Jack Will Character Analysis in Wonder

Jack is August’s best friend for much of the novel. He is one of the three kids that Mr. Tushman asks to lead August on a tour of Beecher Prep before the school year starts. Jack initially refuses, though he changes his mind when he observes his younger brother, Jamie, speaking cruelly about August. At the meeting, Jack stands up to Julian when Julian tries to intimidate August, and he also offers August some advice as to how to survive at school. Though Jack initially is only friends with August because Mr. Tushman asked him to be, he soon discovers that August is smart, funny, and very nice. Jack is caught between being popular and being unpopular solely because he's friends with August, which poses a number of problems for him. He participates in a cruel conversation with Julian about August with the hope of impressing Julian, unaware that August is listening in. When August is understandably cold and distant to him after this (though Jack is unaware of why), Jack marvels that he suddenly has what he always wanted—popularity—but he finds that he values his friendship with August far more than he actually wants to be popular. August forgives Jack after Jack punches Julian and gets suspended, which teaches Jack that though kindness and standing up for friends are always the right choices, they're not always easy. Jack is a good and admirable friend to August for the remainder of the novel and stands up for him against both bullies at Beecher Prep and the seventh-grade bullies at the class nature retreat. At their graduation ceremony, Jack expresses romantic interest in their friend Summer, suggesting that he's truly entering puberty by the end of the novel.

Jack Will Quotes in Wonder

The Wonder quotes below are all either spoken by Jack Will or refer to Jack Will. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

What's cool about really little kids is that they don't say stuff to try to hurt your feelings, even though sometimes they do say stuff that hurts your feelings. But they don't actually know what they're saying. Big kids, though: they know what they're saying.

Related Characters: August Pullman (speaker), Jack Will, Julian Albans, Charlotte

Page Number and Citation: 20

Explanation and Analysis:

When August learns during his school tour that he's going to meet Jack, Julian, and Charlotte, he explains to the reader why he's nervous about meeting kids his own age. In August's explanation, he implies that kindness is something that comes naturally to kids (hence why the little kids don't actively try to be mean—they just happen to blurt things out sometimes), while active exclusion and intentional meanness is something kids learn. This falls into line with the way the novel handles the roles of parents and teachers. It overwhelmingly suggests that kids are very likely to grow up to Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Opti

Hey, the truth is, if a Wookiee started going to the school all of a sudden, I'd be curious, I'd probably stare a bit! And if I was walking with Jack or Summer, I'd probably whisper to them: Hey, there's the Wookiee. And if the Wookiee caught me saying that, he'd know I wasn't trying to be mean.

Related Characters: August Pullman (speaker), Summer, Jack Will

Page Number and Citation: 62

Explanation and Analysis:

In this passage, August explains that he understands his classmates aren't trying to be mean when they stare at him; they're just curious, and he'd do the same if someone else who looked significantly different began attending school. This again works to illustrate August's naturally kind demeanor, given that he doesn't think that all the kids are out to get him on purpose. He recognizes that he's different and interesting to them and would probably be willing to answer their questions were they willing to engage with him and ask him anything. However, because his classmates just whisper and avoid Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates.

"Okay, that's fair," I said. "But it's not a contest about whose days suck the most, Auggie. The point is we all have to put up with the bad days. Now, unless you want to be treated like a baby the rest of your life, or like a kid with special needs, you just have to suck it up and go."

Related Characters: Via Pullman (speaker), August Pullman, Jack Will

Page Number and Citation: 115

Explanation and Analysis:

When Via tries to talk to August about going back to school after the Halloween debacle, she points out to August that he'll need to not think of himself as a victim if he wants to be taken seriously in the world. This shows Via stepping into a very adult and almost parental role with August, as her advice is first and foremost a roadmap for how to be mature. What she essentially suggests is that in order to be taken seriously, August will need to stop thinking only of himself and stop focusing only on what's going wrong. Instead, Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium re

"Jack, sometimes you don't have to mean to hurt someone to hurt someone. You understand?"

Related Characters: Veronica (speaker), Jack Will, Jamie, August Pullman

Page Number and Citation: 137

Explanation and Analysis:

After Jack sees August for the first time in public as a six-year-old, his babysitter Veronica tells him that it's still possible to seriously hurt someone's feelings without the intent to do so. By bringing one's intent into the novel's exploration of kindness, Wonder is able to add more nuance to the idea of what constitutes kindness and what doesn't. While August's narration suggests that he's often able to separate intent from actions, Veronica's advice insists that doing so doesn't do anyone any favors. Rather, her suggestion positions kindness as something that someone must be thinking about at all times Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque

And the truth is, though nobody's that obvious about it: nobody wants to hang out with him. Everyone's way too hung up on being in the popular group, and he's just as far from the popular group as you can get. But now I can hang out with anyone I want. If I wanted to be in the popular group, I could totally be in the popular group.

