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A review by bickie
The Chance to Fly by Stacy Davidowitz, Ali Stroker
4.0
In addition to the disabled representation, the book is a fantastic, fun theater-kid romp featuring a girl who uses a wheelchair. Many theater kids will find someone to relate to in the cast, and the messages about inclusion, supporting one another, and going after your dreams are fabulous.
Provides a great mirror for other wheelchair-using readers as well as great examples of how to be an ally including asking the wheelchair user if they would like help and how to provide that help.
I appreciated the realistic misunderstandings between Nat and Chloe, her best friend from CA (the story starts with her moving to NJ not far out of NYC) and the respectful way they managed to talk it through to preserve the relationship. I also appreciated Nat's holding her own with Malik and the other new people she met; she seemed grounded and spoke her truth most of the time but not all of the time.
A few clangs to me: There is a discussion around the campfire at the retreat weekend where the Oz-Bounders are sharing "Truths" kind of like a truth-or-dare game. When Nat reflects on what Malik shares about being the only Black kid not only in the theater group but in his whole school (which, ironically, is named after Martin Luther King Jr), she thinks that "no one" thinks about not casting him in a role because of his skin color (presumably as opposed to because of being in a wheelchair). While the representation of Malik seems generally positive, I found this to be an unfortunate assumption on Nat's part, especially because she doesn't say it out loud so that he (or others) can educate her on her misperception.
Among many many references to Broadway musicals both contemporary and classic, there are some references to popular culture including a forced reference to "Harry Potter lightning." Also a Sia song. These unexamined references could make trans or autistic readers feel othered and/or like the author agrees with the author of the HP books and Sia in their ideas.
Middle schoolers are encouraged to read Gregory Maguire's book Wicked, which is long and dense and written for adults complete with some very adult situations. The musical changes the book around quite a bit to make it less disturbing and more Broadway-crowd pleasing. I hope that readers who love this book don't pick up Wicked expecting a middle-grade type of read.
Near the end, they talk about how impossible it would be to get rights to Hamilton. Of course, the rights to Wicked are, I believe, also hard to come by IRL. I think it is implied that they have the rights and that it's just one of those "suspension of disbelief" situations that Hudson talks about.
I mostly listened to this book. Ali Stroker narrates (and sings!) with inflection and timing. She slightly changes her voice for some of the characters. It could be difficult for some listeners to understand that some of the things Nat "says" are just in her head.
Provides a great mirror for other wheelchair-using readers as well as great examples of how to be an ally including asking the wheelchair user if they would like help and how to provide that help.
I appreciated the realistic misunderstandings between Nat and Chloe, her best friend from CA (the story starts with her moving to NJ not far out of NYC) and the respectful way they managed to talk it through to preserve the relationship. I also appreciated Nat's holding her own with Malik and the other new people she met; she seemed grounded and spoke her truth most of the time but not all of the time.
A few clangs to me: There is a discussion around the campfire at the retreat weekend where the Oz-Bounders are sharing "Truths" kind of like a truth-or-dare game. When Nat reflects on what Malik shares about being the only Black kid not only in the theater group but in his whole school (which, ironically, is named after Martin Luther King Jr), she thinks that "no one" thinks about not casting him in a role because of his skin color (presumably as opposed to because of being in a wheelchair). While the representation of Malik seems generally positive, I found this to be an unfortunate assumption on Nat's part, especially because she doesn't say it out loud so that he (or others) can educate her on her misperception.
Among many many references to Broadway musicals both contemporary and classic, there are some references to popular culture including a forced reference to "Harry Potter lightning." Also a Sia song. These unexamined references could make trans or autistic readers feel othered and/or like the author agrees with the author of the HP books and Sia in their ideas.
Middle schoolers are encouraged to read Gregory Maguire's book Wicked, which is long and dense and written for adults complete with some very adult situations. The musical changes the book around quite a bit to make it less disturbing and more Broadway-crowd pleasing. I hope that readers who love this book don't pick up Wicked expecting a middle-grade type of read.
Near the end, they talk about how impossible it would be to get rights to Hamilton. Of course, the rights to Wicked are, I believe, also hard to come by IRL. I think it is implied that they have the rights and that it's just one of those "suspension of disbelief" situations that Hudson talks about.
I mostly listened to this book. Ali Stroker narrates (and sings!) with inflection and timing. She slightly changes her voice for some of the characters. It could be difficult for some listeners to understand that some of the things Nat "says" are just in her head.