Bruised (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781534455023)

"A searing portrait of self-discovery; soulful and captivating." --Kirkus Reviews

Whip It meets We Are Okay in this vibrant coming-of-age story about a teen girl navigating first love, identity, and grief as she immerses herself in the colorful, brutal, beautiful world of roller derby--from the acclaimed author of Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens.

To Daya Wijesinghe, a bruise is a mixture of comfort and control. Since her parents died in an accident she survived, bruises have become a way to keep her pain on the surface of her skin so she doesn't need to deal with the ache deep in her heart.

So when chance and circumstances bring her to a roller derby bout, Daya is hooked. Yes, the rules are confusing and the sport seems to require the kind of teamwork and human interaction Daya generally avoids. But the opportunities to bruise are countless, and Daya realizes that if she's going to keep her emotional pain at bay, she'll need all the opportunities she can get.

The deeper Daya immerses herself into the world of roller derby, though, the more she realizes it's not the simple physical pain-fest she was hoping for. Her rough-and-tumble teammates and their fans push her limits in ways she never imagined, bringing Daya to big truths about love, loss, strength, and healing.

Author: Tanya Boteju
ISBN-10: 1534455027
ISBN-13: 9781534455023
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Language: English
Published: 03/23/2021
Pages: 336
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 0.90lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.40w x 1.30d

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 5.6
Point Value: 12
Interest Level: Upper Grade
Quiz #/Name: 514819 / Bruised


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 01/18/2021
Kirkus Reviews 01/15/2021
School Library Journal 04/01/2021 pg. 127
Booklist 05/21/2021