I remember reading somewhere that the first breakup with your childhood best friend is a necessary part of coming-of-age, and that has made a big part of life make sense to me. It's still painful, though, and I think most girls will recognize the pitch-perfect tween friendship story at the heart of Roller Girl -- when Astrid signs up for skating camp, but her best friend Nicole, without exactly telling her and while pairing up with another friend, signs up for dance camp instead. The heartbreak here is so perfectly rendered, even while Astrid decides to distract herself by kicking butt at roller derby camp -- and fails. Repeatedly. A story about someone who works hard and doesn't give up, and has to keep her head up when rewards don't come easily, is refreshing in these times of Chosen Ones and Natural Talents and Amazing Transformation Montages. I cried at least 5 times, for real. 
 As a bonus, I learned how roller derby works, and can't wait to find out more about our local Ohio Roller Girls. I also liked the unremarked visual diversity here -- in Astrid's single mom, her Latino heritage, in her black herione, Rainbow Bite, and in her dreadlocked, tatooed coaches. 
 "After weeks of tough training...and extra practices...with lots of blood, sweat, and tears...I can say, without a doubt...I still stunk." 
 "Tougher. Stronger. Fearless."