Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this middle grade novel.

I really enjoyed this follow up to The Chance to Fly, and loved how it addressed the inaccessibility of Broadway in general. I hope there are more in this series, as I have so many theater buff readers that will love these stories!

I really loved this one! Middle school fans of theater will be able to appreciate Nat and her friends’ persistence. I thought the representation with Nat being in a wheelchair is so necessary for a middle grade audience. This was a fun read!

I wasn't sure if Stroker would be able to match or top her first book, which was a perfect middle grades blend of friendship, crushes, musical theater, and disability advocacy. And yet -- she does. Cut Loose! is perfection, from the opening scene to when they all learn about accessibility issues in theater. I highly recommend for any elementary or middle school library to have both books.

Cut Loose! returns as the Broadway Bounderz start the new school year. This situation presents challenges for Natalie as she has to learn to navigate in a whole new set of environments - both physical and interpersonal.

This book presents real-world settings that would be/are difficult for someone in a wheelchair to work with, and at the same time, it captures an authentic feeling of what it is like for a middle schooler in a new school and in new social settings.

My main "problem" with the book was how long it belabored the argument/misunderstanding caused by Natalie's self-centeredness - but that is very accurate considering the age range of the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and ABRAMS Kids, Amulet Books for an advanced reader copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

(Round up To 4.5)

Cut Loose! by Ali Stroker and Stacy Davidowitz is the second book in The Chance to Fly series. It takes place during the first half of Natalie (Nat)’s 8th grade year. Middle school is hard for everyone but especially when you have a disability (been there). Nat is the new kid which also doesn’t help make things easier. I both liked and disliked this book more than the first one. In this book Nat’s experiences felt more “real” to me as an adult with a disability. Nat grappled with more real world accessibility / disability focused issues on top of the typical middle school growing pains. This is also part of the reason I disliked the book at times: I’ve forgotten what it’s like to be in middle school and found some of Nat’s behavior to be annoying (so much “screaming” and a little bit of being self centered). But, I think readers who are actually in middle school will relate well. I’d give this 4.5 stars.

Chockfull of energy, this middle grade novel is sure to appeal to readers who, like Natalie Beaufort, are fans of Dear Evan Hansen, Wicked, Annie, & Hamilton. Bound for Broadway after a summer experience doing musical theatre where she made new BFFs that really get her, Nat is sure that this year is going to be the best one yet, despite moving across the country from sunny California all the way to New Jersey. Her new school has a drama club that’s going to be putting on Footloose, and Nat is determine to be the star.

With the voice of co-author, Ali Stroker, who made history as the first actor to appear on Broadway in a wheelchair, the story has an authenticity that readers can immediately trust. While fictional, Nat’s experiences have a genuine rawness to them that give her depth. One that only comes from personal experiences. Together, the authors carefully craft the narrative such that readers are able to navigate these challenges with Nat, giving them a window into her life. And they do so quite brilliantly. When woven together with the challenges faced by a Rockette dancer of color, and mirrored by another student also in a chair, but with the additional challenge of being non-verbal, readers - along with Nat - are given the opportunity to learn and grow. And it’s quite beautiful.

I love how the authors use the large group of friends to help illustrate the differences in friendships at this age. And the variety of ways in which we communicate with one another based on how those friendships exist. Not all friendships are the same. And that’s okay. They also use this friends group to illustrate the beautiful variety of humans that we are surrounded with in our lives. It serves as a microcosm for the world at large.

+I received an advanced review copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.+

Written by a Broadway star, this book is the second in a series. My students loved the first book and they’ll be curious to read the sequel, particularly the teen romance involved.

I loved Ali Stroker when I saw her in Spring Awakening and Oklahoma! on Broadway. She is a captivating performer with an incredible voice. I cheered from my couch as she won a Tony for her performance as Ado Annie. Her first book with Stacy Davidowitz, The Chance to Fly, brought me so much joy, and I was so excited to read the sequel.

Cut Loose! is the book that I needed in middle school. I was (and am) a big theater nerd, and I always wished there were more books about people who loved musicals as much as I did. I am glad the middle schoolers of 2023 have the Oz Bounders to make themselves feel seen.

I loved the little musical theater references and homages throughout Cut Loose! Each chapter title is the name of a musical theater song, which made me smile, especially “Don’t Lose UR Head,” a reference to one of my favorite songs from Six. Andrew Barth Feldman played Evan Hansen in Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway, and Stroker and Davidowitz gave their ficitional Evan, Adam Blake Felixton, the same initials.

Stroker was the first performer in a wheelchair on a Broadway stage, and Cut Loose! brings important issues about the accessibility of the theater industry to the forefront. Nat worries that she was only cast as the lead in Footloose to make a statement, and she also has to deal with bullying from her castmates around her dancing. Most importantly, Natalie is unable to access the stage of the Lena Horne theater from the audience and is unable to be with her castmates backstage while waiting to perform. These issues are so important, and I hope Broadway makes strides to be more accessible to people in wheelchairs.

As someone who used to teach 8th grade, I can confirm that Cut Loose! does an excellent job capturing typical middle school drama. 13 year olds are often anxious about what their peers think of them, and Nat spends a lot of the book worrying about that. Of course, there is also typical middle school friendship drama where Hudson thinks Natalie doesn’t care enough that he has a boyfriend. It feels very true to my experience with that age group.

I couldn’t stop smiling while reading Cut Loose! I hope Stroker and Davidowitz continue this series because I am eager to follow this group of friends into the next phase of their theatrical lives.

I absolutely loved this book! The message of motivation, inspiration and inclusivity is so important for all readers. Tweens love Broadway anyway so to merge middle school, Broadway, adolescent drama and angst so seamlessly is perfection. We are all a little quirky but we all have gifts to offer. This book has some surprising twists that keep you turning the page. I couldn’t wait to finish it but now I’m sad that it is over. Absolutely will be adding this to my school library’s shelf.

I loved this book as much as I loved The Chance to Fly. Nat was such an awesome character and I loved her passion for musical theater. This book is filled with tons of great musical theatre references and even the chapter titles (like the first book in this series) were named after different musical theater songs. If you are a fan of Broadway and want to read a novel about love, friendship, fun, determination, following your dreams and standing up for what is right…then this is the book you’ll want to pick up.

Ali Stroker is absolutely everything for the middle grader readers. As someone with a disability and a major theatre nerd, seeing representation is so important and it’s great that middle schoolers are going to get to experience and understand the main character’s life/ struggles while also being able to see themselves even if they aren’t disabled. Amazing work as always!

This was just adorable. I loved being reunited with Nat and her friends. I did think that, as an adult, I found it easy to realize/recognize Nat ignoring Hudson and Malik, but I don't think kids will be that intuitive. I also loved this because it featured heavily two of my favorite musicals: Footloose and Dear Evan Hansen.