Roller Girl

Astrid isn’t your ordinary twelve-year-old, interested in dance classes like her best friend, Nicole -- or even in boys, much. She wears a lot of black, reads astronomy books, and suffers through her mother’s “cultural enlightenment evenings.” This time, though, the ECE means tickets to Portland’s local female roller derby, and Astrid is instantly mesmerized. Tough girls with crazy “derby names,” controlled violence and speed -- it’s exactly the role model she didn’t know she was looking for. She starts a few days later in the team’s summer roller camp, determined to become a champion jammer. Of course, it would help if she could skate without falling down. And if she were bigger and more of a natural athlete. But Astrid is determined and practices constantly, undeterred by scrapes and bruises and being continually overpowered by older skaters.

Parallel to this is the discovery that Nicole, a very nice person, really prefers dance to the derby. And she begins hanging out with another girl Astrid has detested since First Grade. What do you do when your best friend deserts you, and you can’t bring yourself to tell your mother (who thought Nicole was attending the camp, too), and you’re simply lonely. Well, you can make new friends, and she does, in the person of Zoey, an equally oddball girl a bit older than Astrid, though they have problems, too.

The art exactly suits the subject and this delightful and true-to-life book about the tribulations and complexities of growing up would be a terrific recommendation for girls Astrid’s own age, and I’ll be suggesting it to my granddaughter.

I’ve been a frustrated derby girl for most of my life. I’ve had a fascination with roller derby since I saw it for the first time on an episode of Laverne & Shirley, way back when. I was an avid roller skater, but this was something totally new and totally awesome. That said, there was no way my mother was letting her 8 year-old take part in a derby, and when roller derby made a roaring comeback a few years ago, I was working full-time, had two young kids, and a healthy fear of breaking my no-longer young and immortal backside. But man, do I envy anyone ballsy enough to get out there and do it.

I love that derby has made a comeback, especially reaching out to younger girls. Derby is about feeling strong, competent, and working as part of a team. It’s about being a badass in your own skin, making crazy and fun names up for yourself, and going out there, giving it all you have. You can be yourself and someone else all at the same time. Derby girls are largely confident in their bodies, and they are, more often than not, part of a maker movement – there was even a book of knitting projects for derby girls a few years ago.

Victoria Jamieson is a great children’s author to begin with, and her first graphic novel, Roller Girl, introduces us to Astrid, a 12 year-old girl whose mother introduces her and her best friend, Nicole, to roller derby during an “evening of cultural enlightenment”. The girls initially cringe – these outings aren’t always a hit – but this time, Mom brings them to a derby bout, and Astrid is transformed. She gets her mom to sign her up for lessons, and starts training with a passion.

Roller Girl is all about growing up, watching relationships change, and learning more about who you are. The tweens are an age of discovery, when kids start new schools, discover new interests, and meet new people, all of which can change the course of childhood friendships. Astrid becomes angry at Nicole for her different interests and befriending someone Astrid doesn’t like, but Astrid is changing, too – something she will realize as she gains confidence in herself through derby. She discovers a dedication she didn’t know she had, and she finds a mentor in a more seasoned derby girl.

I love Roller Girl and am pressing it into the hands of any kid that will listen to me. And any Summer Reading folks out there should take advantage of this title, too – discovering the hero inside yourself is pretty amazing, and absolutely a theme here. Both the main character and the peripheral characters in her life enjoy wonderfully in-depth character exploration, and there is no shortage of the conversations you can have when you read this book along with the kids in your life. If you and the kids in your life are fans of Raina Telgemeier, you’ll love Roller Girl for both the personal, first-person storytelling and the artwork. Heck, go find a derby to attend together!

I've always been a huge fan of coming of age stories. The ones out there tend to lean heavy in the boy coming of age direction, though and I'm a girl. Often that doesn't matter. I learned so much from Vince Vawter's Paperboy and from Gary Schmidt's Okay For Now. When it came to girl coming of age books though, I often found myself wondering why so many just became good and a bit more girly. That's not who I am and I could never identify.

Along came Victoria Jamieson's Roller Girl and changed all that. At 47, I grew up a little bit more after reading this book. I loved how Astrid changed and accepted who she was but let the past be what it needed to be as well--a part of her heart. I loved the scene where Astrid and her friend dye her hair blue:

"Every 10 minutes or so she'd peek in and say cryptic things like, Oh, yes--we're cooking with fire now! ... And now we add the blue. This is where things get better."

This is a scene right out of my own life when I let a friend cut half my hair short so it would look cooler with my new black rubber bracelets and earrings and swing down long on the other side.

The great thing is that I didn't bring this book home, my 8 year old daughter did. I found her up late last night saying she couldn't go to sleep until the book was finished. I had to know what was so great, so I read it myself today. What a great feeling to know my daughter and I can read the same book at 8 and 47 years old and get great things from it. This is the book, I shall remember, the one that showed me how special graphic novels can be.

This graphic novel is very popular at a 5th -6th grade building where I teach and after reading it, I see why the kids snag it off the shelf. This book is about middle school. I liked that it covered changing friends and changing circles, which is a huge deal in middle school. It’s hard for kids to adjust to new friends and new groups of people when they have been with the same group of individuals throughout grade school. It’s a whole new smorgasbord of kids in middle school and that’s what we have at this school where I teach and this author tackles this subject in this novel. I also like how Astrid assumes things, she assumes her best friend will do things because she is her “best friend”, she assumes roller skating won’t be hard, she assumes she won’t be caught in the lies that she tells, she assumes other things as that is how Astrid lives her life. I also liked the struggles that this novel tackles. I adored the main character Astrid because she was one determined individual. When she wants something, she tries her hardest to succeed. At the beginning of this novel, I thought she had low self-esteem and as the novel progresses she matures, she becomes a deeper person.

Astrid and Nicole have been best friends for years. Astrid’s mother exposes the girls to their first roller derby. An advertisement promoting Junior Roller Derby Camp inside the roller derby program excites Astrid and she feels that this is exactly what Nicole and Astrid will do this summer. Astrid is pumped about going to the camp and she starts to make a list of things she must do to be successful at the camp. Disappointment sets in when Astrid realizes that Nicole doesn’t want to attend the camp with her and that Nicole has her eyes set on Dance Camp with Rachel, a girl that Astrid doesn’t like. Astrid is not giving up on her dream of Junior Camp even if it means she will be attending it by herself. Meanwhile Nicole is attending Dance Camp with Rachel, pushing these two girls closer together and causing tension between the best friends where there was none before. I could feel the pain and frustration of the characters as they tried to find their independence. On day one, Astrid was going solo, in a strange environment and she was left feeling disappointment, angry, and frustrated and I know we all have been there. She needed a pep talk, someone to tell her it was okay and yet her best friend was no longer in the picture to give her those words that she really needed. I was hoping someone would step up to the plate and help her out before she gave up. I liked how she struggled; I liked how lots of the characters struggled in this novel and how they fought, for sometimes that is how you come through the storm to grow. This novel was better than I anticipated, it had great teachable moments, great tidbits within the bigger story. Now when students are reading this story, I can talk to them about it and hopefully make some connections with them.

