ARC Review: How We Roll by Natasha Friend

How We Roll
Author: Natasha Friend
Publication: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (June 5, 2018)

Description: Quinn is a teen who loves her family, skateboarding, basketball, and her friends, but after she's diagnosed with a condition called alopecia which causes her to lose all of her hair, her friends abandon her. Nick was once a star football player, but because of a freak accident―caused by his brother―he loses both of his legs. Quinn and Nick meet and find the confidence to believe in themselves again, and maybe even love.

My Thoughts: HOW WE ROLL was a great story about friendship between two kids who have significant challenges. Quinn is just going into ninth grade in a new city. She thinks it will give her a chance to make a new start. After she was diagnosed with alopecia and lost all of her hair, she had a hard time at her old school. Her friends sort of dropped her and she was bullied by students who called her names and lied about her. Now she has two different human hair wigs and plans to keep her condition secret.

Nick was in snowmobile accident and lost both of his legs above the knee. He was a really good football player but now he is angry, mostly at his older brother Tommy who was drinking and driving the snowmobile. But he is also just mad at life.

Quinn also has a younger brother Julius who is on the autism spectrum. Their parents moved to the Boston area from Boulder because there is a special school there for Julius. Living with Julius with the massive amount of care he needs and the routines he follows to keep him from meltdowns makes Quinn feel like she can't share the things that are bothering her with her family because they are so focused on Julius.

Nick and Quinn gradually become friends because they are in the same study hall and they text a lot, but it isn't until she needs help rescuing her brother from the roof of their house that Nick and Tommy learn about Quinn's alopecia. Their acceptance of her gives her courage to tell her new friends who are also accepting.

I liked the way these two kids supported and encouraged each other. I also like that their friendship could grow into a romance when they get older. I also liked that Quinn's parents were able to convince her that her needs were as important as her brother's.

Favorite Quote:

Quinn scrolled back through their old texts until she found the photo Nick had sent earlier, of his Oompa-Loompa legs under the table at Chilis. She retexted the photo with a new comment. These guys r invited too.

Nick didn't respond right away, making Quinn wonder if she'd made a mistake. But finally her phone pinged. I'll think about it.

She texted back three smiley faces, which may have been overkill, but she didn't care.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from Macmillan. You can buy your copy here.