Part 2: Via

In the second part of Wonder we meet Via on a personal level. This part of the book is written from Via's point of view. In my opinion, Via is one of the most realistic and strongest characters in the book. Via is a beautiful and talented girl that has been placed in the shadowes of her brother. The amazing part about Via, even though she had her moments when she wishes she could be in the spotlight, she understands how important it is that her parents main focus be on her brother. Like any one else, she struggles with this at times, but she also overcomes this struggle in a very wise way.

Via's explanation of how her life with her family is like the solar system, with August being the sun, is spot on. August is the sun and the rest of them circle around him. Via talks about how she did not need to be told that August needed to be the center of focus, that she just knew from a very early age. This has made her very independent and strong.

One of the most important relationships in the life of Via was the one with her Grandmother. Via had a special connection with her grandmother and I think this relationship was somewhat of an escape for Via. The Grandmother let Via know how important Via was. She told Via that she was the center of the universe and everything orbited around her. Via needed this. As strong as one person is, everyone needs to feel like they are the center of someone's universe at some point in their life. I think Via strength started to struggle some as she grew and her grandmother passed away.

Via goes to high school and decided she wants to go by Olivia instead of Via. She is starting to change, just like any other teenager is. She is trying to create her own identity outside of August. She talks about how at her previous school everyone knew about August and, at times, she was identified as the girl with the "deformed" brother. She no longer wanted to be identified as this. She wanted to be known as Olivia, her own person. She starts to make efforts not to have August come to her school and telling few people about him. She does not invite her family to a play she is in for fear others will see August and no longer see her as just Olivia, but August's sister. In no means was Olivia doing this to be vindictive, she felt pure guilt for this, but she wanted to experience the world on her own and possibly have the universe orbit around her for a change.