#Roll with it jamie sumner cracked#
#Roll with it jamie sumner professional#

#Roll with it jamie sumner professional#

The thing is, Ellie has big dreams: She might be eating Stouffer's for dinner, but one day she's going to be a professional baker. That surprises some people, who see a kid in a wheelchair and think she's going to be all sunshine and cuddles. In the tradition of Wonder and Out of My Mind, this big-hearted middle grade debut tells the story of an irrepressible girl with cerebral palsy whose life takes an unexpected turn when she moves to a new town.Įllie's a girl who tells it like it is. 'A big-hearted story that's as sweet as it is awesome.' -R.J. As a mother of a CP kid herself, first-hand experience shines through in this novel.A Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book of 2019 Roll with It is a heartwarming, inspiring debut about a girl with an inextinguishable spirit. Like everyone else, they have heart, talents, and a whole lot of character.

Most importantly, however, she reminds readers that children with disabilities are more than their disability. She skillfully highlights the challenges of disability, without making the entire book about disability. As a mother of a CP kid herself, Jamie’s first-hand experience shines through in this novel. Jamie Sumner’s Roll with It is a heartwarming, inspiring debut about a girl with an inextinguishable spirit. Simple things like not parking in the handicapped space go a long way.Īll the characters in this book are memorable - from Mema to Bert, to my favorite, Coralee.

It was also eye-opening to see the struggles faced by people with disabilities, and to take note of ways other people can be more considerate. I appreciated seeing another perspective. Unlike Draper’s protagonist, Ellie is verbal, can feed herself, socialize, and knead some good bread dough. The only other book I’ve read about a child with CP is Sharon Draper’s Out of My Mind. I’d be remiss not to mention how big a win this book is for people with disabilities - children with disabilities. Baking is so inextricably linked to Ellie’s character - I loved it. A few chapters throughout the book begin with letters to her culinary heroes after she’s recreated their recipes. And speaking of delicious, Ellie can bake!(!!!). I was transported to the setting, whether it was near-frigid winter or a deliciously warm summer day.

#Roll with it jamie sumner cracked#

I could easily imagine them being people I’d meet next door.Īs soon as I cracked open this book, Ellie had me wrapped around her finger. Ellie’s voice never sounds contrived, neither do any of the other characters’. Many have excellent plots and characterization, but Roll with It just has a warmth. As someone who appreciates both plot and language, it’s rare to find a middle-grade book that nails both. Thankfully, as she deals with the changes in her family and finding a place in Oklahoma, she has a couple of new friends and in typical Ellie fashion, keeps rolling with life’s punches. There, Ellie is once again a new kid navigating the struggles than many people with disabilities have to face. When Ellie’s grandfather’s Alzheimer’s takes a turn for the worse, Ellie and her mom move into her grandparents trailer in Oklahoma to help out for six months.

Her dad couldn’t deal with her being ill at birth (and for months after), so he pretty much skipped out on her and her mom who’s been her number one advocate. It just so happens that she also has cerebral palsy and has to use a wheelchair. Twelve-year-old Ellie is a sassy, determined baker.