Float

Float differs from many traditional superhero narratives, as the powers that the kids have at Camp Outlier are not fun or enviable. Most of them are inconvenient, painful, and dangerous, and they often make the kids who have them quite miserable. Many middle-grade novels in this genre center on kids with superpowers who hone their abilities and use them to have adventures and save the world. In contrast, the characters in Float initially attempt to have adventures despite their RISK factors, not because of them. As camp begins, they find ways to suppress or mitigate their abilities in an attempt to have a pleasant camp experience. However, they eventually learn to view their RISK factors as assets rather than hindrances, allowing them to do things they couldn’t otherwise achieve. Notably, combining their risk factors makes them stronger and safer as a group. For example, Murphy and Gary’s RISK factors both allow them to save Emerson’s life during the initiation ritual.

The boys’ initial resistance to attending Camp Outlier—viewing it as banishment, a punishment for their difference—highlights the theme of Ableism and Disability in a society that discriminates against those with RISK factors. Martin draws a parallel between society’s view of RISK factors in Float and the contemporary legal and cultural perspective on those living with disabilities in a society ill-equipped to accommodate them, despite the government’s efforts. In Float, most believe RISK factors make it more difficult for people to live their lives without hurting themselves or those around them. Martin creates many analogous programs to those in place in place for those living with disabilities in the United States. For example, Zeke has a skunk as a service animal because his X-ray vision impedes his regular vision and puts him in danger. In the United States, service animals are trained to alert their owners before a seizure or guide them if their vision is impaired.

The connections formed between the kids at Camp Outlier reflect the importance of community and The Power of Friendship in Martin’s narrative. Emerson and the other kids at Camp Outlier feel alienated in their daily lives. Emerson feels as though he is a burden to his mother, and he resents her for being so keen to be rid of him for the summer. He believes his RISK factor makes him more difficult to love and care for than other children. Gary has the same feelings to an even greater degree. In addition to his RISK factor, he has ADHD and ODD, combining a disability with elements of neurodivergence. While Emerson’s mother is anxious and overbearing, Gary’s parents exhibit outright hostility toward him. Instead of saying goodbye, Gary’s father “[tosses] his hands in the air in frustration and [storms] away” (23). This treatment influences Gary’s characterization going forward, prompting him to expect hostility at every turn even among his peers.

Because Martin positions RISK factors as analogous to disabilities, Emerson’s weighted vest and shoes function as disability accommodations that keep him safe. When Hank and Eli toss Emerson’s shoes into the lake, the narrative frames their actions as positive—a critical plot point in Emerson’s journey toward Living Life Fully, which Martin suggests he won’t achieve if his fear holds him back from running around with his friends. However, while Martin’s narrative explores the anxiety that Emerson and his friends feel as a negative impact of ableism that holds them back overprotectively from things of which they are fully capable, the story also allows for a wide spectrum of RISK factors, each unique and distinct to the individual. In many real-life cases, throwing away a person’s accommodation devices would limit their experiences, rather than expanding them. For example, kids who live with physical disabilities that make running around outside impossible still live full lives. Emerson knows his own RISK factor better than others do, but Hank and Eli decide that he is being too cautious. In the scene with Emerson’s shoes, Martin highlights the danger inherent in removing his shoes, while still emphasizing the degree to which Emerson’s fears limit his capabilities—a delicate balance that those with different abilities work constantly to strike, acknowledging the very real differences in their abilities without placing unnecessary limits on their experiences out of fear. The initiation ritual reinforces just how much danger Emerson is in on a daily basis when he nearly floats away.

Emerson’s arc sees him moving from a place of fear and isolation to one of adventure and community, pointing to The Power of Friendship and community. Although Emerson is initially unhappy about attending Camp Outlier, he befriends Hank almost immediately, shifting his whole perspective on the summer. Hank’s exuberance and enthusiasm draw Emerson out of his shell. Being in a place where everyone has a RISK factor helps Emerson feel less alone. For the first time in his life, he is not unusual; he is with people like him, and he belongs. He might still be shy, but he is already starting to recognize the point of the camp. Even when the Red Maple boys are experiencing new, unexpected things like their initiation ritual, their budding friendship allows them to bond and thrive in the experience. The older boys look back on their own initiation fondly, which initially seems unbelievable to Emerson but later resonates deeply.