Wonder (Extraordinário): Chapter 1 - Uma leitura guiada em inglês para INICIANTES

WONDER

Chapter 1

Why I didn’t go to school 

August

I know I’m not an ordinary ten-year-old kid. I do ordinary things. I eat ice cream. I ride my bike. I have an Xbox. And I feel ordinary inside. But ordinary children run away from me in the playground. And ordinary people stare at me in the street or at the supermarket. I walk down the street and people look at me, and then they look away. My older sister, Via, doesn’t think I’m ordinary. She gets angry if people talk about me or if they stare at me. She shouts at them. She loves me, but she doesn’t think I’m ordinary.

Mom and Dad don’t think I’m ordinary, either. They think I’m extraordinary. I think I am ordinary, but nobody sees it. Mom is beautiful, and so is Via. And Dad is handsome. My name is August. What do I look like? I’m not going to tell you. But it’s worse than you think. 

Here’s something not ordinary about me: I have never been to school. People think I haven’t been to school because of the way that I look. But it isn’t that. It’s because I’ve been in hospital a lot—twenty-seven times in ten years. I’ve had a lot of plastic surgery and other things. 

So, my parents didn’t send me to school. Mom taught me at home. My last visit to hospital was eight months ago, and I don’t have to go back for two years. One day this summer, I heard my parents talking about schools. 

“What are you talking about?” I asked. 

“Do you think you’re ready for school?” asked Mom. 

“No,” I said. 

“I can’t teach you much more,” she said. “You know I am bad at math.”

“What school?” I asked. 

“Beecher Prep. Near our house.”

“I really don’t want to,” I said. 

“OK,” said Mom. “We’ll talk about it later.” 

I didn’t want to go. But I knew Mom was right. And she is really bad at math. 

In the summer vacation, we went to the school to see the school principal, Mr. Tushman. 

“Hi, Mr. Tushman, nice to see you again,” said Mom. “This is my son, August.” 

Mr. Tushman shook Mom’s hand, and then mine. “Hi, August,” said Mr. Tushman. 

He looked at me. Not many people do that. 

“I’m very happy to meet you. Your mom and dad have told me a lot about you.”

“What have they told you?” 

“That you like to read. That you’re a great artist. And that you really like science. Is that right?” 

“Yes,” I said. “I do.” 

“We have some great science teachers here,” said Mr. Tushman. “Now, you need to visit the school.” 

I liked Mr. Tushman. 

Outside the door of Mr. Tushman’s office I could hear children’s voices. Suddenly, I was frightened again. I’m OK with little children. Sometimes they say cruel things, but they don’t want to hurt you. But older children are more difficult. So, I have long hair because then I can’t see things if I don’t want to. 

“August,” said Mr. Tushman, “I want you to meet some other fifth-grade students.” 

“I don’t want to meet any kids,” I said to Mom. 

Mr. Tushman looked into my eyes. “This is going to be OK, August,” he said. “These are nice people.” 

And he opened the door.

“Come in, children,” he said, and two boys and a girl walked in. They didn’t look at me or Mom. They stood near the door and looked at Mr. Tushman. They were frightened, too. 

“Thank you for coming,” said Mr. Tushman. “I want you to meet August, a new student. He’ll be in your homeroom. So, this is August. August, this is Jack.” 

Jack looked at me and put out his hand. I shook it. He smiled, said “Hey,” and looked down quickly. 

“This is Julian,” said Mr. Tushman. 

Julian did the same as Jack. He shook my hand, smiled and looked down. 

“And Charlotte.” 

Charlotte had really blonde hair. She didn’t shake my hand, but she waved and smiled. “Hi, August. Nice to meet you,” she said.

“Hi,” I said, looking down. 

She had green shoes.

“OK,” said Mr. Tushman. “Maybe you can show the school to August. Take him to your homeroom, and then show him the science room and the computer room. Don’t forget the cafeteria.” 

The three children went out the room. I had to follow them. Jack, Julian, Charlotte, and I walked across a hall and up some stairs. Nobody said a word. We stopped at a door with the number 301 on it. 

“This is our homeroom,” said Julian. “We have Ms. Petosa. She’s OK.” 

Julian walked down the hall. He stopped at another door and opened it a little. 

“This is the science room.” He stood in front of the door, and he didn’t look at me. “The best science teacher is Mr. Haller.” 

“Open the door more so August can see inside,” said Jack, and he pushed the door some more. 

Julian moved out of the way quickly because he didn’t want to touch me. But he pointed to some of the things in the room. 

“That big thing is the board. Those are desks, and those are chairs.” 

“I’m sure he knows that,” said Charlotte. 

“I have a question,” I said. “What is ‘homeroom’?” 

