The Thing About Georgie

Georgie is a fourth grader with dwarfism who faces social and physical challenges at school and home. When his parents announce they are having a baby, Georgie struggles with what this means for his place in the family. His best friend Andy seems to be drifting away and spending time with a new student, while Georgie gets paired with Jeanie the Meanie for a President's Day assignment. Between navigating changing friendships, school projects, and his upcoming role in the orchestra concert, Georgie must find ways to adapt. The story examines identity, acceptance, and family dynamics through a distinctive narrative that includes direct observations about life from Georgie's perspective as a person with dwarfism. The book handles complex emotional territory while maintaining authenticity and accessibility for young readers.

Readers appreciate how the book handles dwarfism through Georgie's perspective while avoiding stereotypes or making his condition the sole focus. Many parents and teachers note it helps children understand differences and builds empathy. Readers highlight: - Realistic portrayal of friendship dynamics and school challenges - Interactive "measuring" sections that help readers experience Georgie's perspective - Balance of humor with serious topics - Strong character development Common criticisms: - Some find the pacing slow in the middle sections - A few readers wanted more resolution with certain subplots Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (90+ ratings) Common Sense Media: 4/5 One teacher wrote: "My students connected with Georgie immediately and the discussions about perspective were invaluable." A parent noted: "The book helped my child understand that everyone faces different challenges, but those challenges don't define who you are."

Rules by Cynthia Lord A seventh-grade girl learns to accept her autistic brother while navigating friendship challenges and her first crush.

Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper A brilliant girl with cerebral palsy fights to communicate with the world and prove her capabilities to her classmates and teachers.

Wonder by R. J. Palacio A boy with facial differences enters mainstream school for the first time in fifth grade and changes his community's perspective.

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt A sixth-grade girl with dyslexia discovers her strengths with the help of an understanding teacher who shows her that different does not mean less capable.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli A unique new student challenges social norms and teaches her high school peers about individuality and nonconformity.

🦒 Author Lisa Graff got the idea for this book after watching a documentary about dwarfism and realizing she'd never read a middle-grade novel with a dwarf as the main character. 🎻 Throughout the book, readers are invited to participate in "experiments" that help them understand what life is like from Georgie's perspective, such as trying to reach high objects or tie their shoes with shorter arms. 🎭 The main character, Georgie, plays the double bass in his school orchestra despite his small stature - this was inspired by real-life musicians with dwarfism who have adapted instruments to fit their needs. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The book accurately portrays achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism, which affects approximately 1 in 25,000 people. 🏆 The Thing About Georgie was named to several state reading lists and earned a spot on the Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List for 2008-2009.