This is a charming coming-of-age tale about a 12-year-old girl in Portland, Oregon who one summer decides, more or less on impulse, to join a junior roller derby league. She scarcely knows how to skate, and her challenge in surviving the rink is paralleled by the challenge of surviving the apparent breakup of her best friendship and the stress of hiding much of this from her mom. By the end of the summer, she has dyed her hair blue, acquired new friends, developed a more sophisticated understanding of her old friend, and generally grown up.

The book is broadly similar to the 2009 movie Whip It though pitched at a younger crowd.

I harbor a secret dream to be a derby girl. And my 9 year old daughter harbors the same, not so secret dream. We go to bouts and she's totally into it. She loves to skate and she's empowered by all the types of women and girls participating.
So, when she saw this book at the bookstore, she gasped and dropped everything else. She "had to have it". Who am I to say no, right. As soon as we got in the car she began to read it feverishly.....and she got through about 2 or 3 chapters (which isn't hard since it's graphic novel). Then when she went to bed I snatched up and read it myself, in about 90 minutes!
It was a GREAT fun read. It outlined the rules of derby well, it was encouraging and the main character was a perfect example of a young unsure of herself tween.
Since that night my daughter has read the book FIVE times. Whenever she finishes a book, she goes back and re-reads this one again. It's like it's her derby how to guide! She is anxiously awating the day that I find her a league to join and she can start practicing and playing. And because of this book, she knows that it won't be easy, it will likely hurt and that if she's patient and a good friend, it can be an amazing experience.
Oh, yeah, there is also a pretty good lesson in here about NOT lying and NOT being a bad friend. And those are always good lessons to reinforce.

And the catfights happen both on and off the skating track, too.

Headstrong young tomboy with a very curious name (Astrid) experiences several eye-opening things as she joins the roller derby camp one summer: a stuck-up rival has stolen her best friend, she makes another best friend and THEN nearly loses her, gets in big trouble, and ultimately, learns to grow up and be more considerate of other people's feelings (both her best friends, her mother, her mother's friends, etc.)

Not only that; while Astrid learns that you can't always get your own way or be a #1, she also discovers that you can still have other friends, that you will inevitably have different interests/personality from even your most loyal best friend, and of course, you're not a perfect person - as a celebrated heroine like Astrid's favorite skater named "Rainbow Bite" would cheerfully let you know.

As Astrid bravely prepares for a great "battle" with other young girls at the roller derby, she is clever enough to change her own name and also does the most selfless and creative deed for a new BFF who had suddenly turned her back on her. Good for her! (I myself would personally have walked out on this second bestie altogether as well as the skating class itself.)

A cute little graphic novel full of colorful, family-friendly illustrations featuring this spunky kid who goes through the realistic trials of one day becoming an independent young adult. And it's also created by a talented young vixen who skates in the real-life roller derby between her children's book projects. ^_^

Astrid, a shy, self-centered fifth grader who attends a roller derby bout with her best friend Nicole, is inspired to go to roller derby camp. She can barely skate, but she dreams to be a jammer, or at least to play in the bout. While learning crossovers and hitting, she also has to deal with the reality that she and her best friend Nicole are growing apart, and Nicole is now best friends with Astrid's worst enemy. Through extra hard work, endurance, and an awesome new friend, she is allowed to play in the bout. By the end of the summer, Astrid has changed from shy and self-centered, to loyal, brave, tough, and blue-haired! A must read for middle- school-aged girls. It contains two sort-of-bad words: a** and tur%
I had never even heard of roller derby before, but I really liked the book, and roller derby sounds awesome.
FYI: This is a graphic novel, not a chapter or picture book.

Jamieson’s coming of age graphic novel features the story of Astrid, an eleven year old that doesn’t quite fit in. So much of this narrative (images and text alike) is about cultural beauty and femininity norms. What is like to be an eleven year old girl who doesn’t want to go to the mall, do ballet, or wear nice clothes? Astrid finds her way and her place, along with friends, her identity, and courage in the roller derby. It is a long journey for her and much of the novel presents the ups and downs of Astrid’s emotional roller coaster in which she learns about herself, who she wants to be, and how to be a friend and part of a community. The images offer perspective that the text (both dialogue and descriptions) do not: such as frames from Astrid’s point of view, placing the readers in Astrid’s perspective. This is a heartwarming, humorous, and uplifting graphic novel that many readers searching for their own definition of what it means to be a kid in a society that can often be prescriptive about gender roles/identity and traits.

Graphic novels aren't my usual fare, so "Roller Girl" was on my radar solely because of the praise and buzz it got just like "El Deafo" last year' and just like "El Deafo" it completely won me over with amazing illustrations and inspiring coming-of-age story.

There are many middle grade stories about growing up, making friends and enemies out there, and it's really hard to stand out in the sea of graphic novels about kids coming into their own, but "Roller Girl" succeeded on both levels not just because of the obvious talent of Victoria Jamieson, but because of the passion that was in the base of it all - roller derby.
I have to say - I know very little of the sport, but after reading about Astrid's adventure I almost want to try it out (almost). This sport is such an integral part of her life - not only something she gets very enthusiastic about, but something that teaches Astrid how to get stronger, how to deal with problems and how to ultimately become better. Roller derby isn't easy - but it's rewarding exactly because of how much you have to put in before you'll get somewhere. It's a great lesson in independence and hard work.

The main part that made everything work together, however, is humor that is interwoven with the plot preventing it from being overly dramatic or unnecessarily preachy. Astrid is having a hard time learning the rules of this new-found passion, and we get to see every "fall on her backside" with a healthy dose of humor and honesty. She is innocent and adorable in her childish cockiness (that gets put down really quick) and in her fits of anger - all of which will be familiar to everyone over the age of 14. It is impossible not to like and admire her. I also want to give extra bonus points for a great mother-daughter relationship (mom is absolutely fantastic here).

