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A review by ryannreidreads
Bruised by Tanya Boteju
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