Roll with It

Twelve-year-old Ellie, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, moves with her mother to Oklahoma to help care for her ailing grandfather. She must start over at a new school while dealing with the daily challenges of her disability and her passion for baking. Her grandfather's memory is failing, and Ellie's mother struggles to balance work, caregiving, and single parenthood. As Ellie navigates middle school social dynamics, she focuses on perfecting her baking skills and dreams of becoming a professional baker. At its core, this middle-grade novel explores themes of adaptation, belonging, and self-discovery through the lens of a determined young protagonist who refuses to be defined by her physical limitations.

Readers appreciate the authentic portrayal of a middle school student with cerebral palsy, noting the book avoids common disability stereotypes. Many parents and teachers recommend it for teaching empathy and understanding. Readers liked: - Main character's determined and sarcastic personality - Accurate representation of family dynamics - Focus on baking as a creative outlet - Natural inclusion of disability without making it the only storyline Readers disliked: - Some found the pacing slow in the middle sections - A few felt secondary characters needed more development Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (280+ ratings) Common reader comments: "Shows disability as one part of life, not the whole story" - Goodreads reviewer "Perfect for teaching inclusion in classrooms" - Teacher on Amazon "My daughter with CP finally saw herself in a book" - Parent reviewer "Realistic without being preachy" - School librarian review

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🎲 Author Jamie Sumner has a son with cerebral palsy, which helped inspire her authentic portrayal of the main character Ellie's experiences with CP. 🥧 The baking scenes in the book were influenced by Sumner's own love of cooking and the time she spent baking with her grandmother. 🏠 The small-town Oklahoma setting was chosen to highlight the challenges of accessibility and medical care that many families with disabled children face in rural areas. 👥 The character of Ellie was partly inspired by real-life youth disability activists who advocate for better accessibility and understanding. 🎨 The book's cover art, featuring a rolling pin and baking theme, was designed to emphasize how Ellie uses baking as both an emotional outlet and a way to connect with others.