"Roller Girl" was a truly delightful read that will appeal to a reader of any age. It certainly deserves the Newbery Honor and all the praise that surrounds it. Sometimes great things come in bright comic book packages, be sure not to miss this little power punch of story!

Roller Girl is a graphic middle-grade novel by Victoria Jamieson, which won a Newbery Honor for 2016. Astrid Vasquez does everything with her best friend, Nicole. Nicole seems interested in boys, while Astrid is not. One evening, Mrs. Vasquez takes the girls to the roller derby and Astrid is hooked. She wants to sign up for roller derby camp for the summer, but Nicole would rather go to ballet camp with Rachel, who Astrid thinks is a bully. Astrid does not tell her mother that Nicole is not at roller derby camp, as Mrs. Vasquez thinks she is getting a ride home every day from Nicole’s family when she is walking home across a very busy highway. At camp, Astrid feels alone among the mostly older and more experienced girls, until she makes friends with Zoey. By the end, Astrid realizes that it is okay to be friends with more than one person, and to have different interests than her friends.

I think just about anyone who has gone to elementary or middle-school has experienced the pain of losing a best friend. I thought the author portrayed the emotions that Astrid felt very accurately and realistically. I also liked the fact that the author dealt with how Astrid’s mother felt when she found out that Astrid had not told her the truth about getting a ride from Nicole’s mother, and how the situation was handled. Astrid also learns about teamwork and determination.

The graphics were well drawn and were very colorful, but the writing and dialogue had a book feel to it, not just a graphic novel feel.

I really enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it to both boys and girls in the 9-12 age range.

I absolutely loved this book - my favorite MG graphic novel so far. Astrid is a fabulous heroine, fierce and grumpy and desperately unsettled in herself as she feels the world shifting inexorably around her, with the upcoming transition to junior high...and the loss of her lifelong best friend, who's moved on to another BF. Roller derby summer camp turns out to be Astrid's saving grace - and what I might have loved most was the fact that Astrid does NOT turn out to be great at it! She struggles and finds roller derby really hard but loves it anyway, and finds new friends and a new understanding of herself through roller derby, without ever becoming the star of the team. She's not a star player at all, but by the end, she is a real team player, and that is a huge victory for her - and it's in a situation where she can let out all the aggression simmering through her in a totally healthy and positive way.

I also loved her very realistic relationship with her mom, and the complexity of all of the characters, including the ex-best friend who's hurt Astrid by leaving her behind. There was one scene in the middle of the book between Astrid and her mom that was so emotional and so pitch-perfect, it actually made me tear up as I read; there were SO many scenes throughout the book where I just really, really wanted to give Astrid a hug...and I was totally cheering at the end! Love, love, love. I read a library copy but will definitely be buying a copy to keep!

I love, love, love this book. It's about twelve-year-old Astrid who, after seeing a roller derby match, decides that she and her best friend Nicole need to enroll in roller derby summer camp. But Nicole isn't as into roller derby as Astrid, and she decides to go to dance camp instead. Astrid feels betrayed, but she's stuck with roller derby--and roller derby is hard. And unfortunately, Astrid isn't anywhere near as good as she hoped she would be. But she hangs in there, with some encouragement from a new friend and her roller derby hero, Rainbow Bite, and learns a few things about honesty and being a good friend.

What makes this story really stand out for me is that it's about a girl who has to learn to deal with the consequences of reality not living up to her expectations, and how to face disappointment. Astrid has a lot of obstacles--her friend "abandoning" her, roller derby is much more difficult than she thought it'd be, and other people succeed much more quickly than she does. There are times when she wants to give up, but she has to learn the hard way that the only way to achieve her dreams is through a lot of hard work--and that failure isn't the end of the journey. Plus, the roller derby came setting is SO MUCH FUN. Overall, this is a really charming and funny story with strong characters and an even stronger voice.

Yes, the illustrations are good and the story is interesting and relatable. Also, the roller skating theme is appealing (especially to my 9-year-old newbie skater). However, there’s a scene where the antagonist and ex-best friend are discussing how to get a boy to kiss ex-best friend, followed by a blowout with the main character who is round aboutly accused of lesbianism. This scene has (for me) put this book in the catagory of “mature themes” and we may or may not revisit it in a few years. I don’t recommend it for a kid under 14.

My daughters (ages 7 and 10) are obsessed with this book, and they finally convinced me to give it a read. So glad I did! This book offers such a great glimpse into the heartbreak of drifting apart from your best friend, and the importance of sticking with something even when you're no good at it. *SPOILER ALERT* I loved that the protagonist didn't just step into her skates and instantly become good, and that she never got the honor of being the jammer. And I loved how she was able to resolve her relationship with her bestie, though not in the way that maybe she hoped. Such an uplifting and encouraging story for any kid, or adult!

Having been to a roller derby (thanks to my kids' love for this book!), I love how the illustrations really captured the action and excitement of the sport. I understand now why my kids' copy is so well-loved.

Perhaps the highest praise I can offer for ROLLER GIRLS --- the terrific new graphic novel by author, illustrator and “roller girl” herself Victoria Jamieson --- is that my 12 -year-old son, who normally would shy away from reading a book with a girl on the cover, devoured it in a single sitting. ROLLER GIRL is a girl-power chronicle, to be sure, but it's also in many ways a classic sports story and a really powerful exploration of friendship, both things that can and will appeal to kids across a broad range of ages and interests.

Twelve-year-old Astrid lives in Portland, Oregon, with her single mom, who often drags Astrid and her best friend, Nicole, on "evenings of cultural enlightenment." Visits to the opera, poetry readings and contemporary art galleries make Astrid and Nicole giggle inappropriately, roll their eyes or fall asleep. But when Astrid's mom takes them to see the hometown Rose City Rollers, Astrid, at least, is blown away. She longs to be like the tough, creative, talented women who make up the squad, especially Rainbow Bite, their star. Astrid doesn't even know how to skate, but that doesn't stop her from wanting to sign up for the roller derby summer day camp and becoming a "Rose Bud," especially since she's sure that Nicole will also want to come along and provide moral support.

But much to Astrid's surprise and dismay, Nicole isn't that interested in roller derby. She wants to spend the summer at ballet camp instead, with a girl who, Astrid fears, might unseat Astrid as Nicole's best friend. So Astrid throws herself into the challenging Rose Bud camp, even though she's the youngest and most inexperienced member of the team. She even makes a new friend, Zoey. As the summer progresses and the team's first bout approaches, Astrid learns not only the rules and techniques of roller derby, but also important lessons about honesty, hard work, loyalty and true friendship.

