Not So Different - by Shane Burcaw (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

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

Review Quotes

"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

About the Author

Shane Burcaw is a twenty-three-year-old with spinal muscular atrophy. He lives in Bethlehem, PA with his family, and runs a blog and eponymous nonprofit organization dedicated to raising money for muscular dystrophy research.

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.