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jenny_d's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Self harm
Moderate: Transphobia
alanaschulte's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Death of parent
ryannreidreads's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A YA roller derby story that isn’t “cute.”
This book is a dark depiction of grief and self injury and the journey to healthy outlets after severe loss. Daya is a jerk sometimes, but as someone who was a depressed teenager, her behavior makes sense.
I didn’t love the depiction of roller derby as a player of over a decade. It seemed the author understood the game but not the community and focused a lot on the tropes of a full contact sport (lots of how Daya behaves would have NEVER been considered ok) and the hyper-sexualized femininity associated with the image of the sport but not the reality. The other players and derby community having more depth would have really contributed to the growth arc of the book.
Overall a decent read that’s accessible and poignant for young adult audiences. If you love roller derby, check out Gabe Montesanti’s Brace for Impact for a more accurate depiction of the derby community.
This book is a dark depiction of grief and self injury and the journey to healthy outlets after severe loss. Daya is a jerk sometimes, but as someone who was a depressed teenager, her behavior makes sense.
I didn’t love the depiction of roller derby as a player of over a decade. It seemed the author understood the game but not the community and focused a lot on the tropes of a full contact sport (lots of how Daya behaves would have NEVER been considered ok) and the hyper-sexualized femininity associated with the image of the sport but not the reality. The other players and derby community having more depth would have really contributed to the growth arc of the book.
Overall a decent read that’s accessible and poignant for young adult audiences. If you love roller derby, check out Gabe Montesanti’s Brace for Impact for a more accurate depiction of the derby community.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Death of parent
qkitten's review
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Self harm, and Death of parent
Moderate: Car accident
bigjessenergy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
zinelib's review against another edition
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
"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
tiffani_reads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
shlymiller's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Moderate: Self harm
oriannajoi's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, and Self harm
britt_zonnebloempit's review
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
4.25
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: Death of parent and Self harm