The Derby Daredevils, delivers for some girls aged 9-13

The Derby Daredevils is an ongoing series of books by Kit Rosewater with illustrations by Sophie Escabasse. There is a lot to like about the first book in the series that focus on Kenzie and Shelly. They’re two best friends who love to skate, have dreams, secret handshakes and all of the things that close friends have. Girls in upper elementary through middle school will find something to relate to and enjoy about this comfort read. The subtitle to the first entry is Kenzie Kickstarts a Team and given that Kenzie is one of our two main characters she’s out to start something bit.

Thankfully for her the big chance is just around the corner because Austin is forming a junior league roller derby. They’re in luck, but tryouts are next week so that means that they’ll have to recruit at least three other girls ASAP. The two girls run down their social contacts, neighbors and more in order to turn up enough girls who might want to rock the ring, but is it too much?

The best friends have a falling out. Kenzie’s neighbor (and girl that she has a crush on) is recruited to join the team and while this is all good for the team, what price does their friendship pay? That’s one of the key themes in the book that any girl who is 9-13 will understand. It’s important to be yourself, but there are times when you need to step outside of your comfort zone in order to make progress.

Each chapter in the book is around eight pages and will be a comfort food kind of book for girls in that demographic. There won’t be much, if any crossover interest to boys for this book. Between the all-girl roller derby team, muted romance and discussion about feelings those with XY chromosomes won’t be near this book.

Some school libraries won’t stock this book in their library because of its brief mention of a trans parent and a girl/girl attraction that happens on the team. I know that some elementary school libraries near us wouldn’t have this book in their shelves. Middle school libraries might be a different animal and have the book in stock.

In reality, it’s just the theme that will prohibit those actions. The actual discussions of any LGBT issues are not discussed openly and more danced around at an age appropriate level for fifth graders.

There are many illustrations that move the book forward. It’s not a graphic novel by any stretch of the imagination, but those reluctant middle school readers will find that the pictures help flesh out the characters. In the end, this is a book that some in middle school will flock to and really enjoy it. It’s not a wide appeal book that will dominate book reports in sixth grade, but it will certainly find its niche. The story moves at a brisk pace and offers up themes of sportsmanship, coping with differences and overcoming adversity.

There are affiliate links in this post, because, roller derby.