“It’s your group. You go there in the morning,” said Charlotte. “Your homeroom teacher checks that everybody is in school. You see her every day. Do you understand?” 

“Yes, thanks,” I said. 

Next, they showed me the theater—Charlotte’s favorite place—and the library. Then, Julian said, “Can I ask a question?” 

“OK,” I said. 

“Why is your face like that? Were you in a fire?” 

“Julian!” said Charlotte. “You can’t ask that. He was born like that. Mr. Tushman told us. You weren’t listening!” 

“Come on, August,” said Jack. He opened the library door and looked me in the face. I looked back at him and smiled. He smiled, too. 

“Julian’s a jerk,” he said, quietly. 

“Were they nice to you?” asked Mom, at home. 

“Jack was OK,” I said, “but not Julian.” 

“You don’t have to go to school if you don’t want to,” Mom said. 

“It’s OK, Mom. I want to.” It was true.

---

WONDER
Extraordinário

Chapter 1
capítulo 1

Why I didn’t go to school 
porque eu não fui para a escola

August

I know I’m not an ordinary ten-year-old kid.
Eu sei que eu não sou um menino de dez anos comum.

I do ordinary things.
Eu faço coisas comuns.

I eat ice cream.
Eu como sorvete.

I ride my bike.
Eu ando de bicicleta.

I have an Xbox.
Eu tenho um Xbox.

And I feel ordinary inside.
E me sinto comum por dentro.

But ordinary children run away from me in the playground.
Mas crianças comuns saem correndo de mim no parquinho.

And ordinary people stare at me in the street or at the supermarket.
E as pessoas comuns me encaram na rua ou no supermercado.

I walk down the street and people look at me, and then they look away.
Eu ando na rua e as pessoas olham para mim, e depois elas olham para o outro lado.

My older sister, Via, doesn’t think I’m ordinary.
Minha irmã mais velha, Via, não acha que eu seja comum.

She gets angry if people talk about me or if they stare at me.
Ela fica irritada se as pessoas falam sobre mim ou se elas me encaram.

She shouts at them.
Ela grita com elas.

She loves me, but she doesn’t think I’m ordinary.
Ela me ama, mas ela não acha que eu seja comum.

Mom and Dad don’t think I’m ordinary, either.
Mamãe e Papai não acham que eu seja comum, também.

They think I’m extraordinary.
Eles acham que eu sou extraordinário.

I think I am ordinary, but nobody sees it.
Eu acho que eu sou comum, mas ninguém o vê.

Mom is beautiful, and so is Via.
Mamãe é linda, e a Via também.

And Dad is handsome.
E Papai é bonito.

My name is August.
Meu nome é August.

What do I look like?
Como é a minha aparência?

I’m not going to tell you.
Eu não vou te contar

But it’s worse than you think.
Mas é pior do que você imagina.

Here’s something not ordinary about me: I have never been to school.
Aqui está algo incomum sobre mim: eu nunca fui para a escola.

People think I haven’t been to school because of the way that I look.
As pessoas acham que eu não fui para a escola por causa da minha aparência.

But it isn’t that.
Mas não é isso.

It’s because I’ve been in hospital a lot - twenty-seven times in ten years.
É porque eu fiquei muito no hospital - vinte e sete vezes em dez anos.

I’ve had a lot of plastic surgery and other things.
Eu fiz muitas cirurgias plásticas e outras coisas.

So, my parents didn’t send me to school.
Então, meus pais não me mandaram para a escola.

Mom taught me at home.
Mamãe me ensinou em casa.

My last visit to hospital was eight months ago, and I don’t have to go back for two years.
Minha última visita ao hospital foi há oito meses, e eu não preciso voltar por dois anos.

One day this summer, I heard my parents talking about schools.
Um dia esse verão, eu ouvi meus pais falando sobre escolas.

“What are you talking about?” I asked.
“De que vocês estão falando?” eu perguntei.

“Do you think you’re ready for school?” asked Mom.
“Você acha que você está pronto para a escola?” perguntou Mamãe.

“No,” I said.
“Não,” eu disse.

“I can’t teach you much more,” she said. “You know I am bad at math.”
“Eu não posso te ensinar muito mais,” ela disse. “Você sabe que eu sou ruim em matemática.”

“What school?” I asked.
“Qual escola?” eu perguntei.

“Beecher Prep. Near our house.”
“A Beecher Preparatória. Perto da nossa casa.”

“I really don’t want to,” I said.
“Eu realmente não quero,” eu disse.

“OK,” said Mom. “We’ll talk about it later.”
“Tudo bem,” disse Mamãe. “A gente fala sobre isso mais tarde.”

