School Library Journal

After a car crash kills his father and leaves Noah in a wheelchair, he is adjusting to the changes in his life and the way that those around him treat him differently. With the help of his longtime friend Alyssa and new friend Dee-Dub, Noah embarks on a series of hilarious challenges to beat the bully, drive away his mom’s new love interest, and right other wrongs. This action-packed, humorous story contains well-developed, dynamic characters who are thoughtful and relatable. As Noah navigates his new reality, he encounters and eventually learns to manage both physical and emotional challenges. There are, however, some missteps in the depiction of daily life as a wheelchair user. For example, there are several scenes in which Noah’s mom lifts his motorized wheelchair, a feat which would be nearly impossible, as motorized chairs are much too heavy for a single person to lift. Or, later, when he visits a multi-story house, no information is given in the text about how he navigates to the house or if and how he travels to the upper floors. The vocabulary and themes suggest this book is suited for upper elementary and middle school readers. It contains many relevant coming-of-age themes, such as dealing with bullies, loss, disability, first love, and forgiveness. VERDICT A solid purchase for medium and large collections.–Jenifer Pickens, Holmes Middle School, Alexandria, VA