“The Chance to Fly” Series by Ali Stroker

BY REBECCA PARTEN

If you’re looking for a middle grade book that accurately portrays life as a preteen girl who uses a manual wheelchair, check out The Chance to Fly series by Ali Stroker. There are two books in the series: The Chance to Fly and Cut Loose!

The first book follows Natalie (Nat), the main character, during the summer before she enters eighth grade. Her family moves from California to New Jersey, and things are… different. She’s away from her best friend—who also has a disability—her adaptive sports teams, and the life she’s always known. In a new place, Nat decides to pursue one of her other passions: theater. But not only is she the new kid—she’s also the only one with a disability. Things get complicated. Throughout the book, Nat learns the value of friendship and the importance of chasing your dreams.

The second book, Cut Loose!, takes place during the first half of Nat’s eighth grade year. I both liked and disliked this book more than the first. Nat’s experiences felt more “real” to me as an adult with a disability. She faces more real-world accessibility and disability-related challenges—on top of the usual middle school growing pains.

That realism is also part of why I disliked the book at times: I’d forgotten how intense middle school emotions can be. Nat’s behavior occasionally felt irritating—there’s a lot of “screaming,” and she can be a bit self-centered.

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Overall, though, both books are fun, relatable reads for preteens with disabilities—especially those who love theater

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