Air - by Monica Roe

About the Book

Twelve-year-old Emmie Ethrige lives with her widowed father in South Carolina, dreams of wheelchair motocross, and is working toward her dream of buying a serious set of wheels to take her big-air tricks to the next level. But when a mishap leads people to question her independence, Emmie must find a way to change their minds.

Book Synopsis

An action-packed, empowering middle grade novel about a girl who has to speak up when her wheelchair motocross dreams get turned upside down.

Twelve-year-old Emmie is working to raise money for a tricked-out wheelchair to get serious about WCMX, when a mishap on a poorly designed ramp at school throws her plans into a tailspin. Instead of replacing the ramp, her school provides her with a kind but unwelcome aide--and, seeing a golden media opportunity, launches a public fundraiser for her new wheels. Emmie loves her close-knit rural town, but she can't shake the feeling that her goals--and her choices--suddenly aren't hers anymore. With the help of her best friends, Emmie makes a plan to get her dreams off the ground--and show her community what she wants, what she has to give, and how ready she is to do it on her own terms.

Air is a smart, energetic middle grade debut from Monica Roe about thinking big, working hard, and taking flight.

Review Quotes

School Library Journal Best Middle Grade Books of the Year
Young Hoosier Award Nominee
Truman Readers Award Nominee
North Carolina Children's Book Nominee
Evergreen Teen Book Award Nominee
Whippoorwill Award Winner
Target Book Club Pick (age 9-12)
Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Georgia Children's Book Awards Grade 4-8 Finalist
Cybils Awards Middle Grade Fiction Finalist
Vermont Golden Dome Book Award Nominee
Rhode Island Middle School Book Award Nominee
Massachusetts Children's Book Award Nominee
Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year

"A fun, fierce heroine fights architectural ableism with the powers of friendship." --Kirkus Reviews

"Roe's energetic debut . . . 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." --Publisher's Weekly

"Though sports feature heavily in Air, the larger lessons on disability advocacy and finding your voice make this story especially powerful. Highly recommended for young daredevils and those looking for stories with a strong female protagonist." --Booklist

"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

"Air is fantastic, fierce, and too much fun. Please read it immediately." --William Alexander, National Book Award-winning author of Goblin Secrets

"Air is the high-energy tale of a wheelchair athlete determined to get the equipment she needs to have fun and go far. After Emmie bumps up against others seeking to 'help' by pushing her in their direction, she learns to resist creatively. Her quest will engage readers from start to finish as they see how one girl forges her own path with the real help of loyal friends in their small town." --Lyn Miller-Lachmann, author of She Persisted: Temple Grandin & co-author of Moonwalking

About the Author

Monica Roe is the author of Air, as well as Thaw, a Cybils Young Adult Fiction Finalist, and the short story "The Unhealthy Breakfast Club" in the anthology Rural Voices. She is a pediatric physical therapy provider for several remote Alaskan communities and a researcher/advocate for the social model of disability and inclusive rural health. Monica studies public health at the University of Alaska, focusing on disability-inclusive disaster preparedness. She and her family divide their time between Alaska and their apiary in rural South Carolina. For more about Monica's research, Alaska, beekeeping, or other published works, pay her a visit at her website.