As I mentioned, ROLLER GIRL offers all the hallmarks of a classic sports story --- the initial adversity, the mounting tension before the big event --- but Jamieson (who skates on the Rose City Rollers when she's not busy illustrating) also cleverly plays with the expectations of the genre, making the big payoff not about Astrid's personal success but about generosity and friendship. Even readers who are not that interested in roller derby (although their interest is likely to be sparked by the story regardless!) will be moved by Astrid's struggles to define herself and to make better choices as a friend and daughter. Readers who do have even a passing interest in roller derby will be even more excited by the plot --- I had seen some roller derby demos in the past, but didn't really understand the rules of the sport before reading ROLLER GIRL.

ROLLER GIRL's story is further enhanced by Jamieson's illustrations. She rarely varies from a standard grid for her panels, but she offers a handful of full-page illustrations and more detailed small panels that help broaden the scope or draw attention to smaller details. Jamieson is especially adept at both showing action (a plus for depicting sports) and using facial expressions to connote emotions (a plus for a story as emotionally involving as this one). Like the roller derby stars themselves, each of the characters has a strong, highly visual personality --- one that readers of all ages and stripes will respond to.

Reviewed by Norah Piehl

This is a wonderful wholesome coming of age story of a middle schooler dealing with many issues facing children of this age but particularly one which almost all of us go through. That time when we find ourselves drifting away from the best friend we've had since kindergarten. Nicole and Astrid will be starting junior high after this summer and though they've always done everything together, this summer Astrid is joining Roller Derby camp and Nicole doesn't want to because she has already decided to join Ballet camp. Their interests have been going in different directions lately anyway, but everything changes when Nicole befriends Astrid's archnemesis Rachel. Astrid's coming-of-age story is inspiring and compelling as she faces the determination of becoming fascinated with a new interest (roller derby) and puts her determination into learning to not just play but starting from scratch with learning to skate. She makes new friends, dyes her hair, experiences lying to mother and having to "'fess up", then finds her relationship with her mom maturing as she herself matures. It's also a humorous story with lots of comic moments and has the reader rooting for Astrid and her new friend. The art is charming and somewhat reminiscent of Raina Telgemeier and this will appeal to fans of her books as well. I'm completely smitten!

One reason this book works so well is that Astrid is not a saint. She makes mistakes, she learns from them, and the learning moves her along the process of growing up. Astrid is tempted to cut and run at the first moment of adversity at derby camp, but decides to stick with it and is rewarded for her determination. She learns that even the best effort may not yield immediate success, or the kind or degree of success that she wants. She discovers the nature of true friendship, both old and new. She finds out why honesty is the best policy, especially with family, and how honesty is key to moving toward a more adult relationship with her mother. Both the importance of standing out as an individual and the limits of standing out are touched on; Astrid's mom accepts the blue hair but requests that Astrid dye it back to its natural color when school starts. She learns about putting on her war face (being intimidating in the context of the sport) but also about when not to do it.

But all of these lessons come without making the book dry and dull. The excellent treatment of roller derby is key; Jamieson loves the sport and her love comes through clearly in both the text and the illustrations.

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
Dial Books, 2015
Graphic Novel: Realistic Fiction
240 pages
Recommended for grades 4+

This is by far, my favorite roller derby novel ever! Ok, ok, it's the only one I've ever read, but I know it would be my favorite, even if I'd read others.
Vibrant colorful and expressive drawings jump off the page, I became so wrapped up in Astrid's world and perspective, that like her, I didn't even notice some of her shortcomings until we were both smacked in the face with them.
Strong themes of hard work and friendship make this the perfect book for...everyone.
If you're a classroom teacher and want to add this to your classroom library, be warned that there is a minor female development reference, and Astrid shares a less than positive nickname she was given in 2nd grade. Sound out her name, slowly, you'll get the first part. Otherwise, I should think this book is in all public libraries, because it is phenomenal!

Rollergirl by Victoria Jamieson was a wonderful story wrapped up in a delightful package. I seriously cannot say enough good things about this beautiful book. When reading this book, I made sure to Facebook Message a friend to ask if her young daughters knew about Rollergirl. She said she didn't think that they did. I felt like a winner because I recommended this wonderful book to her.

In Rollergirl, we meet 12-year-old Asterid and her best friend Nicole. Asterid's mom, Ms. Vazquez enjoys taking the girls to what Astrid describes as ECE's, Evenings of Cultural Enlightenment. As part of an ECE, Ms. Vazquez takes the girls to an evening of Roller Derby. Astrid is hooked and wants nothing more than to join in this awesome sport. In the program for the Roller Derby bout is an ad for the Junior Roller Derby Camp for young ladies ages 12 to 17. Astrid immediately begs her mother to sign her up for this camp. She also begins daydreaming about participating in this camp with Nicole, who obviously had just as great a time as she did at the Roller Derby. Or did she? Nicole thought that Roller Derby was okay, but not nearly enough fun to forgo ballet camp (where she will be able to go en pointe for the first time). Astrid finds out that Nicole is going to ballet camp with her nemesis, Rachel. Rachel is the queen of the mean girls, she had even said that Astrid (or Ass Turd as Rachel likes to call her) had rabies after she touched a dead squirrel when they were younger.

Astrid signs up for the Junior Roller Derby Camp and has a great time getting to meet other young ladies who like-mindedly admire roller derby. Astrid struggled with learning the rules and ropes of roller derby. Along the way she meets some new friends and also gets to interact with her heroine Rainbow Bite. At the culmination of camp, the Junior Roller Derby girls are allowed to participate in a bout during the intermission of the Rosebud's Roller Derby Match. Astrid is a crucial part of the intermission bout. I would encourage you to read all about Astrid's love of roller derby. Rollergirl is a wonderful book that I believe younger readers should embrace with open arms.

What I Loved:

Astrid was an incredibly strong character. She learned a great number of new things both in terms of the technical side of roller derby and also about herself over the course of Junior Roller Derby Camp.

Astrid's mother was an incredibly sympathetic and strong character. She is a librarian (only my ultimate goal in life) who appears to be a single mother. Ms. Vazquez cares for Astrid and encourages her creativity. She also encourages Astrid to be open and honest with her emotions rather than keeping them bottled up.

