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