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emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Transphobia, Death of parent
Moderate: Car accident
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
"Bruised" refers to Daya's heart, as well as her limbs and extremities, following her parents' death in a car crash and Daya's chosen form of self-injury: skateboarding. Pain gives her the feeling she thinks she deserves, and having given up boxing, which was her thing with her dad, she needs a new sport to prove her toughness.
Daya lives with her theatrical paternal uncle Priam and his wife Vicky, who mean well. She's a high school student, but we don't see her interacting with any friends but her 22-year-old friend Fee and fee's girlfriend Cai. One day Fee suggests Daya go to a roller derby bout with them and Cai, and normally uninterested-in-anything Daya is psyched for ondce. At the game, Daya meets the derby girls, especially Kat, who plays jammer on the Killa Honeys, and Daya's perfect YA love interest Shanti.
Daya lives with her theatrical paternal uncle Priam and his wife Vicky, who mean well. She's a high school student, but we don't see her interacting with any friends but her 22-year-old friend Fee and fee's girlfriend Cai. One day Fee suggests Daya go to a roller derby bout with them and Cai, and normally uninterested-in-anything Daya is psyched for ondce. At the game, Daya meets the derby girls, especially Kat, who plays jammer on the Killa Honeys, and Daya's perfect YA love interest Shanti.
It didn't bother me that they thought I was queer somewhere deep down. I twas the first time someone had assumed I liked girls, even though I dated boys (well "dated" might be a stretch). My skater uniform--baggy jeans, hoodies, ball caps, and skate shoes, plus my undercut and piercings--suggested I might not conform to all kinds of "gender norms."
Get-lose-get back ensues--both with the girl and in reverse with Daya's rage issues. There is a cast of flamboyant and believable characters (you can be both!) and good roller derby descriptions.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Self harm
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Car accident, Death of parent
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Roller derby and a bunch of lesbians, what's not to love?
It was a lot more fun to read than I expected, honestly. Easy to work through, fun and bubbly characters with depth, and a whole lot of character development!
It was a lot more fun to read than I expected, honestly. Easy to work through, fun and bubbly characters with depth, and a whole lot of character development!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Death of parent
This was way too triggering for me soooo plus the MC ?? Nah thank you
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Death of parent
i’m coming back but i wanted to read something else 🤪
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My main issue with Bruised is that I felt like I was promised sad roller derby gals, and I did not receive enough of the roller derby itself because honestly my favorite part of sports books is the sport. However, I loved Daya's development so much. Grieving your parents is such a difficult task, especially when you're as young as she is, and I loved seeing her be able to open up both to her family and her new and old friends. Boteju's portrayal of grief was so real and raw that it took me longer to go through this book than I normally would've. I thought the love interest was kind of giving off "manic pixie dream girl who has a spine" vibes, but I still loved her and their relationship. Also, I'm a sucker for anything with queer grandmas.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Car accident