Roll with It by Jamie Sumner

Ellie is a middle school girl who dreams of being a chef. Worried about her grandfather's worsening dementia, Ellie and her mom move to be near her grandparents, and Ellie finds herself as the new kid in a wheelchair in a small town school that's not equipped to handle her special needs. She's living in a trailer park on the wrong side of the city, but for the first time in her life she makes some real friends and feels needed by her grandparents. Ellie's cerebral palsy is a defining parameter of her life, but it isn't the the most difficult challenge she faces. She is focused on friendship, family health issues, and winning the annual cooking contest. This book is predictable and definitely not action-packed, but Ellie is a refreshing character and younger readers will enjoy how she overcomes her challenges. Recommended for grades 3-5.

The Scar Boys by Len Vlahos

This is one of the best YA books I have read this year. I was hooked from the beginning and enjoyed it all the way through. It is the much-longer-than-250-word college essay of a boy named Harry, who in his own words is "ugly and shy and my face, head, and neck are covered with hideous scars." Harry's disfigurement (due to a childhood lightning strike) causes him a lot of social difficulties, but once he starts high school he makes a friend and they start a band. This is the story of the Scar Boys and how they navigate the difficult journey toward adulthood. It's also the story of how four teenagers try to stay friends even as they start to go separate ways. The unequal nature of Harry and John's friendship was the part that really seemed real to me and made this rise above the level of a book about guys in a band. I loved the writing and the characters and even the descriptions of a band on a road trip. Recommended for high school readers (lots of "adult" language).

Just One Day by Gayle Forman

This is a novel of self-discovery, travel, and romance. Allyson just graduated from high school and goes on a trip to Europe before starting college. But she doesn't have a great time, mainly due to the fact that she's not much of a risk taker. However, on the last day of the tour she skips a planned activity, goes to an outdoor Shakespeare play, and meets a Dutch actor who later invites her to spend a day in Paris with him. In a whirlwind day a romance blossoms, but when Willem disappears Allyson is left with many questions and self-doubts. She returns to the U.S.A. and starts college, but she falls into depression and a longing to be the person she was on that one day in Paris. It's really a story about breaking free from the past and becoming the person you want to be with European cities as a backdrop. I love Gayle Forman's books and this is another gem. Recommended for high school readers (not middle schoolers!)