Born Different: Amazing Stories of Very Special People

by Frederick Drimmer

Tells the stories of Tom Thumb, Joseph Merrick, a pair of Siamese twins, a giant nearly nine feet high, and a musician born without arms

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Reference, History

182 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[Kayla Micky]

I think my favorite character was the armless musician because his story is really fascinating, and it was my favorite story of all of them. I was the most surprised when the armless wonder worked with utmost patience and grit to become a wonderful violinist. I would not change the ending, because it gave me a perfect view of the whole book and what the main topic was about: "at the start of the book the man with no arms set his favorite motto. He learned it at his father's knee; It had guided him through his days. A motto? Yes, but it was a battle cry too, and he wanted to shout it to anyone who had to struggle through life with a severe handicap, as he had:
WHERE THERE'S A WILL THERE'S A WAY"

[Sariah]

It was fun (and somewhat sad) reading about these people, people who were born different, people like Tom thumb, the Siamese twins, the Elephant Man. It really was sobering also, to see how people react to differences in appearance. It hurt to see some of these people's lives run over by man. My favorite story was about a man who had no arms, he never let people run him over, and was cheerful and happy his whole life. I want to be like him!
SM

[Big H]

A great book for middle-to-high-school reading abilities that describes the life and work of some of the world's most famous side-show performers. Great pictures, very educational.

[Sheila Myers]

Although the book does inform the reader about the way these people are different and what caused their "abnormalities", Frederick Drimmer does a very good job of presenting the personal stories about the people and their lives.

[Abraham Ray]

Great read about some very special people!

[Elicia]

This is a really quick read since it's at an elementary reading level. It's also very humorously un-PC. It was written in 1981, though, so I give it some slack. A great pairing to this book is the novel "Geek Love".

[Westcoast_girl]

This book is horrendous and outdated.
The book does not portray these people as "Very Special". They are presented like an act from a freak show at an old circus.
The only thing the book focuses on is their 'abnormalities.'
It's humiliating that people today can still enjoy this book.

[Poisonpoppy]

My brother gave this book to me. Thanks, Cody!!

[Matty]

Very interesting. Covers many very interesting famous personality classics. (i.e. Tom Thumb)

[Michelle]

stories about various people from Ringling Bros. circus sideshows

[Shah Saguna]

The pros and cons of being born special....

[Marisa]

I was obsessed with this book when I was 10.

[SouthWestZippy]

I read this awhile back and I think it is a great young adult book. Makes you stop and think.

[Danielle Leigh]

This was a wonderful book! Left me with a great perspective on others!