Air

January 15, 2022
A 12-year-old athlete needs new wheels to practice riskier moves in wheelchair motocross. Emmie's a daredevil, just like her dad used to be, though her ratty old wheelchair isn't really up to the jumps, wheelies, and speed she loves. She annoys school staff by doing tricks around campus despite the inaccessibility of the building and portable classrooms. After a mishap, the school imposes an unwanted classroom aide upon her, and a chain of aide-to-teacher gossip leads the school to hold a fundraiser for Emmie's dream wheelchair. That would sure be faster than Emmie's continuing to sell custom wheelchair bags online (lovely details about her customers normalize wheelchair use among everyone from a hunter to a LARPer to an entomologist). One customer, AK_SalmonGranny, becomes Emmie's sounding board as she wrestles with her school's patronizing paternalism but scolds her for participating in the fundraiser. Emmie's journey is a solid-but-pleasurable delivery vehicle for any number of Very Important Messages. Emmie is angered by inaccessible architecture and enraged by inspirational glurge. Her coming-of-age, during which she bizarrely learns that as a child from a working-class home whose insurance won't cover a new wheelchair for some years she apparently shouldn't accept help buying a new one, is ill-suited to a tale that's otherwise openly didactic about the social model of disability. Whiteness is situated as the default; contextual clues point to racial diversity in the supporting cast. A fun, fierce heroine fights architectural ableism with the powers of friendship and capitalism. (author's note) (Fiction. 9-12)

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April 4, 2022
In Roe’s energetic middle grade debut, Emelyn “Emmie” Ethrige, implied white, loves using her wheelchair to do impressive stunts like her favorite WCMX athletes. Emmie’s old, oft-mended chair isn’t particularly suited for ambitious jumps and tricks, however, a fact that she’s regularly reminded of by her father, who has become increasingly protective since the death of her mother two years ago. To save up for a new chair, the 12-year-old is operating an online store, selling custom wheelchair bags and foraged craft materials with her best friend Alejandra Che, a young beekeeper, cued Latinx. After an incident involving Emmie and her chair, her meddlesome principal assigns her an unwanted school aide and holds a fundraiser to pay for a new chair. In response, Emmie must find a way to communicate her desire for agency as well as what she really wants and needs from her school, peers, and family. Roe thoughtfully depicts the obstacles Emmie faces, from assumptions about her abilities to the lack of wheelchair accessibility in her small South Carolina town, while highlighting the importance of intentional allyship and advocacy. Ages 10–14. Agent: Jacqui Lipton, Raven Quill.

April 1, 2022

Gr 4-7-Seventh grader Emmie has a need for speed, and wishes for a more accessible way for her to fly through the air like her favorite wheelchair motocross heroes. Her father has been struggling to make ends meet ever since her mother passed away, so Emmie raises her own funds for an enhanced wheelchair through crafting embroidered bags. When a mishap with her wheelchair occurs, she's left with some scrapes, a new aide, and a fundraiser for a new wheelchair. Her goal is well within sight, but something just feels off to her, and Emmie has to find her voice among the well-meaning noise. This novel displays warmth and heart in addressing issues such as grief, friendship, poverty, advocating for yourself, and lack of accessibility. Emmie is a strong character who clearly voices her needs as a wheelchair user alongside her desire to not be defined by or discriminated against for her disability. The story also takes an interesting educational turn in defining 504s and IEPs, as well as the history of disability rights. The larger conversation about accessibility adds a valuable lesson to an engaging story with quick chapters. Roe comes from the background as a pediatric physical therapist and studies public health at the University of Alaska, focusing on disability-inclusive disaster preparedness. VERDICT A fast-paced realistic fiction title featuring a disabled protagonist; a worthy purchase for collections.-Molly Dettmann

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May 20, 2022
Grades 4-7 Twelve-year-old Emmie loves the fast and exhilarating world of WCMX (wheelchair motocross) and spends most of her free time popping wheelies and speeding down the hallways of her middle school. After an accident at school involving a poorly designed ramp, the school administration decides, much to Emmie's dismay, that she needs an educational aide, who can help her get around. And the interference doesn't end there. When the school principal finds out that Emmie is saving up for a new wheelchair, he plans a surprise fundraiser to help her reach her goal. However, the well-intentioned generosity of her community leaves Emmie frustrated, especially since she feels more than capable of buying a chair on her own. With the help of friends and family, Emmie finds the perfect way to assert herself. Though sports feature heavily in Air, the larger lessons on disability advocacy and finding your voice make this story especially powerful. Highly recommended for young daredevils and those looking for stories with a strong female protagonist.

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