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  • Roller Girl
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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
2,079 global ratings
5 star
83%
4 star
11%
3 star
3%
2 star
1%
1 star
1%
Roller Girl

Roller Girl

byVictoria Jamieson
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Top positive review

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Kells
4.0 out of 5 starsUnique Story - Some spoilers
Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2016
This is a very good coming of age story for girls. I purchased it to pre-read. I'm on the fence about giving it to my 7-year old (who is an avid reader 2-3 years above her age). There is a lot of stronger language. There was only one instance of an actual curse word being used—"ass-turd" and that was only by a child being nasty. It's also pretty intense "tween drama" and my daughter hasn't reached that point in her age (hopefully not for another year or two) so I don't know if it will make sense for her.

I think it would resonate best with kids who are 9-to-14--a time when children run into a lot of misunderstandings coupled with hormones. I remember being exactly that age as a couple long-term friends and I split apart with our differences. The main character (Astrid) has a lot of intense emotions that are experienced at that age and comes to the understanding that she was actually part of the issue when it comes to the demise of her friendship with her best friend (Nicole). She realizes she was caught up in her own world and stopped paying attention to the person Nicole grew into. They seemed to make peace they were taking different paths, but it's up in the air whether or not they will be friends. It seems like a parent could mention is that it's okay (good even) to have friends in different aspects of your life. They don't have to share all your interests. You don't have to part ways even if the main things you love are very different.

I am not completely sure about the message at the end. Astrid chooses to eat dinner with her roller derby friends instead of Nicole after the game. That is okay except Astrid leaves Nicole's gift of flowers at the bleachers. I know it's meant to be powerfully symbolic, but it seems so wasteful. Why not regift them?

But perhaps I am overthinking this. The book is still a good message for girls as we woman are too often pressured to put others' feelings in front of ours or hang onto a relationship as long as possible—which actually makes things worse. It also touches on a subject that seems to be pretty universal for tweens and young teens—even those who don't play/like roller derby.
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58 people found this helpful

Top critical review

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Anny V.
2.0 out of 5 starsDamaged
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2021
This was a gift and it came damaged. I had no choice but to give it anyway.
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From the United States

Latinxs in Kid Lit
5.0 out of 5 stars A story of challenges, setbacks, and triumph
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2016
Verified Purchase
Victoria Jamieson’s Roller Girl captivated me right off and only grew sweeter on a second reading. In addition to the immersive power of graphic novels, the story of Roller Girl delivers a solid punch: 12-year-old Astrid Vasquez gets hooked on roller derby and devotes herself to the sport while navigating the ups and downs of middle-school friendships.

Astrid’s passion for roller derby ignites when Ms. Vasquez takes Astrid and her best friend, Nicole, to their first derby bout. Afterward, Astrid can talk of nothing but the derby and fails to notice that Nicole doesn’t share her excitement. Come on, how could she not? Check out the theater of it all: the players’ costumes and wild hair colors, the electricity of the crowd, and the take-no-prisoners energy that drives the sport. Astrid even discovers an idol in Rainbow Bite, a star jammer for the Rose City Rollers, who exemplifies roller derby’s ferocity and skill. Astrid loves the fact that there’s nothing girlie or restrained about roller-derby culture, and when she hears about summer camp for junior players, she’s chomping at the bit to sign up. Best friends do everything together, right? This assumption crumbles when Nicole reveals that she’s planning to attend dance camp instead, along with Rachel, Astrid’s one true nemesis from their early elementary days.

With Nicole’s “desertion,” Astrid has to face the first day at derby camp alone. From there, complications abound. Ms. Vasquez is under the impression that Nicole’s mom will give Astrid a ride home at the end of each day’s session. Astrid is afraid to tell her mom that Nicole isn’t participating, as this would lead to all sorts of questions Astrid wants to avoid. As a result, the lies she must tell and the long walks home she must endure only add to the drama of those first grueling weeks at the rink. Did I mention that Astrid discovers she’s a lousy skater?

Despite aching muscles and botched skill drills, Astrid persists and finds new motivations as she enters more deeply into the world of her chosen sport. The camp coaches balance demanding practices with timely pep talks, and Astrid strikes up a friendship with Zoey, a camper her age. Another boost comes in the form of a correspondence with Rainbow Bite that starts when Astrid discovers the star jammer’s locker and begins leaving notes for her. (Rainbow proves a generous celebrity and writes back with inspiring tips.)

None of these triumphs mean that Astrid transforms into a roller derby standout; what matters are the personal victories that she achieves over the course of the summer, including earning the respect of her teammates and figuring out some important things about who she is and what sort of friend she wants to be.

Roller Girl succeeds on multiple levels. Through a lively narrative and a rich visual landscape, it draws readers into the fascinating world of roller derby, often explaining the rules and strategies of a sport unfamiliar to many through clever diagrams and dramatized scenes. Through these invitations to explore the sport, it portrays women and girls as highly capable both physically and intellectually. Readers get a clear sense that women can—and should—take on tough challenges.

In addition, Roller Girl gives us a Latina character comfortable with her ethnic identity and shows us Anglo characters who are equally accepting. Astrid’s Latina background doesn’t even emerge until page 54, and only much later do we learn that the family is Puerto Rican. This information comes across casually, as just another cool detail about the main character. At least this is how Astrid’s new friend Zoey takes the information when Astrid reveals it during a scene in which West Side Story plays in the background.

