Olivia "Via" Pullman (Wonder)

“I wonder how many nights she's stood outside his door. And I wonder if she's ever stood outside my door like that.” (Wonder)

Olivia “Via” Pullman (played in the film by Izabela Vidovic) is a character from Wonder, a story about a young boy, Auggie, with "mandibulofacial dysostosis,” a facial disfiguration condition. Via is Auggie’s sister, and due to his need for care and attention, is often overlooked and unintentionally swept under the rug in favour of Auggie.

Via’s character explores a somewhat forgotten role in many families. Many families that include a child with a serious medical condition often include children that are put in the backseat out of necessity. Via is a victim of circumstance, and while she bears no ill will toward her parents, she still visibly suffers from the imbalance of attention. This is shown most powerfully in the flashback scene with Via and her grandmother, in which her grandmother vocally recognizes the unfairness of Via’s situation, and devotes herself to looking out for Via. Via puts a lot of weight into this memory, and clearly appreciates the value of simply being seen.