5 stars
What a fantastic read. Emmie, a 12-year-old WCMX enthusiast, runs her own online shop selling custom wheelchair bags to save up for her dream tricked-out wheelchair. But after a minor accident at school, she’s bombarded by support she didn’t ask for and accommodations she doesn’t need. Caught up in all the “well-intentioned” help, Emmie must figure out how to tell her close-knit, rural community what she actually needs.
I loved this book. Emmie is such a strong character with her own strengths and flaws. She’s self-reliant, sometimes to the point that she doesn’t realize how her decisions impact others. But once she knows what she wants, there is no stopping her. A dynamic character that really brings life to the story.
Great focus on actually listening to the people you are advocating for rather than assuming you know the best way to help them. This book covers so many misconceptions about wheelchair use and disabilities in general. Loved the emphasis on Emmie being inspiring because of her actions, not her disability.
The story also deals with being an inattentive friend, loss of a parent, grief, the damage caused by preconceived notions, and taking responsibility for your mistakes.
Well-told. A powerful read about speaking up and showing the world what you can do.