Fight + Flight

*2023 Rainbow List Book* Jules Machias, author of Indie Next List Pick Both Can Be True, delivers another inspiring story about how an unexpected friendship transforms the lives of two middle schoolers. Avery Hart lives for the thrill and speed of her dirt bike and the pounding thump of her drum kit. But after she’s diagnosed with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a disease that affects her joints, Avery splits her time between endless physical therapy and worrying that her fun and independence are over for good. Sarah Bell is familiar with worry, too. For months, she’s been having intense panic attacks. No matter how much she pours her anxiety into making art, she can’t seem to get a grip on it, and she’s starting to wonder if she’ll be this way forever. Just as both girls are reaching peak fear about what their futures hold, their present takes a terrifying turn when their school is seemingly attacked by gunmen. Though they later learn it was an active shooter drill, the traumatic experience bonds the girls together in a friendship that will change the way they view their perceived weaknesses—and help them find strength, and more, in each other. Told from dual perspectives, this novel explores the space between fight and flight. Dual POV Storytelling: Jump between Avery’s fierce, fast-paced world and Sarah’s introspective, art-filled one as they navigate their own invisible battles. Authentic Disability Representation: A powerful and honest look at life with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, from the daily pain and physical therapy to the fear of losing independence. Nuanced Mental Health Exploration: Follows Sarah’s journey as she confronts intense panic attacks and anxiety, using her art as an outlet and a shield. An LGBTQ Middle Grade Story: A heartfelt story of two girls finding strength, support, and maybe something more in each other after a shared trauma.