Author: Shauna Cross
Publish Date: September 2007
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Pages: 240pp
IBSN: 0805080236
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Range: 12 and up
Price: $17.99
Amazon: $8.99
Annotation: Bliss Cavendar is a blue-haired punk rock indie teen who is stuck participating in beauty pageants in a small town in Texas. When roller derby enters her world, everything changes and Bliss learns some hard realities in life.
Summary: Bliss Cavendar is sixteen-years-old and a misfit in her small town of Bodeen, Texas. Her mother is instant on her succeeding in beauty pageantry, as that is what she herself never succeeded in—a dream that is far from what Bliss wants. On a shopping trip in Austin with her mother, Bliss snags a flyer about roller derby. She devises a plan with her best friend Pash to go back to the derby for try-outs. She remembers back when she was younger she loved roller skating. After making it on the team, Bliss begins sneaking out twice, saying she has SAT prep, for practice. She becomes Babe Ruthless and a fan favorite for the Austin Roller Derby scene. She meets a musician, falls in love, experiences all the pain/excitement first love can bring, and most importantly she discovers her strength from within.
Evaluation: This was a fun read, mainly because I love the derby. The story is sort of the same old misfit living in a town that doesn’t understand her but she finds a group of new friends. You can tell the author was a former derby girl as her descriptions of the derby are spot on. I like that the romance subplot took a backseat to the strong female friendships. This story is about self empowerment, friendships, and self discovery.
Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness:
- Self Discovery.
- Empowerment.
- How to be your own hero.
- Be proud of who you are.
- First love.
Reason this book was chosen: Well, I love roller derby. I go to the Dollhouse once a month to see the LA Derby Dolls! When I heard Drew Barrymore was making a movie about roller derby I was pumped, even more so when I heard “Whip It” was based off the young adult book, Derby Girl.
Awards: Similar Titles:
Click HERE for the LA Derby Doll website.
Author Wikipedia Page: Click HERE
Awards:
ALA Best Books for Young Adults, 2008
ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 2008
Check out the Film Whip It!
