Rating: 
Summary: Great account of Pennsbury and Levittown
Review: I am a Pennsbury grad ('96) and was born and raised in Levittown, PA, the settings in Michael Bamberger's book "Wonderland." Bamberger does a wonderful job of portraying my high school and hometown. The prom is the central focus of the story, but he effectively does several things at once throughout the book. From laying out the history of Pennsbury and the surrounding area, to developing many different characters that are interesting to follow, to crafting a story that takes actual accounts and weaves them into a page turning novel. Bamberger paints the subjects in the book vividly, and it's interesting to read about the teachers and the principal who were around during my time at Pennsbury. I was never one for having a lot of school spirit, but I was and still am proud to be from Levittown. He does a great job of describing it by including many of the numerous sections and streets, the local businesses and hangouts, and vivid depictions of the homes. He also discusses the inherent social and economic differences between Levittowners and Yardley residents. I always felt an undercurrent of this division in my high school and it's great that the author brought it out in the book. If you start reading it, you'll definitely finish it within a few days. It's a great read, even if you didn't go to Pennsbury.
Rating: 
Summary: They arrive... in their own way, at their own pace:
Review: I disagree that this books hold appeal only for "locals." Mr. Bamberger illuminates the lives of a cross-cut of students and paints their lives and values within the nurturing structures of the various "villages" that feed into the Pennsbury School District. This is not just a book about an "ordinary" American High School with an exceptional prom. It's not an "ordinary" high school because not one of the towns ("villages") that feed into it are "ordinary" in any way. It's a book about the families in those villages who have formed the long held values, and the faculty and administrators who share so many of those values in common. It is appropriate that Mr. Bamberger features the exceptional Pennsbury Prom in this book because it's the appropriate conclusion to the celebration of life that the diversified "villagers" all revel in routinely... and that keep them, from generation to generation, firmly rooted where they are.I'm reviewing herein how well Mr. Bamberger captured the "feel" of the communities and the type of individuals that a School that serves such a diverse societal mix turns out... or rather how families who choose to live in such a District choose to raise their children. It's truly a give and take. It starts with the families and their conscious decision to raise their children in an area where they "turned out just fine." No criticism there; people, for the most part, are happy with themselves. They are certainly not without their issues, but "survivors" as Bamberger describes them. It continues with a High School whose administrators share the same "happy with themselves" attitude and progressive but conservative and very tolerant values. For an outsider , Mr. Bamberger does a great job of this.The Prom is special because the neighborhoods are special. The students arrive at the prom in their own unique conveyances, whether it be a tractor or a Rolls Royce or pulled by donkey; or in the junker being towed by the local gas station's tow truck. But they arrive on the scene much the way they will arrive on every scene of life, henceforth from graduation day... in their own way, at their own pace...
Rating: 
Summary: It wasn't terrible, but...
Review: I don't think this is a book that you would really enjoy unless you are from the area. It wasn't bad, but it was just a bunch of gossip to me, and I cannot some of the things that were written. Then again, maybe I'm just biased because I'm not a Pennsbury student (Morrisville here). It was interesting because whenever I think of Pennsbury, I automatically think of the Yardley/Lower-Makefield/Newtown kids as being the majority, and I don't think too much of the kids from Levittown. However, the book focused more on the Levittown side. It was interesting to read, but I wouldn't recommend it to just anybody. I would only recommend it if you have a connection to the area.
Rating:
Summary: It Reads Like a Soap (and There's Nothing Wrong With That)
Review: I picked up this book on the fly from my local library, as I was getting ready to go on vacation and in need of some "beach reading" (literally). I had vaguely heard about the book, primarily because of the sub-plot involving one of the high school kids trying to get John Mayer to perform at the prom.
As it turns out, this reads like a baby eats candy: effortlessly. The author (a senior writer at Sports illustrated) follows the high school kids at Pennsbury HS (in suburban PA) for the entire 02-03 academic year. He picks about 10 kids around which to focus the main developments through the school year, and it really is a soap. Will the football team QB get a scholarschip at a big school? What happens to the prom queen with the mysterious boyfriend that nobody ever sees? Can the go-get-'em junior really convince then pre-Grammy winner and up-and-coming John Mayer to play at the prom? Before you realize it, you are turning the pages, eager to find out how it all plays out.
When I'm on vacation, on a beach, this is exactly the type of book I want to read: entertaining, engaging, not too complex, yet real. Highly recommended for brainless, effortless summer reading!
Rating:
Summary: They arrive... in their own way, at their own pace:
Review: Mr. Bamberger illuminates the lives of a cross-cut of students and paints their lives and values within the nurturing structures of the various "villages" that feed into the Pennsbury School District. This is not just a book about an "ordinary" American High School with an exceptional prom. It's not an "ordinary" high school because not one of the towns ("villages") that feed into it is "ordinary" in any way. Because, as quoted: "No examined life is ordinary." It's a book about the families in those villages who have formed the long held values as well as the faculty and administrators who share so many of those values in common. It is appropriate that Mr. Bamberger features the exceptional Pennsbury Prom in this book because it's the appropriate conclusion to the celebration of life that the diversified "villagers" all revel in routinely... and that keep them, from generation to generation, firmly rooted where they are. I'm reviewing herein how well Mr. Bamberger captured the "feel" of the communities and the type of individuals that a School that serves such a diverse societal mix turns out... or rather how families who choose to live in such a District choose to raise their children. It's truly a give and take. It starts with the families and their conscious decision to raise their children in an area where they "turned out just fine." No criticism there; people, for the most part, are happy with themselves. They are certainly not without their issues, but "survivors" as Bamberger describes them. It continues with a High School whose administrators share the same "happy with themselves" attitude and progressive but conservative and very tolerant values. For an outsider <wink>, Mr. Bamberger does a great job of this. The Prom is special because the neighborhoods are special. The students arrive at the prom in their own unique conveyances, whether it be a tractor or a Rolls Royce or pulled in a cart by a donkey; or in the junker being towed by the local gas station's tow truck. At Pennsbury it has always been more desireable to arrive in a VW Minibus painted to look like the Mystery Machine than to arrive in a Limosine. But arrive they do.. on the scene much the way they will arrive on every scene of life, henceforth from graduation day... in their own way, at their own pace...
