This is the real deal—a memoir that delivers on the 'perfect for fans of Wonder' promise without being a knockoff. Hoge's story is compelling, his voice is authentic, and the book manages to be both funny and deeply moving without veering into inspiration porn territory.
What makes this work so well is that Hoge doesn't present himself as superhuman or saintly. He's just a kid who happened to be born with a face that made people uncomfortable, and he figured out how to live his life anyway. The bullying scenes are honest but not gratuitous, the medical stuff is explained clearly without being gross, and the whole thing moves at a good clip.
This is exactly the kind of book that should be in every middle school classroom and library. It's the rare memoir that actually teaches empathy and inclusion through lived experience rather than lecturing about it. Plus, it's genuinely engaging to read, which is half the battle with middle-grade nonfiction.






