Contents
North Pole
Overview
At the science fair, August and Jack’s Spud Lamp wins an A, Jack’s first of the year. The crowded gym magnifies August’s discomfort under parents’ stares, but he endures. Observing how parents mirror kids’ cliques, August sees social patterns more clearly, ending with his mom’s idea that like seeks like.
Summary
During the science fair, August and Jack present their Spud Lamp, which becomes a popular exhibit and earns them an A—Jack’s first A of the year—lifting Jack’s spirits. The gym is filled with projects and visiting families, echoing the Egyptian Museum setup from December.
As parents circulate, August calculates how many unfamiliar adult eyes land on him and describes feeling like the “North Pole” drawing every compass. He compares this to earlier school events: the overwhelming Thanksgiving Sharing Festival, the manageable Egyptian Museum where he hid as a mummy, the disliked winter concert, and the New Year Art Show’s hallway scrutiny.
Though August is used to reactions and tries to treat them like a drizzle, the gym’s crowd turns it into a hurricane of attention. He copes by staying at the table with Mom, Dad, Jack, and Jack’s parents nearby, drawing comfort from their presence.
August notices parents forming clusters that mirror student groups: his parents with Jack’s and Summer’s mom, and Julian’s parents with Henry’s and Miles’s, plus the two Maxes’ families. Later, while walking home, August shares this with his parents, and Mom sums it up: “like seeks like.”
Who Appears
- August (Auggie) PullmanNarrator; presents the Spud Lamp, endures intense parental stares, and observes parents mirroring student cliques.
- Jack WillAuggie’s science-fair partner; earns his first A of the year with the Spud Lamp.
- MomStays by August’s table and reflects that “like seeks like” about parent groups.
- DadSupports August at the science fair, staying nearby during the crowds.
- Jack Will’s parentsKeep close to Jack and August’s table, part of the friendly parent cluster.
- Summer’s momSocializes with August’s and Jack’s parents, reflecting student friendships.
- Julian’s parentsSeen clustering with other parents aligned with Julian’s friend group.
- Henry’s parentsSeen mingling with Julian’s circle during the fair.
- Miles’s parentsPart of the parent cluster paralleling Miles’s friend group.