Roller Girl

Starred review from January 26, 2015
When Astrid’s mother takes her and her best friend Nicole to a roller derby event, Astrid is intrigued, but Nicole is left cold. The rift between them grows as Astrid signs up for derby camp, while Nicole opts for ballet. Astrid works her tail off, makes friends, finds a mentor in a star skater named Rainbow Bite, and, at last, appears in her first bout. She also undergoes some uncomfortable preadolescent ordeals before reconciling with Nicole, in scenes that Jamieson (Pest in Show), in her first graphic novel, keeps blessedly free of smarminess. Jamieson’s full-color cartooning has a Sunday comics vibe, and her pacing is faultless. Astrid struggles to do right as she tries to understand her soured friendship with Nicole, and she narrates her own failures with heartwarming candor (“I don’t know why I did it. I didn’t mean to hit them”). When she comes up with an elaborate scheme to bolster a teammate’s failing confidence and carries it off despite the pressure of their upcoming bout, readers will want to stand up and cheer. Ages 9–12. Agent: Paul Rodeen, Rodeen Literary Management.

Full of the best kind of punk-rock energy, narrator Almarie Guerra and a full cast take listeners on a rollicking ride around the roller derby track. This much loved graphic novel comes to life with bright voices and sound effects, including tumbles, bottles of hair dye, and lots of roller skates. Guerra's slightly nasal voice suits tough yet insecure Astrid, the almost-middle-schooler who falls in love with derby and loses her best friend to a mean girl in one summer. Astrid grows as a skater and a friend while an enthusiastic cast helps listeners imagine the hard work and laughter needed to learn a new sport. Middle school listeners will love this story of learning to be "tougher, stronger, fearless," and a good friend. E.E.C. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine