Roller Girl

Bibliography
Jamieson, V. (2015). Roller girl. New York: Dial Books, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. ISBN: 9780803740167

Plot Summary 
Astrid has done everything with her best friend, Nicole. But when Astrid’s mom take them to a roller derby bout, their relationship begins to change in ways that Astrid isn’t a fan of. Now she has to learn how to be by herself and make new friends in a strange new setting.

Critical Analysis 
Astrid is the typical, selfish, 12-year-old girl. She’s a tomboy whose favorite color is black, as depicted by her dark clothing throughout the book. Her best friend, Nicole, on the other hand, likes the color pink, boys, and ballet.

Jamieson uses the graphic novel format to convey Astrid’s story. The drawings of all of the characters present the reader with a wide range of emotions. Onomatopeia is used throughout the book for the whistles and other objects. The representation of Astrid's tiredness is entertaining as you are able to view the couch and then blackness.

At the beginning of the book, Astrid is selfish. She only wants to do what she wants to do, and she doesn’t consider Nicole or her feelings. Nicole wants to go to ballet camp, not roller derby camp. Instead of talking it out with her best friend, Astrid ghosts Nicole and doesn't speak to her for weeks. So Nicole finds a new friend in Rachel, a bully to Astrid. Astrid’s selfishness is further conveyed with her new friend Zoey. Astrid spends a lot of time working on being a jammer, and when her new friend Zoey is chosen instead, Astrid does not react well. By the end of the book, Astrid is shown to have grown considerably and respect the decisions of those around her. She makes peace with Nicole and Rachel and goes out of her way to support Zoey in her new role.

Astrid must also learn how to deal with her own failures. She constantly falls down and can’t hip check anyone, but she continues to preserve. She refuses to give up because this is her new dream. Even though she is intimated by the size and experience of the other girls, she doesn’t let that dissuade her.

Throughout the book, the reader witnesses Astrid’s growth during the same transitional phase between fifth and sixth grade. She quietly rebels against her mother. She walks and rollerblades home from roller derby camp and dyes her hair blue in an attempt to be strong. This rebellious phase is short-lived but sure to come out more intensely as time goes out. Also during this time, Astrid learns that it’s okay for everyone to not like the same thing. It’s okay to be friends with someone and not do everything with them. Everyone has different interests and that’s okay.

Review Excerpt(s) 
Newbery Medal Nominee (2016)
Texas Bluebonnet Award (2017)
Maine Student Book Award (2017)
Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award Nominee (2017)
Oregon Spirit Book Award for Graphic Novel (2015)
Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards Nominee for Best Publication for Kids (ages 9-12) (2016),
Bluestem Book Award (2018)
Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award Nominee (2018)
NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW - “This spiky, winning graphic novel captures the bittersweetness of finding a new passion and saying goodbye to your former, more uncertain self.”
KIRKUS -  "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."
HORN -  "Jamieson’s dialogue captures coming-of-age…so authentically"—Horn Book, starred review

Connections
Show clips from the movie Whip-It: https://youtu.be/RQGPdXnb2Gg and Derby, Crazy, Love documentary: https://youtu.be/jcetd17-x3s
Invite people from Houston Roller Derby to speak to students about roller derby: https://www.houstonrollerderby.com/
Writing Prompt: What transitions have been difficult for you from fifth to sixth grade?
Writing Prompt: Who is someone you look up to other than your mom, dad or grandparent? If you could write to them for advice, what would you write them? Write a letter to someone you admire, asking for advice.
A physics lesson regarding how an object in motion stays in motion, or about movement. Such as, Astrid is moving at so many miles per hour, etc.
What would your roller derby name be? Think of one and create the back of your own shirt (using a paper template or an actual shirt) with it.
Have students create their own graphic novel about a time when they had to learn something new and felt like they failed at it. At least two pages and use panels from the novel as a template.