Fran Sandridge

Two Stories About Equal Friends Fran Sandridge

About the Book: Two Stories About Equal Friends contains two stories. The first story, Equal Friends, is narrated by a school quarterback, Joshua, whose best friend is Justin. Joshua points out early on that his friend Justin has Down syndrome but continues the story to reflect how insignificant the syndrome is in their relationship. Joshua successfully points out the many ways in which he and his friend are alike and makes it clear to the reader that Justin does not like to be considered "special". The story ends with a message that all people are equal. The second story, Don't Mind My Chair is a story about a young girl, Jessica, who visits her grandparents for a week long stay. This story would be ordinary except for the fact that Jessica has cerebral palsy, making it a challenge for some potential friends to include her in their games. The story entertains as it educates the reader with information about how to include someone with a physical disability into daily activities. Don't Mind My Chair takes the reader's attention from Jessica's wheelchair to focus on her charm and capabilities.