The Chance to Fly

March 1, 2021
An aspiring actor who uses a manual wheelchair is determined to land a part in a community theater production. Moving cross-country from California to New Jersey and leaving her best friend, Chloe, behind is hard enough for Nat. Even worse, the new house doesn't feel like home, and her parents are as overprotective as ever. When Nat, an avid fan of musicals, spots an advertisement for the local theater's production of Wicked, she's sure that nabbing a part will make her feel at home. But her father wants her to focus on wheelchair racing, and her mother doubts her ability to fit in; it's up to Nat to prove she can take the stage. The authors know their stuff--Tony Award-winner Stroker was the first wheelchair user to be cast in a Broadway play, and Davidowitz is a playwright--and it shows. Nat's relationship with her loving but overbearing parents rings perceptively and painfully true, as does her frustration with inaccessible venues and patronizing attitudes. Her enthusiasm for the theater is infectious, but readers needn't be theater buffs to relate to her fear of growing apart from Chloe and her desire for independence. A quirky cast of secondary characters lends humor, support, and a little romance as they illustrate the fun and rigor of acting. Nat defaults to White; the secondary cast is somewhat diverse. Fun, honest, and uplifting: applause! (authors' note) (Fiction. 9-12)

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Starred review from April 19, 2021
Tony Award–winning Broadway star Stroker and veteran author Davidowitz (Freefall) combine their talents in this resonant middle grade debut. White musical theater aficionado Nat Beacon, 13, has just moved from San Francisco to Saddle Stream, N.J., with her parents, leaving behind her lifelong best friend, Chloe Suarez. While wheelchair racer Nat misses the camaraderie of her former team, her soul-deep dream of performing onstage, in a role epitomizing acceptance and friendship, drives her to audition for a community theater youth production of Wicked. Despite initial reserve—due in part to her burgeoning independence and past accessibility issues—she’s quickly absorbed into the cast, which includes handsome Malik Young, who has dark skin and locs, and whom she quickly develops feelings for; nurturing white dance captain Hudson, who is gay; outrageous white starlet Savannah Alexis; and sweet, multitalented Indian American athlete Rey Joshi. Navigating being onstage for the first time, Nat works with her new friends to translate obstacles into opportunities. Bolstered by realistic dialogue and Nat’s engaging internal narrative, this endearing novel will entrance a new generation of theater lovers and charm older ones with its allusions to beloved shows. Ages 12–up. Agents (for Stroker): KMR Agency; (for Davidowitz) Hannah Mann, Writers House.

May 28, 2021

Gr 3-7-Thirteen-year-old Natalie Beacon, who is white and has used a wheelchair since she was little, isn't happy to be leaving behind her best friend and moving across the country for her mom's new job. Nat's parents are eager for her to adjust; her father has already found her a wheelchair-racing team, a sport she enjoyed in California. She spots a poster during practice announcing auditions for a young performer's version of the musical Wicked. Musicals are Nat's passion and performing is her professional dream. When she can't convince her parents to let her audition, Nat decides to secretly audition anyway and is thrilled to get a part, ultimately convincing her parents to let her participate. She instantly falls in with a group of theater geeks who become her best friends. But she experiences alienating challenges in the production: She is asked to only sing and not dance, which leaves her feeling "half cast," and then the bus for their weekend retreat doesn't have a wheelchair lift. When a theater fire cancels the production, it's up to Nat to convince her new friends that the show must go on. Written by Tony Award-winner Stroker, who uses a wheelchair, and Davidowitz, this fast-paced novel features an extensive and diverse cast of characters. The descriptive third-person narrative helps readers visualize the characters and the production, though the sheer number of characters may require some backtracking, and the depth of character development can be inconsistent. Seeing the obstacles Nat faces daily and watching her learn to advocate for herself may inspire readers to do the same. Serious scenes, like Nat's crush Malik discussing his experience as the only Black student in school, and learning why Nat uses a wheelchair, are poignant, as is Nat's evolving relationship with her parents. VERDICT Though the novel leans heavily on musical history and theatre terminology, young readers do not need a knowledge of musicals and theater to enjoy this #OwnVoices novel. Young disabled performers will be excited to see representation, and all readers will be rooting for Nat.-Juliet Morefield, Multnomah County Lib., Portland, OR

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