes like this total hurricane. Everyone's eyes hit you like a wall of water. (6.North Pole.5-6)
Anything times a hundred is, well, a hundred times more intense. But Auggie plays it cool on the outside. He bravely hangs in there even when he's suffering inside, facing the storm of stares. It's good he is getting the hang of it; this kind of courage is going to be necessary his whole life.
Quote #9
"I took Baboo back to my room, and I laid him in my bed and taped the little note to Mom on his chest. And then I covered him with my blanket so Mom would find him later. The note read: Dear Mom, I won't need Baboo, but if you miss me, you can cuddle with him yourself. Xo Auggie." (8.Daybreak.2)
When Auggie decides to leave his stuffed animal at home instead of bringing it to the fifth grade nature retreat, he's acknowledging that he's brave enough to sleep away from home without a crutch.
Quote #10
"'He is the greatest," he finally continued, "whose strength carries up the most hearts by the attraction of his own. Without further ado, this year I am very proud to award the Henry Ward Beecher medal to the student whose quiet strength has carried up the most hearts. So will August Pullman please come up here to receive this award?" (8.Awards.16)
Auggie has carried up hearts, and won over the minds of those who were—for a long time—unwilling to accept him. Through his courage and kindness, he has lifted, buoyed, inspired, encouraged, elevated, and inspired others all year long. Pretty strong stuff for a little guy.
Quote #11
It's like people you see sometimes, and you can't imagine what it would be like to be that person, whether it's somebody in a wheelchair or somebody who can't talk. Only, I know I'm that person to other people, maybe to every single person in that whole auditorium.
To me, though, I'm just me. An ordinary kid.
But hey, if they want to give me a medal for being me, that's okay, I'll take it. I didn't destroy a Death Star or anything like that, but I did just get through the fifth grade. And that's not easy, even if you're not me. (8.Floating.8-10)
Auggie acknowledges how difficult his first year at school has been as the person who is other than normal. But mostly though, what he takes away from the experience is that the experience is hard for everyone. He still believes firmly that he's "an ordinary kid."