Wonderland: A Year in the Life of an American High School

A "deeply affecting" account of a community of students planning an extraordinary prom night (Entertainment Weekly).   Journeying through "a year in the life of a suburban Pennsylvania public school," Wonderland takes us to Pennsbury High, whose spring dance is a beloved tradition and a local legend (The New Yorker).   It's an inspiring true story of a dance floor, the kids who fill it, and the unpredictable ways that their lives intersect. The star quarterback hides the pain of not knowing where his father is. A student with cerebral palsy is desperate to learn to tie Eagle Scout knots, despite a useless left hand. Two teen parents search for a babysitter so they can attend the festivities. And then there is Bob Costa, who dreams of bringing glory to the school by convincing John Mayer, whose song "Your Body Is a Wonderland" is an anthem for the students, to perform at the prom. Poignant, humorous, and joyful, this is "a captivating story about a small-town" (The Philadelphia Inquirer).   "Vivid, engaging . . . Something of a real-life teen soap: its intertwined storylines and folkloric personalities certainly draw you in the same way." --The Atlantic Monthly   "A book that is as good as it ever gets." --Buzz Bissinger, author of Friday Night Lights… (more)