Strangers Assume My Girlfriend Is My Nurse
ISBN10: 125023316X
ISBN13: 9781250233165
Trade Paperback
208 Pages
$12.99
CA$16.99
From anecdotes about first introductions where people patted him on the head instead of shaking his hand, to stories of passersby mistaking his able-bodied girlfriend for a nurse, Shane tackles awkward situations and assumptions with humor and grace.
On the surface, these essays are about day-to-day life as a wheelchair user with a degenerative disease, but they are actually about family, love, and coming of age.
Shane Burcaw is one half of the hilarious YouTube duo, Squirmy and Grubs, which he runs with his girlfriend, now fiancee, Hannah Aylward.
Reviews
Praise for Strangers Assume My Girlfriend Is My Nurse
"His capacity for self-reflection offers a good model for readers struggling to do the same, and his negotiation of independence will have resonance for many young people. People with disabilities still don’t get the kind of #ownvoices space they merit, and Burcaw’s voice makes him just plain good literary company in this approachable, enjoyable, and often edifying title."—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)
"Burcaw writes with humor and humility in the engaging, insightful collection of tales from his life. His anecdotes are candid and revealing—all areas of his life are fodder for laughs and discussion."—VOYA
"With the same frankness and gallows humor that marked his Laughing at My Nightmare . . . An accessible, smart-assed, and unexpectedly tender exploration of life, love, and disability."—Kirkus Reviews
"With uncompromised self-confidence and contagious humor, his no-holds-barred essays address some of the curious, quirky, and even intimate questions folks have about his condition . . . Written in his frank, often earthy, style, this will hold readers mesmerized."—Booklist
"Equal parts humorous, tender, and insightful, the pieces give an unfettered look at Burcaw’s life and the assumptions others make about living with a disability."—School Library Journal
"Burcaw doesn’t shy away from topics that might be considered delicate; instead, he emphasizes the awkwardness, celebrating highs and lows alike. Above all, [he] succeeds in illustrating that 'disability does not equal sadness.'”—Publishers Weekly
BOOK EXCERPTS
Read an Excerpt
Introduction
Look, I get it. Normally, I don’t read introductions either, but this one is important, and I’m not just saying that because I wrote it. (Yes I am.)
There are some things you should know about me that will...