Wonder

August is very glad he took a tour of the school, as he's able to find his way to room 301 without ever looking up. He pretends not to notice when kids stare at him. He chooses a desk near the back of the room and watches people's feet as they walk in. Nobody sits next to him, but Charlotte waves. Julian completely ignores August. Jack, however, sits right next to August and greets him warmly. Ms. Petosa waves the last few students into their seats and seems to hesitate for a second as she notices August. She explains that she'll take attendance and then distribute combination locks, and says that the students aren't to try to open them yet.

When Ms. Petosa gets to a boy named Henry, she notices that he's sitting in a seat with another boy. She tells him to take the empty seat next to August, which Henry does grudgingly. He puts his backpack up on the desk to shield his view from August. Finally, Ms. Petosa calls August's name. He feels his classmates staring at him when he goes up to get his folder and then resists spinning his lock. He watches Henry try and fail to open his lock as Ms. Petosa calls the last few names. She smiles at everyone, and August is somewhat shocked to see that she looks normal and not like a teacher from a movie. Henry is still struggling with his lock, and August confides in the reader that he would've helped Henry if he hadn't put his backpack between them.