Thursday, April 14, 2016

Roller girl


Roller Girl

 

Jamieson, V.  (2015).  Roller girl.  NY:  Dial Books.

The main character, Astrid, has been expected to behave a certain way for all of her 12 years.  She must try to meet her mother’s expectations of going to poetry readings and operas.  The only thing that makes this bearable for Astrid is that she gets to share these events with her friend Nicole.  Astrid’s mom decides to take Astrid to a roller derby and see a different kind of sport.

Astrid decides to tell her mother that she wants to be a roller derby girl and asks to attend roller derby summer camp.  The problem now is trying to convince Nicole who has her heart set on ballet camp.  Astrid and Nicole’s friendship begins to crumble as the girls no longer share common interests.  Astrid strikes a friendship with Zoey during camp.  Things take a turn for the worse when Zoey becomes a jammer and Astrid doesn’t.  Astrid’s idea of friendship is questioned as she struggles with the loss of both Nicole and Zoey.

Havighurst’s Developmental Tasks come into play and changing relationships occur in this story.  Astrid must deal with losing important friendships as well as trying to repair her relationship with her mother.  Additional readings include We were liars and Doll bones.

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