Air

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. (Mar.)

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

"Emmie Ethrige is a daredevil who lives life FAST. She is gutsy and kind, fun-loving and flawed—exactly the sort of character readers will relate to and root for . . . A fantastic, bright, and important read." —Kate Beasley, author of Lions & Liars and Gertie's Leap to Greatness