Related Characters: Jack Will (speaker), August Pullman, Julian Albans

Related Symbols: The Plague

Page Number and Citation: 145

Explanation and Analysis:

After August stops talking to Jack, Jack marvels at his newfound popularity and all the opportunities he has for social interactions. Jack is able to put into words what August only ever alluded to: that being friends with him actively brings a person down on the social ladder, while denying one's association with him raises a person up. This reinforces the assertion that the students at Beecher Prep are preoccupied with popularity—even to the detriment of real, valuable friendships. This then begins to show that focusing so heavily on popularity can actually inhibit kindness and keep people from forming meaningful Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aper

Before she went out, she looked left and right outside the door to make sure no one saw her leaving. I guess even though she was neutral, she didn't want to be seen with me.

Related Characters: Jack Will (speaker), Julian Albans, Charlotte, August Pullman

Related Symbols: The Plague

Page Number and Citation: 173

Explanation and Analysis:

In this passage, Jack watches Charlotte leave the room after she secretly tells him about the war going on between the fifth grade boys. Though she insisted she and most of the other girls are neutral in the war, Jack recognizes that her behavior demonstrates loud and clear that she is taking sides, even if her words say otherwise. This hearkens back to Victoria's advice to Jack that one doesn't need to be actively mean to hurt someone's feelings. Throughout this chapter, Charlotte positions herself as a good person helping Jack navigate the difficult situation in front of him, though Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti so

he seems too small to be walking around by himself, somehow. then i think how i was that young when i was taking the subway by myself. way too young. i'm going to be an overprotective dad someday, i know it. my kids are going to know i care.

Related Characters: Justin (speaker), Jack Will

Page Number and Citation: 197

Explanation and Analysis:

Here, in Justin’s characteristic lowercase style, he reflects on the experience of walking Jack to the bus stop and watching him buy some gum across the street. Justin vows to be a more protective dad someday when he has kids of his own. Justin's reflection of his own experiences running around by himself suggests that gaining independence from one's parents too early has negative consequences for the children involved. The fact that Justin seems worried about Jack's safety reinforces this fact, especially given that Jack seems perfectly comfortable moving through the public world alone. Justin's assessment also suggests that he Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint ap

"Kinder than is necessary," he repeated. "What a marvelous line, isn't it? Kinder than is necessary. Because it's not enough to be kind. One should be kinder than needed. Why I love that line, that concept, is that it reminds me that we carry with us, as human beings, not just the capacity to be kind, but the very choice of kindness."

Related Characters: Mr. Tushman (speaker), August Pullman, Jack Will

Page Number and Citation: 300

Explanation and Analysis:

During his graduation ceremony address, Mr. Tushman cites a quote from J.M. Barrie about being “kinder than necessary,” insisting that it's an important quote because it recognizes that kindness is a choice. This starts to turn the novel's overwhelming assertion that some people are fundamentally kind on its head, as it says clearly that kindness is a choice—and in the same vein, people are capable of being both kind and mean. The important part is that it's a choice. By making this very clear, Mr. Tushman recognizes that it's not always easy to be kind. This points back to Jack’s Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae v

"There are always going to be jerks in the world, Auggie," she said, looking at me. "But I really believe, and Daddy really believes, that there are more good people on this earth than bad people, and the good people watch out for each other and take care of each other. Just like Jack was there for you. And Amos. And those other kids."

Related Characters: Mom (speaker), Dad, Jack Will, Amos, Eddie

Page Number and Citation: 279

Explanation and Analysis:

When August and Mom debrief after August's class camping trip, she tells him that she truly believes there are good people in the world to look out for those in need. With this, Mom suggests that the existence of bullies like Eddie and like Julian is inevitable; what's not inevitable is that they're the ones with the most power all the time. By citing Amos and "those other kids" (Miles and Henry, Julian's former cronies), she presents evidence to support the idea that all people have within them the power to do good things and help people. She shows that Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. M

Jack Will Character Timeline in Wonder

The timeline below shows where the character Jack Will appears in Wonder. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...into his office. They don't look at August or Mom. Mr. Tushman introduces them as Jack Will, Julian, and Charlotte. Jack Will and Julian shake August's hand, but Charlotte only waves.... (full context)