Learning about Roller Derby. I admit that I have always, always, always wanted to participate with my local Roller Derby group the Classic City Rollergirls, but my hubby and mother have put the kibosh on this idea because of my terrible clumsiness. It's bad like I can fall up stairs bad. My hubby says that he is not going to support a sport where I can break myself in two (I think this is a bit overly dramatic). I went skating a few years ago, to reminisce about the good old days when I was very young (my daycare used to take us skating when I was younger than 8...so about twenty-something years ago) and I used to be able to zip around like I owned the skating rink. Well, let me tell you, that was not the case a few years ago...I could not even make it off the carpet, and I was sooooooooooooooooooo heartbroken :(. (Like Ugly Cry Heartbroken).

I loved the way that Jamieson highlighted her creative process in a free PDF booklet. Writing a graphic novel is much more involved than I would have ever thought. Meanwhile, the end result is gorgeous. I also appreciate how that Jamieson used real life characters (and also provided interviews with real life Junior Roller Girls into this booklet).

Victoria Jamieson's Roller Girl is a winner from start to finish. The story should be a draw to any middle grade reader since it deals with the struggles of growing up including that whole losing and finding friends and just growing apart because of growing up. The graphics are well drawn and colorful. It's very easy to chart Astrid's emotions throghout not just because of what she says but because of how Jamieson has Astrid expressing the things she does and says. The roller derby aspect may get some readers interested in the sport and adds a dimension to the book that will entice reluctant readers. Well done and worth reading and recommending for middle grade and young adult readers who are going through those struggles currently, but also for adults who need to be reminded of what it's like to go through the touch emotions of transitioning into teenagerhood.

In the book "Roller Girl" by Victoria Jamieson, we learn about how friendships come apart, how new ones emerge and trying out new things. The main character Astrid has always been with her best friend Nicole since first grade but one day when Astrid and Nicole went to a roller derby game, Astrid loved the game so much that she signed up for roller derby camp, expecting that Nicole would too because they have done everything together but when Nicole tells her that she's going to dance camp with Rachel, someone Astrid hates, Astrid feels like being hit in the gut and their friendship becomes very distant. Then Astrid continues practicing roller skating but she is really bad at it. Then Astrid finds someone called Zoey and becomes friends with her and they have their little adventures together and a bit of drama. Later in the book, Astrid makes her roller derby name Asteroid and they have a game in which Asteroid takes a fall/distraction that led to their team wining. In the end though I don't quite understand because Nicole want to fix their friendship after the game with flowers and asking her to dinner, Astrid says no to dinner and takes the flowers though but then when Astrid goes to dinner with the team, Astrid leaves the flowers so to me its kinda unclear but overall, I like "Roller Girl" and the book gives the story of a teens life dealing with friendships and roller skating at the same time so I would give the book 4/5 stars.

I haven't personally read this book, but my 9 year old daughter really loves it and likes reading it over and over again! This is saying a lot because she is somewhat of a reluctant reader (even though she is above her grade level in reading!) This was a gift from my sister, whose daughter also loved the book first! Graphic novels are all the rage these days and I figure that they are fine if they have a plot and actually get kids reading and off of tech devices! Highly recommend this for 8 and up!

Twelve-year-old Astrid is often dragged to "enriching" events by her mom, who calls them "evenings of cultural enlightenment," aka ECEs. Thankfully, Astrid's best friend Nicole is usually by her side, making it possible for her to endure the opera or poetry reading or whatnot. One night, Astrid's mom brings them to the roller derby. Astrid is immediately taken by it; Nicole is less enthused. When the girls learn about a roller derby summer camp, Astrid can't wait to sign up, while Nicole, who has been taking ballet for years, would prefer to stick with dance camp. There, she hangs out with Rachel, a former classmate that Astrid cannot stand. For the first time in years, the girls are separated, and the distance between them grows wider as the summer goes on.

The first week at roller derby camp, Astrid falls down - a lot. She is frustrated and bruised and she wishes she was as skilled at the sport as the other girls. She starts writing anonymous notes to Rainbow Bite, an adult derby player she admires who shares the same practice space. Bite responds to the notes with advice and support, keeping Astrid's spirits up with the going gets tough.

And Astrid toughens up: she makes an effort to get better, to get stronger; she puts in extra practice time; she learns more about the sport and about the skills necessary to be a good player and a good teammate. Even though she's not the best one on the team, she's having fun, and that's what's important. Along the way, she makes a new friend in her teammate Zoey and makes some changes in her own life.

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson is a realistic and refreshing read. If this graphic novel was a person, I would give it a high-five. Bonus points for the diverse cast, characters of all different colors and shapes brought to life by lively full-color illustrations that show both action and emotion. Many characters have strong spirits, including Astrid's mother, a Puerto Rican single mom who works hard to put a roof over her daughter's head and food on the table. She works as a librarian at a college so that her daughter can attend that school in the future. Astrid has hand-me-down clothes and rents some of the required sports equipment rather than buying it outright, and these things are never regarded as shameful; I deeply appreciated that. I also loved the roller derby names (Rainbow Bite was my favorite, because the original Rainbow Brite rocks!), Astrid's determination and focus, and Zoey's love for musical theatre.

I recommend Roller Girl to all ages, especially for tweens who are making the transition from elementary school to middle school. If you liked Raina Telgemeier's graphic novels like Sisters, Smile, and Drama, you will definitely like Roller Girl.

I really like this book because it is about friendship problems. But also that its about a girl who is going to roller derby camp and she wants to become a skater. In the beginning she struggles but then she believes that she can do it, and slowly begins practicing and she gets better and better. I like this book because it has a lesson to learn at the end. The lesson is that if you work hard for what you want you will succeed, you will face challenges along the way but everything is better in the end.

Written by a 10 year old

I am an eight year old girl.
I think Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson is a very funny book.
It starts with a girl named Astrid.
She and her best friend, Nicole, went to a roller derby with Astrid’s mom.
Astrid thought the roller derby was awesome but Nicole thought it was frightening.
Therefore, Astrid decided to go to the roller camp.
She lied to her mom about that Nicole joining the roller comp. At the end of the story, Astrid’s team won the roller derby because Zoey, Astrid’s friend scored the last point.
My favorite part of this book is when Astrid was so mad that she punched her Winnie the pooh stuffed animal, and said, “stupid Nicole, stupid mom!” She took her temper down to the stuffed animal. Unlike her, I would never take my anger to my stuffed animals. Instead, I will talk to all my stuffed animals like my best friends.
In my opinion I learned that you have to be brave and strong in a new environment. Even though Astrid had no friends when she joined the camp, at the end she made lots of friends.

