Genre: Realistic Fiction
Author: Victoria Jamieson
Awards: John Newbery Honor Book (2016)
Age Group: 8 to 12-year-olds
Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I would use this graphic novel preferably in a fifth-grade classroom. The novel is a coming-of-age story about a young girl entering middle school which I think would be highly relatable to students in this grade. I think the overall message of the book about finding who you are, growing up, and change would be perfect for a reflective journal activity. I also think it is important though to find an alternative because some students might not find this interesting, especially boys in this age group. Therefore, the book could also be a suggested book in the classroom library that students could grab for a reading assignment or enjoyment.
Summary: This graphic novel is about a young girl named Astrid. Astrid is about to enter middle school when many things start to change for her. The story begins with Astrid and her best friend Nicole going to a roller derby match with Astrid's mom. The girls have been best friends for a very long time but at the match, it is clear that there is a significant difference between the girls. Astrid seems to be very eager about the sport while Nicole shows more worry about injuries and curiosity about the boys there. The girls learn about a roller derby camp, Astrid really wants to join. Nicole doesn't want to join the roller derby camp and instead joins dance camp. Astrid gets really upset at the fact Nicole wants to join dance camp because a girl who is mean to Astrid goes there and Nicole is nice to her. The two girls go their separate ways but Astrid can't bring herself to tell her mom about their falling out. Astrid starts roller derby camp and quickly realizes that it is not as much fun as she thought without a friend. The first few days of camp are hard for Astrid, because she doesn't have friends and because she has not told her mom that she is not friends with Nicole anymore and doesn't have a ride home. As the story progresses, Astrid makes a friend at the camp named Zoey. Zoey and Astrid become close friends, they stay after camp and practice together, Zoey dyes Astrid's hair, and they volunteer to help a coach pass out papers for their bout. When the girls go to pass out papers advertising the bout, Nicole is there with the girl that was mean to Astrid and two boys. The girls and the group's interaction with each other are brief but Astrid can't help but follow them. Astrid and Zoey only to hear them talking about Astrid. Astrid's feelings get hurt by what the girls say and she confronts them. After confronting the girls, Astrid becomes more focused on training for the bout. Astrid and Zoey start to separate when Zoey is picked instead of Astrid to be the jammer. Astrid's day at camp once again gets harder because Zoey will not speak to her. One day, Astrid comes home to a very upset mother. Her mother ran into Nicole's mother shopping and found out the truth about Nicole not being at camp with Astrid. Astrid and her mother talk about what's been happening in Astrid's life. Astrid's mom makes her go apologize to Nicole and her mother for lying. When Astrid apologizes to Nicole she tells her she's going to go to the ballet recital for her dance camp to support her. After leaving Nicole's house, Astrid feels happy but sad still because she notices that she and Zoey have stopped talking because she became obsessed with practicing and not giving time to things Zoey wanted to do. Astrid attempts to make up with Zoey but it doesn't work as planned so instead Astrid comes up with a plan. She asks a roller derby star to make a poster for Zoey and she stays up all night making special cutouts of Zoey's favorite Broadway star. The next day at the bout, Zoey notices all the people holding the cutouts and how the roller derby star was cheering her on and thanks, Astrid. The story ends with Nicole coming to the bout and asking Astrid to go to dinner after but Astrid chooses instead to be with Zoey and her other friends. The roller derby star also compliments Astrid on how she played and to keep it up.
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