Air

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.