How We Roll

Quinn McAvoy had a horrible eighth-grade year. She developed a skin condition that caused her hair to fall out, and then, after a disastrous party, untrue rumors about her spread, making her life miserable. Tired of being the target of mean-spirited jokes, Quinn is glad her parents have decided to move to a new city so that her brother, who has autism, can attend a special school. Armed with two expensive human-hair wigs, Quinn just wants to fit in at her new school, and she succeeds when she’s immediately embraced by a group of popular girls. Nobody suspects Quinn is bald, but holding on to her secret is becoming a strain, especially after she befriends Nick, a boy in a wheelchair, who’s bitter about losing his legs and could use her support. In a story about the challenges of being different and the difficulty in learning to trust, Friend (The Other F Word) shows great sensitivity in depicting differently abled characters. Small acts of kindness balance the cruelty Quinn has suffered, and the message that single characteristics don’t define who people are, invites contemplation. Ages 12–18. [em]Agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. (June) [/em]