Author Jonathan Mooney was a short bus rider–a derogatory term used for kids in special education and a distinction that told the world he wasn’t “normal.” Along with other challenged students (in his case, dyslexic and learning disabled), he grew up amid unfair labeling and skepticism surrounding his ability to succeed.
Mooney went on to graduate with honors from Brown University, but could never escape the pain from his past. What better cure than a road trip? To free himself and to learn how others had moved beyond labels, he decided to buy his own short bus and set out cross-country, looking for kids who had dreamed up creative and magical ways to overcome the obstacles that separated them from the so-called normal world.
The Short Bus is Mooney’s humorous and poignant record of his four-month, 35,000-mile epic journey. He meets thirteen people in thirteen states, including an eight-year-old deaf and blind girl who likes to curse out her teachers in sign language; and Butch Anthony, who grew up severely learning disabled but now owns the Museum of Wonder. Mooney learns from these folks that there’s no such thing as normal and that to really embrace life, each person must find their own special way to stay the course. He’ll be reading at NYC’s Half King on Monday night, June 25 at 7 PM.