Roller Girl

Product Information

In that beautiful Graphic novel, "Astrid" was extremely dazzled by Roller Derby-a sport that I just knew about it in this book-when her mother takes her to watch that game. Being inherited her fierce mom's genes, she excitedly decides to start practicing this tough game. Most of the girls attending roller derby camp are a little older and more mature than Astrid. The primary exception is Zoey, with whom Astrid begins to bond as a result of the situation with Nicole. Zoey is a newbie at derby skating as well. Astrid can see she is having trouble, but has to admit that even Zoey is getting the hang of things better than her at first. At camp, Astrid wonders if she can still be friends with Nicole; she later makes friends with Zoey, a fellow camp contender, but struggles with her skating skills and jealousy over making the team.

Visually, Roller Girl is very appealing — think Lynn Johnston with a modern edge — but it's the storytelling that really sets this graphic novel apart…A great choice for tween girls, whether they're remaking themselves, renegotiating friendships or just weathering the stormy seas of early adolescence." — Chicago Tribune A wonderful story about friendship, self-belief and SERIOUSLY awesome girls! Robin Stevens, bestselling author of Murder Most Unladylike Jamieson captures this snapshot of preteen angst with a keenly decisive eye, brilliantly juxtaposing the nuances of roller derby with the twists and turns of adolescent girls’ friendships…Full of charm and moxie—don’t let this one roll past.”— Kiruks,starred reviewBut this is not, of course, just about derby. It's about friendship, about growing away from old friends and towards new ones. Astrid's best friend isn't interested in roller derby. She wants to go to ballet camp. And it's part of Astrid's journey in this book to realize that she and Nicole don't need to be attached at the hip. They can be different people. Maybe they won't be friends the way they once were, but that doesn't mean they have to be enemies, either. For most of her twelve years, Astrid has done everything with her best friend Nicole. But after Astrid falls in love with roller derby and signs up for derby camp, Nicole decides to go to dance camp instead. And so begins the most difficult summer of Astrid's life as she struggles to keep up with the older girls at camp, hang on to the friend she feels slipping away, and cautiously embark on a new friendship. As the end of summer nears and her first roller derby bout (and junior high!) draws closer, Astrid realizes that maybe she is strong enough to handle the bout, a lost friendship, and middle school... in short, strong enough to be a roller girl. A refreshing, witty story of trying, failing, reinvention, ambition, team spirit and how to be a decent friend Pamela Ribon is a screenwriter (Moana, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Bears), performer, TV writer, comic book writer, best-selling novelist, and a Film Independent Directing Lab Fellow. Latimer’s Witches of Ash & Ruin unfolds in multiple viewpoints providing glimpses inside the heads of others (witchlings, Dayna’s ex-boyfriend, and a witch-hunter named Dubh). I found it interesting that the book opens with Dubh stating his evil intentions—that seemed to solve the puzzle from the start—but knowing the bad guy in no way slows the suspense.

The characters are real, fully-developed people. Jen and Maisie are completely different but wholly compatible as friends. They are given real emotions, fears, and anxieties. They are actual people, and it's too often in comics that women don't get to be people. So the stage is set for the shift so many girls - and maybe boys, though I don't know how this particular piece of boy's life works - experience in their transition from elementary school to junior high/middle school: Losing the best friend while moving out of childhood and into teenagehood, trying to find out who they want to be. But she was also really interesting and it was quite realistic to see her change. From not knowing what to do, to be unsure about herself, to rising up and coming out a stronger version of herself.

For most of her twelve years, Astrid has done everything with her best friend Nicole. But after Astrid falls in love with roller derby and signs up for derby camp, Nicole decides to go to dance camp instead. And so begins the most difficult summer of Astrid's life as she struggles to keep up with the older girls at camp, hang on to the friend she feels slipping away, and cautiously embark on a new friendship. As the end of summer nears and her first roller derby bout (and junior high!) draws closer, Astrid realizes that maybe she is strong enough to handle the bout, a lost friendship, and middle school… in short, strong enough to be a roller girl. Plus, I know I really enjoyed a middle-grade book when I can't wait to share it with my little sister. She adored Raina Telgemeier's work in the past and has been on the search for anything and everything similar, so she'll be pleased to know that Nearby, FBI agents chase teen assassin Malcolm as he rushes to complete his secret mission for a radical pro-dragon group called the Believers. Nothing sways Malcolm’s devotion to leader Mitera Thea and his probably suicidal mission until his path crosses Nelson’s (who has been thrown out by his mother). Against his training, Malcolm envelops Nelson into the folds of his dangerous world. Yet his ghastly tasks threaten their blossoming relationship.

After seeing this book, I knew I had to have it and thus I bought it immediately. And how happy I am that I did. This book was fantastic. I so want to hang out with Astrid and Zoey now. Sure, they are fictional and 12 and I'm almost 50 but cmon! It won't be weird!This is the story of Imogene, who works with her family at the Florida Renaissance Faire. She decides she is ready for the most grueling, the most dangerous quest of her young life... enrolling in public middle school. I loved our main character's new friend. She was terrific and I loved how she dyed her hair, and also helped our main character to look more tougher and to avoid the mom flipping too much (I adored that part). She was a really good friend, supporting her and trying to be there for her. Cheering her up. I felt sorry for her when all the drama happened. It was quite clear to everyone that she didn't want that role, but that she got it assigned and that there was nothing to do then to just go along with it. It wasn't as if she desperately wanted it. Este libro se lo regale en Navidad a mi hija. Y en medio de las festividades nos tomo casi dos semanas leerlo. Oh, I loved Roller Girl. I came across it during a shopping trip at Gosh! Comics with my friend Daphne and one glance at the cover me it was the graphic novel for me! Roller Girl is the heartwarming tale of friendship and roller derby over one summer, beautifully written and illustrated by Victoria Jamieson. It perfectly captures what it's like to be growing up when you're not a child, but not quite a teenager.

I liked this Newbery Honor a lot. Beverly (in the discussion in Children's Books group) explains very well why it's so good. As far as the entitlement attitude, well, that's the theme of the book, as one of the things Astrid has to learn and deal with is that friends can grow apart. She is currently adapting her original comic book series SLAM! — co-created with Veronica Fish — as an animated half-hour with Rooster Teeth and Minnow Mountain for HBO Max. She is attached to direct (with Paul Franklin) her live-action feature adaptation of her critically-acclaimed graphic novel My Boyfriend is a Bear (co-created with Cat Farris). She is also adapting her comedic memoir NOTES TO BOYS (AND OTHER THINGS I SHOULDN’T SHARE IN PUBLIC) as an animated series for FX’s CAKE. Jamieson snatches moral victory from the jaws of athletic defeat with warmth, satirical wit, and old-fashioned silliness." — SLJ From the PublisherSo close does Astrid start to become with Zoey that she even allows her new friend to dye her hair blue. Like Astrid, Zoey is fully into the idea of becoming a competitive skater and practices just as intensely. Eventually, this cooperative effort becomes a competition for the position of jammer. When Zoey is named jammer over Astrid, Astrid again erupts in angry frustration and makes a scene. Zoey refuses to talk to her afterward.