You can't blend in when you were born to stand out

"Thank you Auggie. For everything you've given us. For coming into our lives. For being you." (page 310)

I loved reading this book, and I couldn't put it down when I started. I kept putting myself in his shoes and just crying. I laughed at part, smiled, but cried a lot. I want kids to realize what others go through and that their actions and words can effect someone more than they think. I couldn't imagine being Auggie and I think he is one of the bravest kids I have ever read about. I would have loved to meet him. I think he is so fearless, and such a wonderful person. I think that with his disability, books like this are written and people like us get to read it. It's spreading the story and making people aware. He is making a difference in so many peoples lives. There will always be the mean kids, but if more people read a book like this, I think it would really open some eyes. I couldn't be happier to have read this book. 

My Precepts

" The only disability in life is a bad attitude."

I couldn't just pick one precept. I have so many that I live by. Most of them are Taylor Swift, but recently I stumbled across this one and thought it was too perfect to not put in my blog. I love this precept because it is so true. Being negative, mean, or having a bad attitude really is the only disability you can have. If you have a real disability but a great and wonderful attitude, it doesn't matter. If you treat others the way you want to be treated disabilities won't make a difference. The only way to have a disability is to have a bad attitude. 

"No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Because being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind"- Taylor Swift 

This is my favorite Taylor Swift quote ever. I live by this one. No matter how people treat you, always be nice to them. If you're nice to everyone, what a wonderful way to be remembered by. You could be that Summer, and you could make a difference. Being nice shouldn't be as hard as everyone makes it out to be. Be nice, and treat others the way you want to be treated. 

"If you're lucky enough to be different, don't ever change." - Taylor Swift

Another Taylor Swift quote that I love is the one above. I like this, because it is telling you to embrace what makes you different. Love yourself and love why you are different. No one is the same, so be proud of who you are. Everyone is different, and accepting it and making the best of it is the best thing you can do. No one is perfect and no one will ever be. There are no two people who are exactly alike.

My last one is from Dr. Seuss. I love it because it is telling us to forget all the negative people, and all the rudeness. If someone is going to be mean or hurtful they shouldn't matter anyway. The people who love you are always going to be there for you and love you no matter what. I think this is a great quote. Love the people who care about you and forget the people who don't. Don't waste time being upset over someone who isn't a part of your life, or is just being hurtful. 

Everything has beauty, but not everyone can see it

"You really are a wonder Auggie. You are a wonder." (page 310)

I want to be a teacher, who helps kids see the beauty in everything. I want to make a difference not only for the kids who have to go through things like Auggie and maybe make their lives a little easier and better, but I also want to make a difference to the kids like Julian and the other kids who were hurtful to him. I want to show and teach kids that you shouldn't treat others a certain way because of how they look. I think we all need to really push that on kids nowadays. I hope when I am a teacher, I can make a difference like this book did for me. I think the precepts Mr. Brown had during the book was awesome. I wanted to mail him some just reading this. I think it is a great way to bring every day things into the classroom. I think teaching things like that is just an important as the other stuff. 

"When given the choice between being right or be kind. Choose kind." (page 48)

Who would I be?

"No, I'm friends with him because I want to be friends with him" (page 119)

As I was reading this, I was thinking to myself, I wonder who I would be in the story. I wonder if I would be like Charlotte who was nice and just went about my business, or would I be like Summer and really make an effort to be Auggie's friend? I think prior to reading this, I would probably be Charlotte, but now that I read this book, I would want to be "a Summer" in a story and in real life. I think after reading this book, it changed my way of thinking and also how I treat others. I want to be that person who goes out of there way to help someone or make a difference in someones life. I think the smallest gesture and make a world of difference. All Summer did at first was sit with Auggie at lunch, what a small gesture, but it meant the world to August, and it turned into something beautiful. I am deffinately going to be a Summer now, to everyone.

My strongest feelings during the book

"Why do I have to be so ugly, Mommy?" (page 60)

Wow. I really do not even know where to begin. While I was reading this, I had in mind that it was going to be sad, but I never pictured myself balling in bed while reading this. I never have wanted to meet someone so bad and just tell them things will go okay.

The first part that really broke my heart was the Halloween incident. When Auggie overheard Jack Will say that about him, I thought a knife was in my heart. I hate how kids don't think before they speak. I was really rooting for Jack in the beginning until he said that about Auggie. I am glad him and Jack resolved things later on in the book. I think if there were more kids like Jack, Summer, and Miranda, the world would be an easier place, especially with someone with a disability.

Another thing that really choked me up was when Auggie was in his bedroom balling crying asking his mom why he was so ugly. I put myself in her position at that time instead of Auggies. I thought of myself having a child with a deformation and watching them in so much pain and seeing them cry and I could not imagine going through something like that. It reminded me of when I was in high school, and my boyfriend at the time cheated on me. I would lay in my bed and cry until I couldn't breathe and my mom would stand at my door and just cry because she hated how hurt I was. When I pictured that and then pictured why Auggie was crying, it made my situation seem so tiny compared to his.

First Reaction

"Here's what I think: the only reason I'm not ordinary is that no one else sees me that way."(page 3)

After reading this book, I feel so strongly about the message and what Auggie has to deal with on a daily basis. After I finished reading this book, I thought in my head that every single teacher and every student needs to read this book. If it can open just a few more minds and realize what some kids have to go through, I think others would think differently about how they treat others. I think being able to read what happened behind closed doors, like at Auggie's home, when he is crying to his mom asking her why he is so ugly. Another thing, hearing what goes through Auggie's head when people look at him and stare or say terrible things. My whole heart went out to Auggie. I tried picturing what he looked like at the beginning of the book, but as I kept reading I honestly did not care at all, I just wanted to jump through the book and hug him.