Wonderland

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