This is the kind of book that does exactly what middle-grade fiction should do: it builds empathy while telling an engaging story. Georgie isn't a saint or a victim—he's a regular kid who happens to have dwarfism, dealing with a bully, a best friend with an overly-affectionate Italian grandmother, parents who wish he'd inherited their musical talent, and an incoming baby sibling.

What makes this work is Lisa Graff's light touch. She doesn't hit you over the head with lessons about acceptance or difference. Instead, she shows Georgie living his life, and the 'thing about everyone' framework lets kids see that we all have something that makes us different.

The book is nearly 20 years old now, which shows in some ways, but the core themes—identity, friendship, family—are timeless. It's not going to blow anyone's mind, but it's solid, warm, and genuinely funny. The kind of book that sparks good conversations without feeling like homework.