The Short-Bus Kid

*Kansas State Reading Circle Choice, 1996-97 *Childrens Miracle Network Selection Kenny and Billy are twin brothers. Kenny is retarded. This is Kennys story of their very special relationship between ten and fourteen years of age, as much as it is a story about himself and his retardation. Through him, the reader experiences his parents patience and home regimen of enrichment learning; ARC; the special education classes in school; the teasing; and his feeling of Billys rejection in front of his friends. We also meet Amy who thinks that being retarded is no big deal and becomes Kennys good friend. They share a mutual interest in drawing. When Billy is diagnosed as having leukemia and suffers the physical disabilities of chemotherapy, although Billys friends shun him, Kenny remains steadfast. The brothers remain close even when Billy is pronounced cured and his friends return. Later, Billy suffers a relapse and only a transplant of Kennys bone marrow will save him. The procedure is done on the boys birthday. Through Kennys simply-told story, we become aware of hospital medical procedures and often scary medical questions that youngsters have but do not ask adults. We see, too, a beautiful story of equally shared brotherly love.