Astrid says to Zoey, “I’ve seen this movie! My mom made me watch this for an evening of Puerto Rican cultural heritage. Or something.” (At first blush, the idea that an adult puertorriqueña would push this movie as representative of her culture struck me as improbable. I associate West Side Story with racial stereotypes, discriminatory casting—white actors playing the Puerto Rican leads—and the problematic practice of filming lighter-skinned Latino actors in brown-face. But after asking around, I learned that not all Latinos recoil at the legacy of West Side Story, and many view Rita Moreno’s dynamic, Oscar-winning performance as a cause for celebration.)

In general, my sense is that ethnicity may not be central to the story, yet it gives readers additional exposure to a positively framed diverse character who faces the same challenges most 12-year-olds face. In fact, one of the biggest ways that Roller Girl succeeds is in its depiction of Astrid’s emotional journey. It delivers an honest and satisfying ride through many of the complex social and internal upheavals of middle-school life. I particularly like the author’s portrayal of mixed emotions. On one page, a central panel depicts a kindergarten poster of cartoon faces bearing unambiguous expressions. The caption reads: “The feelings were all simple ones, like ‘happy’ and ‘sad.’ They didn’t tell you about feelings that got mixed together like a smoothie.” In the next panel, Astrid contemplates exactly such “mixed together” feelings, the result of running into Nicole after weeks of separation. Astrid is happy to see her former best friend yet sad about the emotional distance that stands between them now. Out of this, she coins a new word, “shad,” a distillation of those contradictory feelings—happy and sad. This moment of acceptance that emotions are complex seems to me a marker that a character is coming of age.

As happens with the best of sports stories, Roller Girl follows a character’s trajectory through brutal training challenges, inevitable setbacks, as well as moments of triumph–and elevates these into something beyond athletic achievement. At twelve, Astrid is finding her way in the world. Some of her falls are literal and happen on the skating rink. Some are relational and emotional, and arrive without the benefit of coaches to teach her how to land injury-free. The important thing is that after each fall, Astrid is learning how to dust herself off and get back into the game.
16 people found this helpful
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Hilltop Granny
5.0 out of 5 stars A Book About Choices..and Blue Hair
Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2016
Verified Purchase
Although I did not want to encourage my grandaughter to dye her hair blue, I did want her read this fun filled story of friends finding friends. And what a story it is! Great for this middle school age group struggling with so many social changes as they search for their own identity. She read it in one night. The book is now making its way around her circle of friends....which is a great testament to the popularity it earns. I was reluctant to pick this one up, as just the thought of a "roller derby" did not sound like something I would want my lovely grandaughter to read. So glad I did.
One person found this helpful
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ElleWishes
5.0 out of 5 stars Friend recommended
Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2015
Verified Purchase
For my younger sister because she needs to see girls doing stuff and I like comics, so therefore she's going to be stuck reading comics until she tells me otherwise.
Recommended by a friend who's into finding female themed items on par with what is typically a male dominated area (I skimmed through it just to be on the safe side because my sister isn't as old as her kid is). Unlike my niece, my sister is into the whole princess thing and I'd like to push her as far away from that as I possibly can. I think it's healthier if she does more exploring and activity in the world.
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars This was recommended by a student of mine and she adored it
Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2016
Verified Purchase
This was recommended by a student of mine and she adored it. I flipped trough a couple of pages and loved the detailing of the pictures and the storyline so I immediately ordered a copy for myself. Two days later I received it and finished it the same day. It's an excellent book for anyone to read regardless of age. I wish more of these style of books, graphic novel, were available to me when I was younger. I highly recommend this book.
6 people found this helpful
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Sally
5.0 out of 5 stars My granddaughter was delighted to receive this book!
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2022
Verified Purchase
This book was a birthday gift for my 9 year old granddaughter and she was delighted to receive it!
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Yvette
5.0 out of 5 stars Great gift for middle school girls
Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2015
Verified Purchase
A wonderful and touching graphic novel about Astrid, a twelve year old girl who learns about friendship and growing up while spending the summer before junior high going to roller derby camp. Some negative behavior, such as lying and meanness, but there are consequences and regrets! Written and illustrated by a member of a roller derby team, it has a warmth and authenticity I haven't often seen in graphic novels. Very gift-able.
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Demaris
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2017
Verified Purchase
A really good book. My husband bought it for his class but I he likes it so well I have caught him reading it more than once. The kids in his 5th grade love it too. It is about growing up, friends changing, and finding out who you are. Great girl power book.
2 people found this helpful
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Jennifer Druffel
5.0 out of 5 stars You Will Devour This Book!
Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2017
Verified Purchase
My daughter loved this book so much that she wrote her own story based on this book. My fifth-grade class loves this book so much that I had to buy a replacement copy. The original had been read so much that it was beginning to fall apart. A must have for grades three and up!
One person found this helpful
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ElizaBeth
5.0 out of 5 stars 10 y/o girl approved 5x over
Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2016
Verified Purchase
*** update *** she has read this book 5+ times now!

Our 10 year old girl blazed through this. Read it twice over the weekend. I wanted her to have a book that showed her she could go do her own thing and not what her friends are all doing. Plus as a former derby player I was super excited to get it for her. She really liked it. I think the art is great.
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Diamond
5.0 out of 5 stars Daughter wants more books about Sunny....
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2019
Verified Purchase
This is just a fantastic book, my 8 year old blew threw the pages in an afternoon and just devoured the store and has read it several time's since.
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