Roller Girl

Jamieson, V.(2015). Roller Girl. New York ,NY: Penguin Group.

After attending her first roller derby,  twelve year old Astrid can't wait to go to roller derby camp in the summer.  She thinks her best friend since first grade, Nicole, will sign-up as well.  She soon learns that Nicole has signed-up for dance class instead with a new friend, Rachel.  Astrid is devastated that Nicole is not joining her and decides to brave roller derby camp alone.  She  neglects to tell her mom that Nicole is not going and that Nicole's mom will not be driving her home from roller camp.  Astrid goes to her first day of camp and realizes how hard this is going to be. Throughout camp, she writes to her favorite roller derby player, Rainbow Brite, and asks for advice.  Rainbow Brite writes her notes back, offering words of encouragement.  One bright spot for  Astrid is making a new friend at camp, Zoey.  Astrid and Zoey begin a new friendship, and then one afternoon at Zoey's house, they dye Astrid's hair blue.   Astrid's mom is not pleased with some of the changes she is going through.  Astrid and Zoey find out that at the end of camp, they are going to have a roller derby bout.  They volunteer to handout flyers.  While in the amusement park, they run into Nicole and Rachel.  They overhear Rachel telling Nicole to ignore Astrid and to no longer be her friend.  Astrid looses her temper and tells Nicole she hates her now.  Along with that, Astrid's mom finds out that she's been walking home by herself from camp and is is furious. Little by little, Astrid improves her skating and roller derby skills.  She also tries to have a truce with Nicole and gives Nicole tickets to her roller derby bout.  At the derby, Astrid does her very best and Nicole comes to see her after all.  After the derby is over, she invites Astrid to dinner.  Astrid declines because she wants to stay with her team.  Astrid even gets an autograph from Rainbow Brite and she praises her for how hard she has worked.  Astrid learns that growing up is hard, but something everyone faces.

This graphic novel features growing up, changing, and learning new things are things all teens face.  Losing your best friend and facing fears is another challenge some teens face as well.  Astrid, the protagonist, learns that friends have their own interests and may grow apart.  This is something many teens face as they grow as well.  But Astrid also learns that each person finds a new group and friends that share common interests. 

 Roller Girl is a 2016 Great Graphic Novels for Teens Top Ten recipient.  It also won the Newbery Honor in 2016, as well as the 2017 Texas Bluebonnet Award.