Product Description

Real-life stories of struggle, achievement, victory, and sometimes loss that are an ideal companion for history, social science, language and geography studies. The Extroardinary People series is the perfect starter for students who want to know more about the people who shaped their world, focusing on the unique histories of people from every culture, and every walk of life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1003997 in Books
• Published on: 1997-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 5-10?This collective biography contains 3-to-4 page essays about 48 famous people (18 women, 30 men) who had (or have) disabilities. Arrangement is chronological, beginning with John Milton (b. 1608) and ending with Heather Whitestone, Miss America 1995. The majority of subjects were born after 1880 and are primarily North American. Many of the names are obvious, such as Beethoven, Helen Keller, FDR; others are not usually associated with a disability, such as Tom Cruise (dyslexia). Several will not be known outside their area of expertise such as Harilyn Rousso (disability-rights activist, psychotherapist) and Temple Grandin (livestock-handling equipment designer). Each well-written article presents information about the disability, the individual's accomplishments, and some personal data. A black-and-white photograph (or drawing) accompanies each essay. The section "To Find Out More" includes a long list of books, magazines, organizations, and Internet sites. A fine combination of biography and the history of the disability-rights movement.?Martha Gordon, formerly at South Salem Library, NY
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 5^-8. Profiling people together because they all have disabilities is in many ways an artificial way to organize a collection. Moreover, the emphasis on the disability varies from subject to subject. For instance, photographer Dorothea Lang's polio-induced limp is hardly mentioned after it is introduced. But deafness takes up most of the discussion of book reviewer and editor Henry Kisor's life. Generally, the profiles, each several pages long, are competently if unexcitingly written. On the plus side, the selection of people is wide ranging, including John Milton, Harriet Tubman, Bill Veeck, Frida Kahlo, and Stephen Hawking as well as lesser-known writers, artists, and scientists. There are also several interesting essays on topics such as the fight for disability rights legislation, the right-to-die movement, and technological aids for the disabled. There is no independent documentation, but the bibliography can lead to more information. A clean format and crisp black-and-white photos add interest. Ilene Cooper

About the Author
Deborah Kent is the author of several nonfiction books for children.

Customer Reviews

I found myself drawn in to this book
Extraordinary People with Disabilities by Kent and Quinlan (Grolier Publishing 1996) This excellent book tells the stories of over 50 outstanding individuals who overcame their disabilities. It is written so that one can choose to read short segments. However, when I picked it up, I felt energized and needed to read it cover-to-cover. The people profiled are from a variety of racial and economic backgrounds. Many of these individuals had physical disabilities but some of the stories profile people with learning or emotional disabilities. Through these stories, the book takes an activist stance. It tells of many who not only overcame their own disabilities, but went on to help other disabled people. The stories make it easier to understand the points of view of disability rights activists. The final chapter gives an overview of important new technological aids for the disabled. It explains why some of these aids are controversial among the disabled community. A glossary gives succinct definitions of many of the terms used in the book. An appendix at the back of the book list many of the major organizations that advocate for individuals with physical and mental disabilities. There is also a section listing related books and journals. I would recommend this book to high school students and adults. Carol E Watkins, M.D. Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist

overall a pretty cool book
This book is a good book to read if you want to know more about disabilities. I liked the wide range of people it told about. They are put in order from the year of the persons birth. The downside is that the book can get boring at places telling about organizations for disabled people.