The best thing I could ask for is acknowledgment. Are there any specific considerate things people (strangers/in public places/general public) have done for you and your family that you wish more people would do? Throughout the book and Ellie’s experiences, I certainly learned a thing or three about the experiences of a child living with a disability. Truthfully? She came out of nowhere fully formed! I never knew anyone like Coralee but I imagined the kind of friend Ellie would need and there she was - in all her glitter and spandex and fearlessness. Coralee was one of my favorite characters. And makes excellent french toast! Ellie’s new friends, Bert and Coralee are as different as night and day and yet the trio make a perfect band of friends. Second is Deb Perelman’s challah bread from The Smitten Kitchen. One was passed down to me from my grandmother - a recipe for thumbprint cookies written in the margins of a church cookbook.

We have two favorite recipes in our house. It’s therapeutic for me and results in something everyone can enjoy. Because what I do as a writer is so cerebral, it’s nice to get out of my head and use my hands. What does baking do for you and what’s your favorite treat to bake?

From your acknowledgements, I discovered it’s yours too. It’s a hard thing to understand as a child and especially for Ellie whose disability is so… Click To Tweet Baking is Ellie’s dearest hobby. My grandfather was also diagnosed with Alzheimer’s when I was young and I remember being confused as to which “Pa” would greet me from day to day. Also, Mema, Ellie’s grandmother, is a rockstar in this novel and pulls the whole family together in such a lovely way. I also wanted to show what it’s like to live in a multi-generational family who all take care of each other’s vastly different needs. It’s a hard thing to understand as a child and especially for Ellie whose disability is so “visible” while her grandfather’s is not. Why was it important for you to write about that situation and how it affects Ellie? Her grandfather is struggling with Alzheimer’s. Ellie and her mother make a solid team, but the love she has for both her grandparents shines through. He is so much more than that and I knew if I were to tell a story from someone like his or Ellie’s perspective, I would want to share all sides. As his mother, I’ve fought his entire life for him to be seen beyond his wheelchair and his extra needs. Thank you for loving Ellie! I wrote this novel for my son, Charlie, who also has cerebral palsy. It’s a pleasure to get to talk with you about ROLL WITH IT. What inspired you to write about a child with a disability who is obviously much more than that one part?

Your protagonist, Ellie is so close to my heart. Hi Jamie, thank you so much for agreeing to do this interview! As you know, I absolutely adored your debut middle-grade novel, Roll with It. We also talked about how others can show more consideration to people with a disability. In this interview, Jamie and I discuss her choice to write about a child with cerebral palsy, the inclusion of a grandparent with Alzhiemer’s, baking, and how she makes time for writing despite a busy schedule. But the first thing that grabbed my attention was something that’s rare on middle-grade book covers - a character in a wheelchair! Then, of course, when I read the synopsis, I knew I had to get my hands on this one. I read and LOVED Jamie Sumner’s debut middle-grade novel, Roll with It last month.

Roll with it jamie sumner