Katy by Jacqueline Wilson

Katy is the eldest of her siblings as she lives with her dad and step mum Izzie and the assortment of children they already had and had together from Katy, Elsie, Clover, Phil, Dorry, Jonnie and Cecy, her best friend too who's practically like another sister.

Usually the one to make up games and entertain her siblings, she often winds up in trouble somehow. But all the girls and boys are on their best behaviour when their dad's favourite ex patient comes to visit, Helen has rheumatoid arthritis and is in a wheelchair but hasn't let it hold her back as she's a highly successful academic becoming a doctor herself!

After Katy isn't allowed to have her skateboard back but goes behind her step mum's back to go out anyway, she tries to concoct a swing from a tree beach with a single piece of tied rope.

However, Katie asked to a changed life after her worried neighbour finds her and she gets whisked away to hospital where she remains for weeks of her school holiday. Once a life loving eleven year old looking forward to the summer holiday before secondary school starts, she hates the idea her life will now be wheelchair bound and limited.

Over the course of being in hospital, she has a kind nurse Jasmine, while she makes friends eventually with a boy called Dexter whom is a bit goth/emo/alternative and lives to draw graphic comic strips featuring baddies and the from reaper. They both relate as similar things have happened to them only as Dexter gets dumped by his girlfriend and Katy hates that her family get to go on holiday without her, or her dad as he's a doctor and choses to stay to see Katy, the pair keep up visiting and cheering each other up.

We then see Katy struggle adapting the life at home and school with Cecy as she faces life in a wheelchair and all it brings while she discovers it doesn't change her true character as she fits back in with her family and friends.

The book features many life changing moments for Katy from starting back at school and needing them to make changes to accommodate her as she has had to make for her life. The topic of everyday girl typical worries about weight come up as Katy wishes to just be able to take part normally in sport like the other students as well as the Paralympic games even being featured to inspire her. It puts day to day worries into perspective as Katy realises her life is changed forever and captures a true look at disability in children/teens and how it affects them.