SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • *Best New Books*
    • Annual Best Lists
  • Reviews
    • One Star Review
    • Nonfiction
    • Toon Reviews
  • Articles
    • Authors
    • Link Du Jour
  • Covers
    • Covering the Newbery
    • Cover Curiosity
    • Unfortunate Covers
  • News
    • Books on Film
    • Morning Notes
  • Newsletter

March 16, 2015 by Travis Jonker

Review: Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

March 16, 2015 by Travis Jonker   Leave a Comment

Roller Girl
By Victoria Jamieson

Dial Books (Penguin)

ISBN: 9780803740167
$12.99
Grades 4-8
Out Now

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

*Best New Book*

Find it at:
Schuler Books | Your Library

Before I begin this review, let me set the right tone:

That’s better.

Sometimes you can find a lot of truth in unexpected places. Victoria Jamieson’s Roller Girl takes the universal experience of growing up and sets it against an unusual backdrop: the thrilling and intense world of roller derby. To say it works is an understatement. Full of trememdous honesty and depth, this is a book that will resonate with anyone lucky enough to find it. Needless to say, it’s the best graphic novel I’ve read this year by a mile.

How do you stop being best friends with someone? That’s the problem Astrid faces as she and number one pal Nicole begin to grow apart during the summer of their twelfth year. While problems had been brewing, it’s a trip to the roller derby that sets the unfriend wheels in motion. While Astrid is mesmerized by the action and signs up for derby camp, Nicole would rather focus on dance. Astrid finds herself  in an uncomfortable place – trying to learn a difficult new sport without her best friend at her side. There are plenty of bumps (both literal and figurative), but slowly she finds her way.

I was struck by the emotional density of Roller Girl. Jamieson never stops revealing character. Just about every facet of friendship and identity is explored in these 240 pages and the relationships, situations, and feelings consistently ring true. The benefit of laying all this groundwork is that it makes for a more rewarding conclusion, as many loose ends get tied – some in unexpected ways.

It’s Jamieson’s first graphic novel, but you wouldn’t know it. The panel work is effective and often interesting. The illustrations fall on the subtle side with plenty of fine lines and details. The digital coloring adds a layer of vibrance, giving life to the story.

Add this to the pantheon of great middle grade graphic novels – it’s already drawing lots of comparisons to Raina Telgemeier’s Smile and Sisters. Long story short, my socks have been knocked off. Go out and get it.

Also reviewed by Abby the Librarian, NoHi5 News.

Geek Dad interviewed Victoria Jamieson for the Bounded Enthusiasm podcast

Julie Danielson interviewed Victoria Jamieson at Kirkus

Betsy Bird interviewed Victoria Jamieson for Fuse #8 TV:

Click here for The Making of Roller Girl e-book:

Filed under: *Best New Books*, Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
DialPenguin

About Travis Jonker

Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

October 2021

Review: The Genius Under the Table by Eugene Yelchin

by Travis Jonker

February 2021

Review: Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd

by Travis Jonker

August 2020

Review: Beetle & the Hollowbones by Aliza Layne

by Travis Jonker

July 2020

Review: Twins by Varian Johnson and Shannon Wright

by Travis Jonker

April 2020

Review: The Sewer Rat Stink (Geronimo Stilton Graphic Novel #1) by Tom Angleberger

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

Your 2023 Caldecott Comment Card

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Will Spring Be Early? Or Will Spring Be Late? by Crockett Johnson

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Evil Secret Society of Cats | This Week’s Comics

by Lori Henderson

Heavy Medal

FREEWATER wins the Newbery Medal, live reactions from Heavy Medal bloggers

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Philosophy and/as/of Literature, a guest post by Amy Zhang

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

A Book 25 Years in the Making: Marla Frazee Visits The Yarn

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Remember: 10 Titles to Read for Holocaust Remembrance Day

Eight Graphic Works that Offer Fresh Perspectives on the Past | Stellar Panels

ChatGPT Does Readers’ Advisory | Top Stories on SLJ

6 Chapter Books Series Updates for Transitioning Readers

6 Middle Grade & YA Novels on Repeat for Groundhog Day

Commenting for all posts is disabled after 30 days.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • Author/Illustrator Blogs

    • Erin Stead Illustration
    • Hey, Rabbit!
    • James Preller's Blog
    • MATTHEWCORDELLBLOGS
    • Mo Willems Doodles
    • The Scop
  • Book Blogs I Like

    • A Book and a Hug
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • A Kids Book a Day
    • A Year of Reading
    • Abby (the) Librarian
    • Awful Library Books
    • Becky’s Book Reviews
    • Better Book Titles
    • Book-A-Day Almanac
    • Bookends
    • books4yourkids.com
    • bookshelves of doom
    • Bottom Shelf Books
    • Calling Caldecott
    • Caustic Cover Critic
    • Chad C. Beckerman
    • Charlotte’s Library
    • Cheryl Rainfield
    • Chicken Spaghetti
    • CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATION
    • Collecting Children’s Books
    • Cybils
    • EarlyWord
    • educating alice
    • Finding Wonderland
    • For Those About to Mock
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Good Show Sir
    • GottaBook
    • Great Kid Books
    • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
    • Hi Miss Julie!
    • Jen Robinson’s Book Page
    • Kidsmomo
    • Maria T. Middleton Design
    • Nerdy Book Club
    • Neverending Search
    • Nine Kinds of Pie
    • One Book, Two Books, Old Books, New Books
    • Out of the Box
    • Oz and Ends
    • PlanetEsme
    • Read Roger
    • Reading Rants!
    • Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
    • sharpread
    • ShelfTalker
    • so tomorrow
    • The Children's Book Review
    • The Miss Rumphius Effect
    • Uncovered Cover Art
    • Waking Brain Cells
    • Watch. Connect. Read.
  • Library Blogs

    • ALSC Blog
    • Blue Skunk Blog
    • librarian.net
    • LISNews
    • Stephen's Lighthouse
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Unshelved
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023