Nobody speaks as Jack Will, Charlotte, and Julian lead August up to the third floor of the school. Julian... (full context)

...is, and Charlotte explains that it's just a class where the teacher takes attendance. As Jack Will walks away, August asks if his name is Jack or Jack Will. Jack explains... (full context)

...chatters about playing Oliver in the production of Oliver last year as she leads August, Jack, and Julian into the auditorium. As Charlotte talks, August notices Julian slyly staring at him.... (full context)

...doubts that someone who isn't a real teacher like August's mom can effectively teach science. Jack suggests they go to the library, but Julian asks August why his hair is so... (full context)

As August passes Jack, Jack looks August right in the eye. August looks back at him and smiles, though... (full context)

When August, Jack, Julian, and Charlotte get back to the office, Mrs. G asks if August liked the... (full context)

...asked if August was in a fire. Mom looks shocked. August tells her that both Jack and Charlotte stood up for him, but Mom apologizes and tells August that he doesn't... (full context)

...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... (full context)

...He doesn't look up as groups of kids come in, but he does notice that Jack sits next to him again. The teacher introduces himself as Mr. Browne and begins going... (full context)

...with them, so he chooses an empty table and sits by himself. He can't find Jack anywhere and can sense that people are staring at him. He's especially cognizant of a... (full context)

...there because his name reminds them of a reed of grass, and they think that Jack could sit there because they could use his name in a summery sentence, like "Jack... (full context)

...example, a Wookie started going to school, he'd probably stare and talk with Summer and Jack about it. Regardless, kids gradually get used to August, and by the end of the... (full context)

August spends most of his classes with Jack. He's not sure if the teachers put them next to each other or if it's... (full context)

Later, as they read in their textbooks, Jack asks August if he wants to beat up kids like that eighth grader. He suggests... (full context)

...gets their feelings hurt. A few weeks later, Mom tells August who agreed to come. Jack is coming, along with Summer, Reid, the two Maxes, and maybe Charlotte. August wants to... (full context)

...mummies suggest that August looks like an orc or a shrunken head. One mummy with Jack's voice says seriously that he'd kill himself if he looked like August, and Julian asks... (full context)

...something more going on, and August, close to tears, finally tells Via what he overheard Jack saying. Via soothingly says that Jack probably didn't mean it, but August won't be comforted.... (full context)

...convince him otherwise. August is happy at the thought that if the truth gets out, Jack would get in trouble, but he still insists he doesn't want to go back. Via... (full context)

Angry, Via threatens to tell Mom and Dad about Jack if August stops going to school, saying that if Mr. Tushman finds out, he'll make... (full context)

...admits that she would've stayed mad about August's accusation longer, but he tells her what Jack said on Halloween and swears her to secrecy. (full context)

...their moms around together and have a fantastic time. At one point, Summer runs into Jack. Jack asks why August is mad at him, and all Summer says is "Bleeding Scream." (full context)

Jack begins his narration in August, when his mom gets a call from Mr. Tushman. Mr.... (full context)

Jack explains that he saw August for the first time when he was six. He was... (full context)

Later that night, Jack asks Jack's mom who else Mr. Tushman called. She says that he called Julian and... (full context)

Jack says that you do eventually get used to August's face, and that August is very... (full context)

Jack has no idea what Summer's "Bleeding Scream" comment means. He explains that one day, he... (full context)

...snows right before Thanksgiving, which means that Beecher Prep is closed for an extra day. Jack is bummed that August is ignoring him, so he's thrilled to have an extra day... (full context)

...favors the bold.” He asks the class to write about a time they were brave. Jack thinks hard about the assignment and thinks that the bravest thing he did was become... (full context)

Jack explains that his parents aren't rich, even though he goes to private school. Jack's dad... (full context)

Julian throws out that Skeleton Hill is lame, and won't listen when Jack insists a kid broke their neck there. Julian says it's an Indian burial ground, and... (full context)

Jack admits that he's not a great student. School isn't his favorite, and he especially hates... (full context)

Jack checks out for the rest of science class and barely hears his teacher pair him... (full context)

In Mr. Tushman's office, Jack sits and listens to Mr. Tushman talk about expulsion. Jack's mom is there too, looking... (full context)

When Jack's mom and Jack get home, they find holiday cards from Julian's family and August's family... (full context)