I picked up this book for my 6 yo daughter, because I thought a book about a girl pursuing excellence through hard work would be good for her. This is the kind of Calvinist ambition that makes love of reading wither and die, except that this time it worked. We read the book together - three chapters at bedtime, and the rest while snuggled up on a Saturday morning, after which she wandered off with the book clutched to her heart, declaring her love.

I've probably just doomed myself to a future full of roller skates and hair dye, but I like it a heck of a lot better than all the dratted princesses. If roller skates help the book's messages about friendship and resilience sink in, I am 1000% onboard.

This was a super fun read. I learned more about roller derby while getting to know Astrid and some other awesome skaters. The artwork was fantastic, and the storyline kept me intrigued, wanting to read more. I'd highly recommend this one for anyone looking for a MG graphic novel with a unique focus. #girlpower

There are a number of zines and graphic novels about Roller Derby. I am not the target audience for this story, but I found it quite moving. I am told there are studies that say reading fiction breeds empathy. I felt great empathy for the young hero of this story. The drawings are deceptively simple, but the expressions on the character's faces are pitch perfect. This is a wonderful work of art.

Im actually Robert Vashkos daughter speaking here. I must say, this book is fantastic for tweens. An i should know, i am a twelve year old! This really shows me that growing up, things are not black and white. Thee are shades of gray in life. It also shows that somethings take more work than you think. You dont just go somehwere and expect to be awesome. You have to work for things in life. And it shows having fun, losing the old, working hard and so many more important life rules. life is a rollercoaster, and you have to live throgh the great, wild ride.

Roller Girl is the story of Astrid losing a friendship, joining a roller derby team, and growing as a person. It is a perfect coming-of-age story for pre-teens and early teens. Sometimes friends grow apart. They start having different likes and different activities that they participate in. This isn't a bad thing. It can just be difficult. Adding the fun of roller derby made this tough subject a little more fun.

I love roller derby. The team I help out was saying there needed to be a good roller derby book out there. Thankfully, there are more and more books coming out that involve derby. Some of them are alright. This one, this is the winner! It will appeal to girls who like unconventional sports, dying their hair, meeting new people, and working hard. There are good lessons on friendship, working hard, being honest, and having a good relationship with your parents. The graphic novel format is fun, and it is gaining popularity.

Having a roller derby book be in graphic novel format was pure genius. That is the only true way to show the vibrancy of the sport. Hopefully some girls will pick this one up, feel better about themselves, and maybe go to a roller derby bout or join a junior league.

Wow, what a story. I am just getting into the world of graphic novels and I think this one has a lot of soul. I felt like I was able to delve deep into this book whereas others seem a bit shallow without narration. I would recommend this book to any kid 8-12.

Astrid and her best friend, Nicole, do everything together. Nicole always comes along when Astrid’s mother drags them to dreaded ‘cultural events’ like the opera or a foreign film. One night her mother drags them to an unfamiliar place. Looking around, Astrid sees people with bright hair, tattoos, and piercings and has no idea where her mother has dragged her until the roller derby girls hit the rink. After watching an awesome bout, Astrid immediately wants to sign up for the training camp run by the team this summer. Nicole however, wants nothing to do with roller derby and everything to do with ballet and Astrid’s worst nightmare; Rachel. Sad and hesitant, Astrid ties up her skates and starts a brutal day at camp. Though her feet are sore, she can barely stand, and she is bruised from head to toe, Astrid has never been happier. With her new friend, Zoey, she dyes her hair blue and dreams of the day when she can jam in a bout. With their first bout coming up, Astrid’s friendships will be challenged and her roller derby skills will be put to the test. Will Astrid be tough enough for roller derby? Will her and Nicole ever solve their differences and become friends again? This kick-butt graphic novel will have you wanting to lace up some skates and put on your warface!

This is an amazing book!
Most books would say later in the the story the character got better and was awesome at the end
But in roller girl it showed a girl with hope and even if she did not get amazing at the sport she still played and had even more hope in her
I think this makes the book so great
If u haven't read this u should really try it u will love it belive me!

My 9 year old has reread this book six times in six months. She loves it! I finally had to see what was so great about it and read it myself--it was an excellent read. Very appealing to 9-13 year olds, I would imagine, possibly even older kids. Some parents may not like some of the behavior of the main character regarding some dishonesty with her mom, but she gets caught and has to suffer the consequences. Anyway, this a terrific book and my kid can't wait for this author to write another book!

Astrid and Nicole's friendship began the day Nicole helped Astrid by reassuring her she did not get rabies by touching a dead squirrel. As they get older they go to a Roller Derby game and meet the famous player on the team named Rainbow Bite. That is when Astrid became inspired and very interested in becoming a Roller Girl, yet, Nicole did not feel the same way. Nicole was more interested in boys, popularity, and dancing. As a result of their differences in interest, their friendship had a fall out. Thankfully they were able to overcome their differences and recover their friendship.

I loved this book because it showed me that friendship takes twist and turns, but a true friendship will overcome anything in its way.

Arelys 6th grade.

I highly recommend Roller Girl to everyone because, its interesting, and funny. This book even helped me understand how to play roller derby! Roller Girl is a really amazing comic book.
Roller Girl is about a 12 year old girl (Astrid) who learns to play roller derby ,with the Rosebuds (a group of players). It turns out her BFF, Nicole had gone to "Dance Camp" with Rachel, Astrid's worst enemy. On the other hand, Astrid is doing bad at "Skate Camp". Soon she starts to hang out with a new friend, Zoey. She asks Zoey to dye her (Astrid). She had made a huge mess at the park with Nicole. They weren't friends any more, until Astrid was being nice , and gave her tickets to the bout. Before that Astrid loses Zoey as a friend to! So she gave Zoey a Voodoo doll of Jack Hughman , Zoey's favorite person. She made more for the audience too. She told Rainbow Bite(A famous roller derby player, and secret penpal) to make a sign for Zoey at the bout . With Astrid's teamwork , her team won the halftime bout! She also became friends with Nicole again! YAY!YAY!YAY!

I am admittedly a grown adult who picked this book up solely because it was about roller derby, but I completely fell in love with this book. It's a great story of becoming independent, of friendships that change and the turbulence of adolescent relationships. The heroine is a young girl approaching that awkward transition between elementary school and middle school who is discovering who she is as well as how to be a supportive friend. This is a great book for kids between about 4th and 8th grade (9-13 years old.) The artwork is gorgeous as well.

