Contents
Wake Me Up when September Ends
Overview
August struggles through September, adjusting to early mornings, homework, and his first quiz while losing free time. The constant staring and avoidance from students sting at first, but curiosity settles. Over several weeks, his classmates, then his grade, and finally the whole school acclimate to his appearance.
Summary
As September unfolds, August finds the transition to Beecher Prep difficult. Early mornings, steady homework, and his first quiz mark a sharp contrast with homeschooling. He misses the freedom to play and feels the pressure of constant school obligations.
Being at school initially feels awful. Students sneak looks, detour around August, and whisper to each other, treating his face like something contagious. He recognizes their behavior as curiosity rather than open cruelty and even imagines how he might react similarly to someone visibly different.
Over time, the environment shifts. After about a week, August’s immediate classmates acclimate to his appearance. Within two weeks, other kids in his grade do, too. By the end of the month, the wider school has largely adjusted. Although no one looks like August, the surprise reactions diminish as seeing him becomes normal.
Who Appears
- August (Auggie) PullmanNarrator; struggles with early school routines, homework, first quiz, and peers’ stares that gradually subside.
- Jack WillClassmate and friend; mentioned as someone August might walk with while others whisper.
- Summer DawsonFriend from lunch table; referenced in August’s thoughts about being seen together.