Eleven-year-old Nolan Ryan Atwater is a talented athlete who seems destined to become a major league baseball star. But when a terrible accident takes his dad and part of his left arm, he is convinced his dream of baseball stardom and his life, are over. Nolan is overwhelmed by the daily challenges he faces. His mom, concerned that he is withdrawing from the world, arranges a visit to a nearby horse ranch, once a week. He meets Dave, the ranch manager, who promptly puts him to work helping to care for an enormous horse named Rom. Nolan hates the work, he dislikes the smell and frankly, he is afraid of the horse. He sees the horse ranch as one more thing he can't do. Will Nolan find a way to rebuild his life?
Eleven-year-old Nolan Ryan Atwater is a talented athlete who seems destined to become a major league baseball star. But when a terrible accident takes his dad and part of his left arm, he is convinced his dream of baseball stardom and his life, are over. Nolan is overwhelmed by the daily challenges he faces. His mom, concerned that he is withdrawing from the world, arranges a visit to a nearby horse ranch, once a week. He meets Dave, the ranch manager, who promptly puts him to work helping to care for an enormous horse named Rom. Nolan hates the work, he dislikes the smell and frankly, he is afraid of the horse. He sees the horse ranch as one more thing he can't do. Will Nolan find a way to rebuild his life?
To Readers,
This is the first time I've told this story. I couldn't before. I tried, but I couldn't remember. It was too hard. I dreamed about it, but when I woke up, my heart was pounding and I was crying. Even then, I couldn't remember the details. But it's coming back to me.
We were on our way home from a fishing trip to the lake in Dad's old 1991 truck. It had seat belts but, no airbags. I don't especially like fishing, it's kind of boring. But Dad loved it. So I went.
The road going back from the lake to the highway is a skinny two-lane bumpy thing with trees growing right up to each side. We'd been on it lots of times. The sun was about to set when we left, so Dad turned on the headlights. I told Dad a joke, don't remember what one just now. He was laughing.
There was another pickup driving toward us, but it didn't have its headlights on. All of a sudden, it swerved over into our lane.
Dad yelled, "Hold on, Nolan!" He tried to get to the right but there was no room. Trees grow right up to the edge of the road. The truck crashed into us on Dad's side. There was a loud screech and a huge jolt, then silence. I couldn't see out because the windshield was crisscrossed with tiny cracks.
"Dad!" I tried to shout, but my voice came out as a squeak. He didn't look too good. The steering wheel was crushed into his chest. He reached out to me with his right hand but I couldn't move my left arm.
"Ir's going to alright, Nolan. Don't worry," he whispered.
Before I launch into my review, I would like to say a huge thank you to Jean Marie James and Reedsy Discovery for the Advanced Digital Reader Copy of this title. For anyone curious about this title, here is my independent review of the book to help you decide whether to add this book to your TBR list. All opinions offered are my own.
In Changeup by Jean Marie James, fourteen-year-old Nolan Ryan Atwater, recounts the last 3 years of his life, beginning with the accident that killed his dad. As if that was not devastating enough, the accident also claimed his left arm; an unfortunate turn of events for a budding baseball star named after a much-admired pitcher. As he contends with ridicule at the hands of his classmates, Nolan is forced to confront his disability and his change in circumstances. However, armed with a defeatist attitude, when he is enrolled on a therapy program at the stables to tend to horses, he is less than thrilled to be around work and the animals that terrify him; already beaten by the difficulties he faces. Will Nolan conquer his fears and alter his resolve, or is he right, it really is too hard?
I read this book in one sitting, and I was so absorbed in the story that time flew. Before I knew it, I had reached the end of this inspiring tale. By the time I had reached the halfway point, I had concluded that every child amputee survivor should read this book. It may not change their world, but I think there are parts of Nolanās journey that they could relate to and use to make sense of their own feelings.
I did think that Nolan could have been depicted as angrier or more confused about his fate than he did. This criticism aside, I enjoyed reading the discussion he had with the doctors about his prothesis options, the trial and error he would have to go through, and the fitting of the arm that would be right for him. I liked the fact that there was a discussion about his hobbies and interests and the variety of arms that would be available to facilitate this and although Nolan is skeptical, I found the fear and curiosity believable. I also found it helpful to witness Nolan rapidly outgrow his prothesis and demonstrate the process of ordering and fitting a new one. Whilst it is not overly rich in detail, it provides the reader with a sketched outline of what amputees experience at the start of their journeys.
Another aspect of the book I liked was the altering self-perception of what Nolan could and could not do. At school and around town, he aims to be self-reliant, not wanting to be a burden to anyone. Yet when he (unknowingly) attends therapy, he is more reserved and unsure of himself. It does not help that horses do not interest him in the slightest and he is constantly reminded that he has to keep his protheses clean at the same time as he is grooming the houses and ensuring their environment is comfortable. The reader is aware of the placement purpose from the start, but Nolan is oblivious to the potential benefit the work at the stables could prove. The scenes at the stables were interesting to read because there were a few characters with prosthetic limbs that were at various stages of their journey and so they offered a different world view.
As the story develops, themes of ableism, discrimination, goal setting, and friendships are explored, to name a few. James does not sugarcoat the fact that there are people that will make assumptions about a personās capability based on an obvious disability, and that they will make awkward and ignorant comments. This story is as much about fitting into a world that wants to exclude you as much as it is about acknowledging and coping with your own adversities. It also tackled healthy ways to deal with grief. As a reader, it was stomach churning to read of Nolanās doubts about his abilities, particularly those centered around the parts of his old life he wanted to reclaim. Equally, it was a joy to experience his resilience, confidence, and successes, culminating in a well-rounded story with a satisfying conclusion.
I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to children between the ages of seven and fifteen who have lost a limb, as well as their caregivers and friends. It is a gentle, fictional answering of some key questions one might have that also sheds light on the bigotry of the ignorant and the valuable support of peers. I found it to be encouraging of striving for your goals regardless of your perceived limitations, which is a common theme in childrenās books featuring able characters. I commend James for approaching the subject from different angles and not creating a story that was all fluffy and light. As mentioned, the protagonist might have benefitted from more emotional depth in his character, but other than this, the book was worth the read. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars for what I assume is the intended audience.