about the book
In fifth grade, Nicole and I were best buddies. On Friday nights, Mom would herd us into the car and take us to one of her “Evenings of Cultural Enlightenment”. We yawned through poetry readings, slept through opera performances, and were totally confused by modern art shows. Then one evening we headed to a hangar sized building. Once the lights dimmed, an announcer screamed, “Are you ready for some RRRR-OLLER DERRRR-BY?!” I’m hooked from the first moment. Nicole…not so much!
I am excited to learn about jammers and blockers and how they score points. There are all sorts of crazy skating moves, shoving, tumbling, and trash talk. It is totally awesome! My name is Astrid and I’m twelve years old. I can’t understand why Nicole isn’t in love with the sport like I am. She even thinks it is scary!
Right from that Friday night I know one day I will be a Roller Girl! I start learning about the players. They have really tough names. I especially like Rainbow Bite, a jammer who wears super-cool rainbow-striped sox. But let me tell you, the sport is far more daunting than I ever would have guessed. Still I can’t wait until I can participate in my first bout.
So I sign up for summer Roller Derby Camp. I can’t believe it when Nicole decides to go to ballet camp instead. We always do everything together! I work my tail off in camp and guess what—Rainbow Bite becomes my mentor! How cool is that! I even get a cool Derby name, Asteroid! Plus I’ve got a great scheme to give our team confidence. I am ready to rollllllllll!
But as excited as I am about skating, I am hurting from the rift that is growing between Nicole and me. How am I going to get through middle school without Nicole? Should I give up on my skating dreams? Or should I stick to my guns and hope Nicole and I can find a compromise?
about the author/illustrator
Victoria Jamieson grew up in Havertown, Pennsylvania. In third grade, she wrote and illustrated her first book, titled Super Cow. It was an amazing smash hit with local critics (her teachers) and with discerning collectors (her parents).
When she was twelve, her family moved to Florida. To garner excitement about the move, her parents bought season passes to Disney World for Victoria and her two brothers. The park was great but Victoria especially like watching the animators during the backstage tour. She decided right then and there that she was going to work for Disney when she grew up.
To follow her dream, she attended the Rhode Island School of Design, where she unfortunately found she was far more interested in illustration than animation. After graduation, she had a whole slew of bad jobs—including portrait artist on a cruise ship and an illegal tour guide through the Vatican museum.
Her life started to turn around when Victoria began working as a book designer with a New York children’s book publisher. Now a real-life children’s author and illustrator, she is thrilled that her debut graphic novel Roller Girl has earned a Newbery Honor!
With her husband, baby, and a surly cat, Victoria now calls Portland, Oregon, home. She teaches children’s book illustration at Pacific Northwest College of Art, writes and illustrates her own books and graphic novels, and skates. She is Winnie the Pow, a team member of the Rose City Roller Derby team!
Sources:
Author/Illustrator website
Author/Illustrator video interview : School Library Journal
Author/Illustrator book discussion: Roller Girl
Book trailer: Roller Girl
Also by Victoria Jamieson:
All’s Faire in Middle School. Dial. September 2017.
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