Bonus - it's a realistic view of roller derby with actual rules! People aren't punching each other in the face on the track!

Read Roller Girl after my nine year old daughter finished it and was telling me that I should read it. It took her a lot of effort to not spill the whole story to me. It's a very girl positive book that deals with the challenges of relationships as your interests change, being self absorbed in your own problems, as well as being mentally tough and sticking through hardship. Full of positive messages, but never simplistic.

SDN - Astrid learns to roller skate, and she learns how to be a better friend.
LM - I liked the part when Astrid's foot got hurt when she fell. I liked the art.
JPS - Astrid learned that friendship is the same as roller derby because she had a friend that went to ballet camp, and she made a friend at roller derby camp.
AP - This is a great book about a young girl who learns a lot about sticking with it and being a good friend. I think it was funny, too.

My 9 year old has reread this book six times in six months. She loves it! I finally had to see what was so great about it and read it myself--it was an excellent read. Very appealing to 9-13 year olds, I would imagine, possibly even older kids. Some parents may not like some of the behavior of the main character regarding some dishonesty with her mom, but she gets caught and has to suffer the consequences. Anyway, this a terrific book and my kid can't wait for this author to write another book!

Astrid and Nicole's friendship began the day Nicole helped Astrid by reassuring her she did not get rabies by touching a dead squirrel. As they get older they go to a Roller Derby game and meet the famous player on the team named Rainbow Bite. That is when Astrid became inspired and very interested in becoming a Roller Girl, yet, Nicole did not feel the same way. Nicole was more interested in boys, popularity, and dancing. As a result of their differences in interest, their friendship had a fall out. Thankfully they were able to overcome their differences and recover their friendship.

I loved this book because it showed me that friendship takes twist and turns, but a true friendship will overcome anything in its way.

Arelys 6th grade.

I highly recommend Roller Girl to everyone because, its interesting, and funny. This book even helped me understand how to play roller derby! Roller Girl is a really amazing comic book.
Roller Girl is about a 12 year old girl (Astrid) who learns to play roller derby ,with the Rosebuds (a group of players). It turns out her BFF, Nicole had gone to "Dance Camp" with Rachel, Astrid's worst enemy. On the other hand, Astrid is doing bad at "Skate Camp". Soon she starts to hang out with a new friend, Zoey. She asks Zoey to dye her (Astrid). She had made a huge mess at the park with Nicole. They weren't friends any more, until Astrid was being nice , and gave her tickets to the bout. Before that Astrid loses Zoey as a friend to! So she gave Zoey a Voodoo doll of Jack Hughman , Zoey's favorite person. She made more for the audience too. She told Rainbow Bite(A famous roller derby player, and secret penpal) to make a sign for Zoey at the bout . With Astrid's teamwork , her team won the halftime bout! She also became friends with Nicole again! YAY!YAY!YAY!

I am admittedly a grown adult who picked this book up solely because it was about roller derby, but I completely fell in love with this book. It's a great story of becoming independent, of friendships that change and the turbulence of adolescent relationships. The heroine is a young girl approaching that awkward transition between elementary school and middle school who is discovering who she is as well as how to be a supportive friend. This is a great book for kids between about 4th and 8th grade (9-13 years old.) The artwork is gorgeous as well.

Bonus - it's a realistic view of roller derby with actual rules! People aren't punching each other in the face on the track!

Read Roller Girl after my nine year old daughter finished it and was telling me that I should read it. It took her a lot of effort to not spill the whole story to me. It's a very girl positive book that deals with the challenges of relationships as your interests change, being self absorbed in your own problems, as well as being mentally tough and sticking through hardship. Full of positive messages, but never simplistic.

SDN - Astrid learns to roller skate, and she learns how to be a better friend.
LM - I liked the part when Astrid's foot got hurt when she fell. I liked the art.
JPS - Astrid learned that friendship is the same as roller derby because she had a friend that went to ballet camp, and she made a friend at roller derby camp.
AP - This is a great book about a young girl who learns a lot about sticking with it and being a good friend. I think it was funny, too.

I know. This isn't exactly a harry potter book with 673 pages and 15 pages of credits, but I can tell you this....
If you are a comic fan then DEFINATLY READ THIS! I have read a FEW comics in my days and this was one of my favorites. Victoria must have some seriouse ideas up in her brain.
I loved it. So why shouldn't you?

I read this book today in one sitting and loved it. I teach and one of my students recommended it for my summer reading list. I loved it! I put it on my 9 yr old son's bed today to see if he'd take the bait. He did! Read it in one sitting! I think the friendship dilemmas hit home for boys and girls alike. He is also a BIG fan of graphic novels. Don't pass this one by!

Just purchased this book for my 9 year old daughter. We are reading it together. My daughter loves it and I enjoy reading it with her. So far I love that Astrid is a girl who isn't afraid to be a little different, demonstrates persistence, and is able to work through all her many emotions. It is a great book! My daughter and I are even going to the roller derby this weekend!

Very fun reading. I didn't expect to love it as much as I did. Roller Girl deals with growing up, finding yourself, gaining confidence and well, roller skating. It is probably one of my favorite middle-grade books.

I know I'm a fan of Roller Girl. Jamieson clearly understands the awkwardness and uncertainty of the tween years. And who knew learning to play roller derby could serve as such an accessible metaphor for those years. Not that kids will think about that, they will drawn to a sport with lots of action and " ka-pow"!! Highly recommended.

I loved this book ! I am about to turn twelve and enter junior high so this really meant a lot to me !Astrid is so brave and I personally know how hard it is to make new friends . The only aspect of the story I didn't like was when Astrid left Nicoles flowers behind . I mean , I know you are changing friends and moving on , but that doesn't mean you have to be rude ! There were 2 uneeded instances of strong language ,but only 2.Over all , I loved this book ! i have a kindle paper light which doesn't have color ,but still the illustrationes are great !

This book is about a girl named Astrid and she got ditched by her best friend, Nicole. When she went to roller camp she found a new friend named Zoey. My favorite part was when Astird and Zoey dyed Astrid's hair blue, and then Zoey made Astrid a fake nose ring to make Astrid's mom not freak out as much about the blue hair dye. My least favorite part was when Zoey was mad at Astrid for not being supportive of her when Zoey got to be a jammer in the roller game and Astrid didn't. I recommend this book to teens that have lost a friend and know what it's like to lose a good friend.

