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

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

Burcaw follows his YA memoir, Laughing at My Nightmare, with a picture book that offers an approachable and candid look at his life with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Throughout, he answers some common questions people have about his life and appearance, such as, "But how do you do things?" and "How does your chair work?" Burcaw's responses usually include a touch of humor, but he's always firm and clear; in response to the opening question, "What is wrong with you?" he says: "Absolutely nothing is wrong with me. I'm just a little different!" Carr's photographs provide readers the opportunity to truly get a sense of Burcaw's life while also creating a few opportunities for silliness--in one spread, Burcaw uses his wheelchair and rope to hoist his brother up to a basketball hoop (something the brothers attempted in real life, resulting in a broken motor). An author's note includes a more in-depth medical explanation of SMA, as well as information about Burcaw's nonprofit organization. Ages 6-9. Author's agent: Tina Wexler, ICM. Photographer's agent: Michael Ginsburg & Associates. (Nov.)

"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