I didn’t want to go. But I knew Mom was right. And she is really bad at math.
Eu não quis ir. Mas eu sabia que a Mamãe tinha razão. E ela realmente é ruim de matemática.

In the summer vacation, we went to the school to see the school principal, Mr. Tushman.
Durante as férias de verão, nós fomos para a escola para ver o diretor da escola, Sr. Tushman.

“Hi, Mr. Tushman, nice to see you again,” said Mom. “This is my son, August.”
“Olá, Sr. Tushman, bom ver o Sr. de novo,” disse Mamãe. “Este é meu filho, August.”

Mr. Tushman shook Mom’s hand, and then mine. “Hi, August,” said Mr. Tushman.
Sr. Tushman apertou a mão da Mamãe, e depois a minha. “Oi, August,” disse o Sr. Tushman.

He looked at me.
Ele olhou para mim.

Not many people do that.
Poucas pessoas fazem isso.

“I’m very happy to meet you.
“É um grande prazer te conhecer.

Your mom and dad have told me a lot about you.”
Sua mãe e pai já me contaram muito sobre você.”

“What have they told you?”
“O que eles contaram para o Sr.?”

“That you like to read. That you’re a great artist. And that you really like science. Is that right?”
“Que você gosta muito de ler. Que você é um grande artista. E que você gosta muito da ciência. Não gosta?”

“Yes,” I said. “I do.”
“Sim,” eu disse. “Eu gosto.”

“We have some great science teachers here,” said Mr. Tushman.
“Nós temos alguns professores excelentes aqui,” disse o Sr. Tushman.

“Now, you need to visit the school.”
“Agora, você precisa visitar a escola.”

I liked Mr. Tushman.
Eu gostei do Sr. Tushman.

Outside the door of Mr. Tushman’s office I could hear children’s voices.
De lado de fora do escritório do Sr. Tushman eu podia ouvir as vozes de crianças.

Suddenly, I was frightened again.
De repente, eu estava com medo de novo.

I’m OK with little children.
Eu me dou mais ou menos com crianças pequenas.

Sometimes they say cruel things, but they don’t want to hurt you.
De vez em quando elas dizem coisas cruéis, mas elas não querem te machucar.

But older children are more difficult.
Mas as crianças mais velhas são mais difíceis.

So, I have long hair because then I can’t see things if I don’t want to.
Então, eu tenho cabelo comprido porque aí eu não consigo ver as coisas se eu não quero.

“August,” said Mr. Tushman, “I want you to meet some other fifth-grade students.”
“August,” disse o Sr. Tushman, “eu quero que você conheça alguns outros meninos do quinto ano.”

“I don’t want to meet any kids,” I said to Mom.
“Eu não quero conhecer nenhuma criança,” eu disse para Mamãe.

Mr. Tushman looked into my eyes. “This is going to be OK, August,” he said. “These are nice people.”
Sr. Tushman olhou nos meus olhos. “Vai estar tudo bem, August,” ele disse. “Essas pessoas são legais.”

And he opened the door.
E ele abriu a porta.

“Come in, children,” he said, and two boys and a girl walked in.
“Entrem, crianças,” ele disse, e dois meninos e uma menina entraram.

They didn’t look at me or Mom.
Eles não olharam para mim nem para a Mamãe.

They stood near the door and looked at Mr. Tushman.
Eles ficaram de pé perto da porta e eles olharam para Sr. Tushman.

They were frightened, too.
Eles estavam com medo, também.

“Thank you for coming,” said Mr. Tushman. “I want you to meet August, a new student.
“Obrigado por ter vindo,” disse o Sr. Tushman. “Eu quero que vocês conheçam o August, um novo aluno.

He’ll be in your homeroom.
Ele vai estar na sua aula de orientação.

So, this is August. August, this is Jack.”
Então, este é o August. August, este é o Jack.”

Jack looked at me and put out his hand.
Jack olhou para mim e ele estendeu a mão.

I shook it.
Eu a apertei.

He smiled, said “Hey,” and looked down quickly.
Ele sorriu, disse “Oi,” e olhou para baixo muito depressa.

“This is Julian,” said Mr. Tushman.
“Este é o Julian,” disse o Sr. Tushman.

Julian did the same as Jack.
Julian fez a mesma coisa que o Jack.

He shook my hand, smiled and looked down.
Ele apertou a minha mão, sorriu e olhou para baixo.

“And Charlotte.”
“E a Charlotte.”

Charlotte had really blonde hair.
Charlotte tinha cabelos muito louros.

She didn’t shake my hand, but she waved and smiled.
Ela não apertou a minha mão, senão ela acenou e sorriu.