Jack writes a letter to Mr. Tushman telling him that he knows that what he did... (full context)

Jack's mom emails Julian's mom offering to pay for Julian's dental bills, but she also explains... (full context)

Jack sends August a friend request on Facebook and also sends him an email apologizing for... (full context)

When Jack returns to school in January, all the boys ignore him. Even kids like Amos and... (full context)

At the end of the day, Jack finds a note from Charlotte in his locker asking him to come alone to room... (full context)

Charlotte says that it's dumb, but Julian's trying to "help" Jack by cutting him off and making him feel lonely. He thinks that it'll make Jack... (full context)

At lunch the next day, Jack sits with Tristan, Nino, and Pablo, all of whom aren't popular but also don't play... (full context)

Jack admits that he's a hypocrite and didn't sit with August on the first day of... (full context)

...at lunch, Summer pulls out a piece of paper with a list of who's on Jack's side, who's on Julian's side, and who's neutral. She explains that Charlotte made it for... (full context)

...agrees but jokes that it's a shame with all the "babes" throwing themselves at him. Jack sprays milk out of his nose laughing. (full context)

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... (full context)

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... (full context)

...a sharp end, and seems nervous. August mischievously asks if Justin is Via's boyfriend, and Jack asks if there's a gun in his case. Justin nervously explains that he plays the... (full context)

As Justin and Via are kissing goodbye, Mom, August, and Jack come down the stairs. Mom pretends not to notice, but August and Jack giggle. Mom... (full context)

After a minute, Justin watches three kids, two of whom look much older, tease Jack as Jack walks out of the store. Jack seems upset when he gets back to... (full context)

After a few minutes, Justin realizes that the war is going on because Jack is friends with August. Justin tells Jack that middle school is awful, but it gets... (full context)

...entirely random—if it were, nobody would be cared for. He thinks that August's adoring parents, Jack's loyalty, and Miranda's adoration of August are proof that the universe cares for everyone. (full context)

August and Jack's potato lamp receives an A and is a hit at the science fair. Beecher Prep... (full context)

...a freak and an orc, but August refuses to report the notes. Summer, August, and Jack leave notes in Julian's locker, but theirs aren't mean. They make up a character named... (full context)

...start to get sick of it. Amos even stops Julian from pouring pencil shavings into Jack's backpack. Finally, Julian starts spreading rumors that Jack hired a hit man to "get" him,... (full context)

During the "boring part," Jack needs to go to the bathroom and takes August with him. They see a massive... (full context)

August and Jack walk right into a group of strange kids. August realizes the group has firecrackers and... (full context)

...going on. Amos calmly says that Mr. Tushman is waiting for them, so August helps Jack up and walks towards Amos. Eddie reaches out, grabs August's sweatshirt, and yanks August backwards.... (full context)

After what seems like forever, a voice yells that they lost the bullies. Amos, Jack, Henry, Miles, and August find each other in the dark, and August realizes that Henry... (full context)

...become aware that his elbow is hurt and bleeding, and he tries not to cry. Jack notices that August's hearing aids are gone and suddenly, August starts crying uncontrollably. The guys... (full context)

August, Jack, Amos, Miles, and Henry look for the hearing aids for ten minutes, but they have... (full context)

...and the story spread, all the way to the teachers. Mr. Tushman talked to Amos, Jack, Henry, and Miles about the boys that tried to attack them, but when he spoke... (full context)

August and Dad see Jack approaching, so August starts to get out of the car. Dad confirms that he's forgiven... (full context)

At the auditorium, Mrs. G directs August and Jack to their staging area. Another teacher gets them in seats and soon, Summer arrives. She's... (full context)

...and other relatives to hug him. They start taking pictures, and Dad calls Summer and Jack over to take a group picture. August doesn't even think about his face as more... (full context)

...tells her about how big the seventh graders were. He also tells Mom about how Jack and Amos stood up for him. (full context)

...milk and while Mom whisks chocolate powder into milk, he tells her that he and Jack were in the woods because Jack had to use the bathroom and didn't want to... (full context)

Jack Will Character Analysis

Jack Will Quotes in Wonder

August: Jack Will, Julian, and Charlotte Quotes

August: Wake Me Up When September Ends Quotes

Via: Time to Think Quotes

Jack: Carvel Quotes

Jack: Ex-Friends Quotes

Jack: The War Quotes

Justin: The Bus Stop Quotes

August: A Simple Thing Quotes

August: Home (2) Quotes

Jack Will Character Timeline in Wonder