Stroker, Ali and Stacy Davidowitz. Chance to Fly, The. Fiction. Amulet, 04/2021. 288pp. $16.99. 978-1-4197-4393-1. OUTSTANDING. GRADES 4-8.
Thirteen-year-old Natalie Beacon must leave her friends and successful wheelchair racing career behind when her family moves from San Francisco to a small town in New Jersey. Nat is a musical theater super fan and sees an opportunity to audition for a middle grade production of Wicked—her favorite musical. Though accepted by her castmates, Nat must manage misunderstandings about her disability and physical obstacles in order to perform. Issues around disability and independence are front and center but not at the cost of regular middle grade life—friendships, crushes, and fitting in. Nat’s pain and determination are both on display in this #ownvoices book. Natalie is white, and her castmates are diverse in culture and sexual orientation. Authors’ notes and acknowledgments provide more context about theater and disability.
Carla Riemer, Independent