An Inspiring story in every sense of the word. And, to quote one of the blurbs in the front endpapers, this is a book that "...should be required reading for every PTA, every school board, and every person involved with kids in any way."

I read this book because I'd read somewhere that he'd interviewed someone from my home town. (Probably in her obituary - she died last year). Mooney spends a lot of time musing on his own history of trying to fit in as normal - a problem that is so universal, that it is on the boring side. He goes on a road trip in a short bus to find people freakier than himself to either get more in touch with his freaky self, or to just feel better. His story is rambling with some interesting parts. I did enjoy reading about his time with Cookie/Dominique. I was glad to hear that some of the locals were looking out for her. Though I was annoyed that he hadn't taken time to understand the local geography (one glaring error about placement of towns) and I often found myself gritting my teeth to get through to the interesting parts about the people he interviewed. ( )

The Short Bus: A Journey Beyond Normal is an eye-opening story of the author's journey across America in a 'short bus' to shed light on the reality and truth of people with disabilities and how they view themselves in society in addition to how society views them. This is a book that everyone should read, regardless of what you may think you know about disabilities. The book provides firsthand insights into the personal lives of Americans who are either struggling with or have come to terms with having a 'problem’ as society has labeled for them. The amount of children and teens that are quickly labeled as “problem students,” only because their behavior deviates from the norm or is misunderstood by teachers or peers, is alarmingly large in today’s society. Chances are, this book will touch everyone in at least one way. Whether the student has trouble reading, is blind, has Down syndrome, has a deaf sibling, has a mother in a wheelchair, or even has never met a person with disabilities before, this book will provide numerous insights into the real struggles of everyday people. The universal theme of seeking love, acceptance, and approval is so obvious that many times we forget we all want the same things; but this book makes us question our values, motives, and the way we approach others and if we choose to segregate or not.

This is the story of Jonathan Mooney traveling across the country and interviewing those who have been deemed "disabled" by the school system and society at large. This book is one of my personal favorites. I think it would be affective in the classroom because as students are currently experiencing the tribulations of the school system, reading this book would be a unique opportunity to explore some of these issues with current student perspectives.

An interesting and successful idea for a book. ( )