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adrzeck's review
3.0
Warning: Self Harm (bruising), hostile homelife, off-screen death of parents.
Daya has serious survivor's guilt, a lack of tools for dealing with emotions, and no outlet. Welcome Roller Derby. Maybe being a soft little marshmallow will get you ahead in life. ELECTIC group of supporting characters.
Note: the author did lots of research and review for derby practices.
Daya has serious survivor's guilt, a lack of tools for dealing with emotions, and no outlet. Welcome Roller Derby. Maybe being a soft little marshmallow will get you ahead in life. ELECTIC group of supporting characters.
Note: the author did lots of research and review for derby practices.
__kira's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
aoosterwyk's review
3.0
Took me awhile to finish this one. I found the derby more accessible than the self-harm/self-blame storyline but I think for high school readers, it works. Made me want to put on my skates again and watch some derby.
keato's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Very diverse cast of characters (race, culture, gender, sexuality, disability) with a very emotionally closed off MC. Very interesting take on a self-harm journey and overcoming trauma. The side characters were amazing. Love how normalized the MC’s queer awakening was.
taylorthebookwitch's review against another edition
2.0
***DNF about 60% in***
t.w.: self-harm, parental death, misogyny, emotional abuse.
This was a book that I really wanted to like. Whip It has been one of my favorite movies since it came out and I've always wished that it had an outwardly sapphic romance, so this book seemed to have it all. Overall, though, it really felt flat for me. The story was fast moving and there was a lot of representation, which was nice to see, but Daya's attitude towards others was absolutely terrible. She always thought of other women as weak if they weren't willing to take a hit, which is honestly kind of messed up. Her misogynistic attitude throughout the book was off-putting, especially since we're supposed to be reading the story through her perspective. The author also makes sure to let you know that this has been her attitude since before her parents died, so it's not a reflection of that trauma, but just her regular character. The self-harm was also surprising as the overview gave no real indication of that sort of content.
Aside from the aforementioned misogyny and self-harm, I also really hated how much the word "s*vage" was used by Daya throughout the book. Time and time again, we've been asked by indigenous people to not use that word, and yet this author has a non-indigenous character use it almost every chapter, which put me off. The author states that she is "living on unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations (Vancouver, Canada)" but I can't seem to find any indication that Boteju is indigenous herself and, regardless, the main character isn't indigenous so she shouldn't be using that term.
During my reading, unfortunately the bad outweighed the good. I probably wouldn't recommend this one out to others, but I do wish we had more books about roller derby out there, because it's a really interesting, generally female-led sport and it deserves recognition.
pros: LGBTQIA+ representation, disability representation, Sri Lankan representation, women in sports, alternative family styles
cons: reinforcement of stereotypes, use of anti-indigenous slurs, misogyny, self-harm
t.w.: self-harm, parental death, misogyny, emotional abuse.
This was a book that I really wanted to like. Whip It has been one of my favorite movies since it came out and I've always wished that it had an outwardly sapphic romance, so this book seemed to have it all. Overall, though, it really felt flat for me. The story was fast moving and there was a lot of representation, which was nice to see, but Daya's attitude towards others was absolutely terrible. She always thought of other women as weak if they weren't willing to take a hit, which is honestly kind of messed up. Her misogynistic attitude throughout the book was off-putting, especially since we're supposed to be reading the story through her perspective. The author also makes sure to let you know that this has been her attitude since before her parents died, so it's not a reflection of that trauma, but just her regular character. The self-harm was also surprising as the overview gave no real indication of that sort of content.
Spoiler
Daya is using roller derby as a means of self harm, to let other people hurt her so she doesn't have to experience emotional pain.Aside from the aforementioned misogyny and self-harm, I also really hated how much the word "s*vage" was used by Daya throughout the book. Time and time again, we've been asked by indigenous people to not use that word, and yet this author has a non-indigenous character use it almost every chapter, which put me off. The author states that she is "living on unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations (Vancouver, Canada)" but I can't seem to find any indication that Boteju is indigenous herself and, regardless, the main character isn't indigenous so she shouldn't be using that term.
During my reading, unfortunately the bad outweighed the good. I probably wouldn't recommend this one out to others, but I do wish we had more books about roller derby out there, because it's a really interesting, generally female-led sport and it deserves recognition.
pros: LGBTQIA+ representation, disability representation, Sri Lankan representation, women in sports, alternative family styles
cons: reinforcement of stereotypes, use of anti-indigenous slurs, misogyny, self-harm
shanwowww's review
emotional
inspiring
medium-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
5.0
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the way the blurb made it sound like. I wanted to enjoy this mord than I actually did but it want a bad story 3.5 stara
pingi444's review against another edition
4.0
whip it-esque (such a good movie btw!! i love elliot page + drew barrymore), sapphic story that touches on important topics of self harm (the title), grief & how being soft is actually being tough (one of my personal favorite things to talk about). didnt like the main character at first but as i read, she got a soft spot in my heart
blodeuedd's review against another edition
3.0
If I pick YA, I try to pick issue YA. And this girl has issues. She lost her parents in a car crash and she feels guilty. She escapes that guilt by causing bruises on herself. Then there is some deeprooted problem about how her dad always told her to be strong. But sometimes it is totally ok to be soft too.
She meets a rollerderby crowd, and yes with her issues she wants to join, because think of the bruises she could get.
Family drama/angst. Self-harm. It fits together very well on this arena.
There is also a chance for romance and Daya meets Shanti at the rollerderby. And perhaps a chance to heal.
I enjoyed it. I did have a rough start cos I feel asleep but I soon got back on track.
Good narrator. She did well with everyone, especially with the whole soft and strong thing
She meets a rollerderby crowd, and yes with her issues she wants to join, because think of the bruises she could get.
Family drama/angst. Self-harm. It fits together very well on this arena.
There is also a chance for romance and Daya meets Shanti at the rollerderby. And perhaps a chance to heal.
I enjoyed it. I did have a rough start cos I feel asleep but I soon got back on track.
Good narrator. She did well with everyone, especially with the whole soft and strong thing
asunnybooknook's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 Heavy handed but touches on themes of trauma and queerness and shit idk if I read this in middle school my life would have been shifted tho