Not So Different: What You Really Want to Ask About Having a Disability

Not So Different: What You Really Want to Ask About Having a Disability

Not So Different offers a humorous, relatable, and refreshingly honest glimpse into Shane Burcaw’s life. Shane tackles many of the mundane and quirky questions that he’s often asked about living with a disability, and shows readers that he’s just as approachable, friendly, and funny as anyone else. Shane Burcaw was born with a rare disease called spinal muscular atrophy, which hinders his muscles’ growth. As a result, his body hasn’t grown bigger and stronger as he’s gotten older―it’s gotten smaller and weaker instead. This hasn’t stopped him from doing the things he enjoys (like eating pizza and playing sports and video games) with the people he loves, but it does mean that he routinely relies on his friends and family for help with everything from brushing his teeth to rolling over in bed. A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2017 Gr 1–3—Burcaw answers the most common questions he gets about having a disability. He was born with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), which makes his muscles grow weaker throughout his life and his body smaller as he ages. A range of questions, from "What's wrong with you?" to "How do you play with your friends," are answered in a concise yet thorough way. Burcaw takes a humorous approach towards each topic, such as comparing himself to a T. rex when discussing why his head is bigger than the rest of his body. Additionally, he describes his wheelchair as working with a joystick "sort of like a video-game controller." This ultimately serves to emphasize that though Burcaw may look different, he is a person whom kids can empathize with. The discussion of his family's help and how it feels to be made fun of will allow readers to more fully understand what it is like to live with a disability. The pages are visually pleasing, with brightly colored photographs of Burcaw accompanying bold graphics and speech bubbles. An author's note at the end goes into greater detail about SMA and Burcaw's work as a disability rights activist. VERDICT This slim book packs a punch and can serve as a good introduction for students about people with disabilities.—Kathryn Justus, Renbrook School, West Hartford, CT “This slim book packs a punch and can serve as a good introduction for students about people with disabilities.” ― School Library Journal “Burcaw’s tone is breezy, matter-of-fact, and humorous, and he’s got an accessible and mischievous persona . . . The combination of approachable photographs and informative text makes this highly valuable for solving kids’ essential conundrum of wanting to understand a disability without rudely quizzing people.” ― Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books “Questions are posed . . and answered with blunt clarity and humor. Readers get to know [Shane] on many levels as really not so different at all.” ― Booklist “Straightforward . . . Humorous . . . A candid, approachable resource for curious kids.” ― Kirkus Reviews Shane Burcaw is a twenty-something young adult with Spinal Muscular Atrophy and a wicked sense of humor. He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he runs a blog and nonprofit organization dedicated to providing medical equipment to people with muscular dystrophy diseases. He and his girlfriend are the duo behind Squirmy and Grubs, a YouTube channel that offers a behind the scenes look at their interabled relationship. Matt Carr is an award-winning visual storyteller with a background in photojournalism and a penchant for delivering honest, believable, and beautifully lit scenes. His photography has been published in The New York Times , Entertainment Weekly , and Rolling Stone among other publications, and he has been recognized by American Photo , Hasselblad Masters , PDN , IPA , and Communication Arts . After 10 years working in London and Prague, Matt now lives in Brooklyn with his wife and their spirited 4-year-old daughter. His photographs illustrate Shane Burcaw's Not So Different .