Ben Mattlin lives a normal, independent life. Why is that interesting?Because Mattlin was born with spinal muscular atrophy,a congenital weakness from which he was expected to die inchildhood. Not only did Mattlin live through childhood, he becameone of the first students in a wheelchair to attend Harvard,from which he graduated and became a professional writer. Hisadvantage? Mattlin’s life happened to parallel the growth of thedisability rights movement, so that in many ways he did not feelthat he was disadvantaged at all, merely different. <p><em>Miracle Boy Grows Up</em> is a witty, unsentimental memoir that youwon’t forget, told with engrossing intelligence and a unique perspectiveon living with a disability in the United States.</p>