Rating:
Summary: couldn't have said it better
Review: No matter where you are from or what high school you went to, everyone can relate to this book. I very recently graduated from high school (class of '03, the same year as the kids in the book) and just happened upon this book at the airport. Before I even landed at my destination, I had finished it. The people in this story are the same characters at every high school. Every school has it's jocks and it's preps and it's preverbial screw-ups. Bambarger did an amazing job of capturing high school as it is lived, even if the prom at the end of the year is the climax. High school even only having been gone a year now, seems like another lifetime and after reading this book it seems like just yesterday I was preparing for my five day prom. Pick it up, I promise you'll love it as much as I did.
Rating:
Summary: A very good story
Review: Sure this book is about a particular High School, in a particular place and time. But it could be about your High School, and it could be about when you went to High School. I graduated from High School almost thirty years ago. Mr. Bamberger makes the characters come alive, the names may change but all high schools have the same characters. It was a trip down memory lane for me. I was the AV geek in high school, and daydreamed about the hot mysterious blonde babe who I later came to know. Was this, or is this a special High School? No, it is a very ordinary High School in a very ordinary place. It is a story about people that all of us have known. It is a story about a place that all of us have been to, and yes there is something about a prom. This book now sits on the shelf next to my yearbook. You see, I spent 2 years in "The ROCK" they call Pennsbury High. Jim Cunningham was my Social Studies teacher, and the mere mention of his name makes my left ear twinge. I am a proud graduate of the class of '75.
Am I just a little prejudiced? Buy the book and find out for yourself.
Rating:
Summary: A very good story
Review: Sure this book is about a particular High School, in a particular place and time. But it could be about your High School, and it could be about when you went to High School. I graduated from High School almost thirty years ago. Mr. Bamberger makes the characters come alive, the names may change but all high schools have the same characters. It was a trip down memory lane for me. I was the AV geek in high school, and daydreamed about the hot mysterious blonde babe who I later came to know. Was this, or is this a special High School? No, it is a very ordinary High School in a very ordinary place. It is a story about people that all of us have known. It is a story about a place that all of us have been to, and yes there is something about a prom. This book now sits on the shelf next to my yearbook. You see, I spent 2 years in "The ROCK" they call Pennsbury High. Jim Cunningham was my Social Studies teacher, and the mere mention of his name makes my left ear twinge. I am a proud graduate of the class of '75.
Am I just a little prejudiced? Buy the book and find out for yourself.
Rating:
Summary: A School Where Kids Are Happy and Involved: Refreshing!
Review: The most "wondorous" thing about Michael Bamberger's book on Pennsbury High School in Pennsylvania is that it is not an indictment of what is wrong with the American Educational System like so many other books on Education. It's not the tales of woe of unhappy students, disaffected teachers, crime or financial waste.
Quite the contrary: Wonderland is a book that illustrates how excellent education occurs in a school where the the faculty and staff care about the kids, have standards, believe in what they are doing and work hard at realizing high expectations. Its a book about kids who are effectively engaged in school academically and through extra and co-curricular activities. Its a book about parents, who despite differing socio-economic standing, support their kids education and value the school and its traditions.
As much as there are many grand plans for the reform of education that will "really show results" there are no better results to be found than in schools like Pennsbury where professionals, parents, the community, and the kids themselves, value the educational process, and where each group does its part to achieve success.
Bamberger does a remarkable job of capturing the life and pulse of a high school across the year he visits Pennbury as a returned 'senior'. He gets to know students and faculty, is able to move between the two groups without forming alliances, or becoming judgemental. He tells his stories through the daily events of the school as seen through individual faculty and student eyes. He introduces real people from Pennsbury as characters we begin to care about and root for, as the year proceeds. And, by this rather ordinary reporting, Bamberger presents a pretty eloquent and exciting story of kids learning, growing, worrying, groaning and progressing, and of the adults who are in their lives through these developmental years.
Pennsbury is a story that is worthy of being told because it is a school like many of the other good ones that we never read about because they aren't besieged by scandal, or crime or some other 'newsworthy' problem. But, it is a remarkable story in that it gives witness to the most vital elements of excellent education at work. We don't need to rebuild the American Educational System. We need to see that the most important ingredients for good education are at work -- together -- on behalf of the success of kids. When administraors, teachers and staff are devoted to their work, engage the students, enlist the support of parents and the local community, good education takes place. And that is pretty exciting and amazing! More stories of good schools like Pennsbury need to be told so that people begin to see that the wheel doesn't need to be reinvented. We know how good education happens. Lets see that it happens in all places that kids call school throughout our country.
A well told and inspiring story.
Highly recommended!
Daniel J. Maloney
Saint Paul, Minnesota USA
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT.
Review: This book is great. It should be on everyone's summer reading list.
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