Middle Grade Monday: Air by Monica Roe

Image: Macmillan

Air by Monica Roe. Unabridged downloadable audiobook, ~5 hours. Read by Sandy Rustin. Recorded Books/ Macmillan, March, 2022. Review of audiobook borrowed from public library.

Happy Monday! We've had quite the run of spectacular weather here in northeastern New Jersey. I survived my first full week of classes with students and am so-o tired! 

Middle Grade Monday features Air by Monica Roe. Twelve-year-old Emelyn, "Emmie," has the need for speed. Being in a wheelchair doesn't slow her down, it's accessibility issues that hamper her ability to get around, especially at school. When a trick goes wrong thanks to a rickety ramp at school and she gets scraped up, her hovering and cautious school principal calls her father in for a meeting to re-evaluate Emmie's IEP. Her mom used to take care of that and would fight fiercely for Emmie's independence, but her dad, who works several jobs and also goes to night school, acquiesces and Emmie finds herself with a one-on-one aide.

This first-person novel is at turns hilarious and thought-provoking as spunky Emmie goes toe-to-toe with her new principal and the aide she doesn't want/ need.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Right Call by Tommy Greenwald

Image: Author's FB Page

The Right Call by Tommy Greenwald. 272 p. Game Changer series. Abrams, April 15, 2025. 9781419772856

Oops! Wednesday is almost over and I forgot to post my Waiting on Wednesday book. Waiting on Wednesday features books that I am excited for and that will soon be published. This week features The Right Call by Tommy Greenwald. I learned about this companion novel to his Game Changer series from his Facebook page last week and am super-excited because I have enjoyed reading his books ever since Ms. Sidrow told me about his Charlie Jackson books!

The Right Call won't be out until April, but you can enjoy any of his books including the Game Changer books at TMS library before then. Here's the publisher synopsis: From award-winning author Tommy Greenwald comes a thrilling companion novel to Game Changer that explores the growing pressures in youth sports, and the lengths some parents will go to make sure their kid comes out on top

Cal Klondike’s life revolves around baseball. He’s the Walthorne Baseball Academy’s star pitcher, and everyone from his coach to his dad to the town sports blogger is telling Cal he has an unlimited future in the sport. But with all this attention comes a lot of added stress, especially as the season kicks into high gear and college and pro scouts start to show up at the games. Inevitably, tensions that have been bubbling under the surface finally boil over, culminating in a confrontation that could change Cal’s relationship to baseball forever.

Told through a combination of transcripts, articles, texts, and emails, The Right Call is a gripping, fast-paced story about our split-second decisions, facing the consequences, and the courage it takes to forgive.

Happy reading!