“Hi, August. Nice to meet you,” she said.
“Oi, August. É um prazer conhecer você,” ela disse.

“Hi,” I said, looking down.
“Oi,” eu disse, olhando para baixo.

She had green shoes.
Ela tinha sapatos verdes.

“OK,” said Mr. Tushman.
“Muito bem,” disse o Sr. Tushman.

“Maybe you can show the school to August.
“Talvez vocês possam mostrar a escola para August.

Take him to your homeroom, and then show him the science room and the computer room.
Acompanhar ele para a sala de orientação, e depois mostrar para ele a laboratório de ciências e a sala de informática.

Don’t forget the cafeteria.”
Não esqueçam do refeitório."

The three children went out of the room.
As três crianças saíram da sala.

I had to follow them.
Eu tive que seguí-los.

Jack, Julian, Charlotte, and I walked across a hall and up some stairs.
Jack, Julian, Charlotte, e eu andamos por um corredor e subimos uma escada.

Nobody said a word.
Ninguém disse uma palavra.

We stopped at a door with the number 301 on it.
Nós paramos numa porta com o número 301 nela.

“This is our homeroom,” said Julian.
“Esta é a nossa sala de orientação,” disse Julian.

“We have Ms. Petosa. She’s OK.”
“Nós temos a Srta. Petosa. Ela é legal.”

Julian walked down the hall.
Julian andou pelo corredor.

He stopped at another door and opened it a little.
Ele parou numa outra porta e a abriu um pouco.

“This is the science room.”
“Aqui é o laboratório de ciências.”

He stood in front of the door, and he didn’t look at me.
Ele ficou de pé na frente da porta, e ele não olhou para mim.

“The best science teacher is Mr. Haller.”
“O melhor professor de ciências é o Sr. Haller.”

“Open the door more so August can see inside,” said Jack, and he pushed the door some more.
“Abre a porta um pouco mais para que August possa ver dentro,” disse Jack, e ele empurrou a porta um pouco mais.

Julian moved out of the way quickly because he didn’t want to touch me.
Julian saiu da frente depressa porque ele não queria me tocar.

But he pointed to some of the things in the room.
Mas ele apontou para algumas das coisas na sala.

“That big thing is the board.
“Essa coisa grande é o quadro.

Those are desks, and those are chairs.”
“Essas são as mesas, e essas são as cadeiras.”

“I’m sure he knows that,” said Charlotte.
“Eu tenho certeza que ele sabe isso,” disse Charlotte.

“I have a question,” I said. “What is ‘homeroom’?”
“Eu tenho uma pergunta,” eu disse. “O que é ‘aula de orientação’?”

“It’s your group. You go there in the morning,” said Charlotte.
“É a sua turma. Você vai lá de manhã,” disse Charlotte.

“Your homeroom teacher checks that everybody is in school.
“Sua professora de orientação verifica que todo mundo está na escola.

You see her every day. Do you understand?”
Você vê ela todos os dias. Você entendeu?”

“Yes, thanks,” I said.
“Sim, obrigado,” eu disse.

Next, they showed me the theater - Charlotte’s favorite place - and the library.
Depois, eles me mostraram o teatro - o lugar preferido da Charlotte - e a biblioteca.

Then, Julian said, “Can I ask a question?”
Depois, Julian disse, “Posso fazer uma pergunta?”

“OK,” I said.
“Tá bom,” eu disse.

“Why is your face like that?
"Por que seu rosto é assim?”

Were you in a fire?”
Você esteve num incêndio?”

“Julian!” said Charlotte. “You can’t ask that. He was born like that. Mr. Tushman told us. You weren’t listening!”
“Julian!” disse Charlotte. “Você não pode perguntar isso. Ele nasceu assim. O Sr. Tushman nos contou. Você não estava prestando atenção!”

“Come on, August,” said Jack.
“Vamos, August,” disse Jack.

He opened the library door and looked me in the face.
Ele abriu a porta da biblioteca e olhou no meu rosto.

I looked back at him and smiled. He smiled, too.
Eu olhei de volta para ele e sorri. Ele sorriu, também.

“Julian’s a jerk,” he said, quietly.
“O Julian é um idiota,” ele disse baixinho.

“Were they nice to you?” asked Mom, at home.
“Eles estavam legais com você?” perguntou Mamãe, em casa.

“Jack was OK,” I said, “but not Julian.”
“Jack foi legal,” eu disse, “mas não o Julian.”

“You don’t have to go to school if you don’t want to,” Mom said.
“Você não tem que ir para a escola se você não quiser,” Mamãe disse.

“It’s OK, Mom. I want to.” It was true.
“Está tudo bem, Mamãe. Eu quero ir.” Era verdade.