My daughter has fallen in love with graphic novels so I picked this up as a Christmas gift for her. She has previously read many graphic novels like the Babysitters club books, Sisters etc., and was very exctited to receive this book.

Roller Girl is an appealing book to ages 10 and up! I found this book entertaining and humorous but it was also very relatable to my life because it discusses friendship, family, and coming of age. If anyone has interest in participating in roller derby or just learning about the sport, this is a book that you should definitely invest in! Roller Girls illustrations come to life through the graphic novel format.

This was the first book that my daughter argued with me about when I told her it was time to turn out the lights and go to bed. The author can receive no greater of a compliment. She blew through it so fast and loved every page. She would stop to show me some funny parts. I loved seeing the smile on her face when she read it.

Astrid, the girl, goes to one roller dirby compiton with her best friend and decided to do the summer camp assuming Nicole , her bff, would too. Unfortunately, Nicole didn't. But why? Read the book to find out! Roller girl.

I absolutely loved this - one of my favorite MG books of the year and one of my favorite graphic novels ever. The characters are real and flawed, they grow and change, it perfectly captures the angst of shifting friendships in the junior high years, and there are no easy answers. Really, really delightful.

I went into this with a certain perspective on how it will play out, but it was nothing how I expected, I love how the author chooses activities students can immerse themselves in that may not have interested them before reading.

My daughter loved it so much the first time, that she took it too read in the bath with her! Parents shouldn't be worried about language as the book only says, "add turd" once in a very insignificant part. The story is a truly wonderful story for girls/boys of all ages.

I have a daughter whos going through the same thing. She is always coming home from school saying

" Mommy, this girl stole my best friend!"

So I got her this book, and whaila! the next day when she came home from school,

" Mommy, I have a new best friend!"

I like this book because it about roller derby, and I love roller derby. I like the way it talks about friendship Astrid and Nicole get into a fight about what to do go to dance camp or go to roller derby and so Astrid decides to go to roller derby and Nicole decides to go to dance camp. My favorite part was when Nicole, Astrid, Zoey and Rainbow Bite become best friends. That is why I like the book ROLLER GIRL.

I am an eleven year old girl who LOVES this book! I've probably re-read it about 5-10 times! I was looking for a modern, funny graphic novel book with a girl as the main character. I think that this might be one of my favorite books! If you enjoyed this book you shoukd check out Babysitters Club, El Deafo, Smile, Drama, or Sisters because the style is sort of the same. I would Definitely reccomend this book to my piers

I got this as a birthday gift for a 10 year old girl. She doesn't enjoy reading that much but because there are a lot of pictures she is motivated to read what is going on in the story. She loves the story and calls often to tell me what is happening. Best gift I could have given her because she is enjoying reading for the first time.

Roller Girl is a story of a girl who was about to quit roller skating then she started riding roller skates home from skating practice and got in to the bout. That made me keep wanting to play sports that I was forced to play. It meant to me that practice actually makes perfect!

Such a wonderful story for young girls. It touches on trying something new and venturing out without your best friend at your side. Also the wonderful joy of having a role model (Rainbow Bite) and where hard work and dedication can take you. My daughter is a struggling reader and this if the first book she finished in 24 hours! I will there were more books for girls like this. Fairies, princesses and mysteries get old. Kudos Victoria Jamieson!

Like all the best sports books, this book is about life, not just a sport. Ms. Jamison wonderfully takes the reader through a "coming of age as a young teen" transition for an imperfect, but evolving,12 year old girl.

Oh, and the illustrations wonderfully support the story.

Amazing book. A story of friendship, growing up, and perseverance. The illustrations are spectacular, particularly the facial expressions. Astrid's voice really comes through, her sarcasm, and no matter how girly you are, you understand her feeling of being a non girly girl. The whole storyline is just genius. This is a must read for anyone who's ever had a friend, or a dream.

You do not need to be a fan of roller derby or even a tween girl to love this. My 9 year old son and I both just read this and really enjoyed it. It addresses universal themes (changing friendships, confronting failure, struggling with identity) in a reall accessible way. I highly recommend for boys and girls (and their parents).

I got this book at a book fair and i really like it. It shows what happends when you and you frien have different intrest, when you want to follow your dream and never give up. Learing about life and having fun! :)

I wouldn't have picked this out for myself, but as I am reading all the Newberry award winning books, I had to read it. Instead of suffering through as I thought I might, I really enjoyed it, both the art and the story.

I am probably not the target age group since I'm an adult, but I picked this book up and couldn't put it down. The story is great and I love the illustrations. I would recommend for any kid and for adults! I'm planning to give to my niece when she is a few years older.

This is a really good book. Its like an easy and faster way to get your kids to read.because if I a grown up could like it your kids could like it to.??????????????????????????????????????

BEST BOOK EVER
Anyone 8-20 will absolutely love this amizing book! Roller girl will roll it self into your heart<3
Thi story about friendship,roller derby and Asgrid the brave girl in this book is an amzing book!
Celina,10

I got this book at a book fair and i really like it. It shows what happends when you and you frien have different intrest, when you want to follow your dream and never give up. Learing about life and having fun! :)

I wouldn't have picked this out for myself, but as I am reading all the Newberry award winning books, I had to read it. Instead of suffering through as I thought I might, I really enjoyed it, both the art and the story.

I am probably not the target age group since I'm an adult, but I picked this book up and couldn't put it down. The story is great and I love the illustrations. I would recommend for any kid and for adults! I'm planning to give to my niece when she is a few years older.

This is a really good book. Its like an easy and faster way to get your kids to read.because if I a grown up could like it your kids could like it to.??????????????????????????????????????

BEST BOOK EVER
Anyone 8-20 will absolutely love this amizing book! Roller girl will roll it self into your heart<3
Thi story about friendship,roller derby and Asgrid the brave girl in this book is an amzing book!
Celina,10

I think roller girl is a great book. It's a book about friendship, girl power, and roller derby.
It's good because it is inspiring. It really teaches you not to give up, if you face something hard push through it.
Boys will like it too because it's really funny.
Thomas, age 7

When i first read this book i knew i had to read it again but i never grew tired of it. This book is mostly about friendship and ofcourse roller derby .I don't think this will be a book i will forget.

In my opinion, this book is not appropriate for young children: at one point someone is called an "ass turd"...need I say more? I know this is not meant to be quality literature; we will be sticking to the classics, Thanks.

Book is not appropriate for young children. It has inappropriate language within it. We purchased the book and had to return it due to the use of cursing in the book. My daughter was sad it contained language and she couldn't read it.