Through his friendship with Auggie, Jack learns to resist peer pressure and think for himself. Initially, Jack goes along with the others in laughing at Auggie for his disability. Unlike Julian, however, he only does this to be "one of the boys," not because he's fundamentally bad.
Jack finds himself caught on the horns of a dilemma. On the one hand, he wants to do the right thing. He realizes that Auggie's a smart kid, a nice guy who'd make an excellent friend. But on the other hand, he also knows that the more he hangs out with Auggie, the less popular he's going to be with the other kids at school, who insist on treating Auggie like a freak.
However, Auggie's friendship teaches Jack to be himself and to make his own decisions as to whom he'll spend his time with. Thanks to Auggie, Jack understands the importance of choosing your friends wisely, not simply attaching yourself to a group in order to look cool.
Through Jack’s friendship and betrayal with Auggie he learns many lessons. First and foremost Jack learns the importance of having a true friend. In the story Wonder, Jack initially is friendly with Auggie because he was asked to show him around the school. Throughout the story Jack realizes how much he really enjoys being around Auggie. He begins to even hang out with Auggie at his house and he finds out how funny, smart, and imaginative Auggie really is. Unfortunately Jack falls for peer pressure and Auggie overhears him saying hurtful and rude comments during Halloween to Julian’s crew of friends. When Auggie stops talking with Jack, Jack realizes how much more important being friends with someone who truly cares and is a good friend really is. Along with the importance of true friendship Jack learned lessons in loyalty. During Halloween he was very unloyal to Auggie, but later he made up for it by defending Auggie against Julian’s cruel behaviors.
Jack learns the importance of true friendship through his relationship with Auggie. We learn that he agreed to help Auggie transition to Beecher Prep only after his mom persuaded him that it was the right thing to do. However, Jack soon realizes that he has a lot in common with Auggie and chooses to play with him after school and work with him on science labs. Of course, Jack still struggles with fitting in and is easily peer-pressured by Julian. On Halloween, Jack is caught laughing at Auggie with Julian and saying, "if I looked like him, seriously, I think that I'd kill myself" (Palacio). We later learn that Jack does not know why he says this, but it appears that he is caught up in trying to fit in with the popular group and wants to impress Julian. Of course, Auggie overhears this conversation and does not speak to Jack for months following the incident. During this time, Jack hangs out with Julian and his group at school but Jack does not seem truly happy even though he is in the popular group.
Finally, Jack realizes what he has done, thanks to Summer giving him the clue "Bleeding Scream." Jack is overwhelmed with remorse and attempts to win Auggie's friendship back. He does this by agreeing to partner with Auggie on a science project, by punching Julian in Auggie's defense, and by apologizing to Auggie via text message. Auggie is quick to forgive Jack, and Jack realizes that Auggie is a true friend. Julian is a bully and will turn on anyone who does not agree with him, but Auggie will stand by his friends even if they make a mistake. Auggie is a friend for life.
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