- Graphic Novels
- Ages 9–13
- Contemporary
Roller Girl
A warm, funny and empowering middle-grade graphic novel about roller derby, changing friendships and finding your own confidence. A modern graphic-novel essential for readers moving beyond early comics.
- Best for9–13
- FormatGraphic
- Length240 pp
- Read aloud~1 hr55 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
- Comedic
Tone
- Funny
- Warm
- Heartwarming
- Exciting
- Thought provoking
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Astrid signs up for roller derby camp and expects her best friend Nicole to come too. But Nicole chooses dance camp instead, and suddenly Astrid has to face a tough new sport, new friendships and the uncomfortable truth that growing up can pull best friends in different directions. Roller Girl works because it treats middle-grade friendship with honesty: Astrid is brave and likeable, but also jealous, impulsive and sometimes unfair. The roller derby setting gives the story physical energy, training arcs and a strong visual identity, while Victoria Jamieson's cartooning keeps the emotions accessible. It is especially good for children who like realistic stories with sport, humour, friendship drama and strong female leads. This is a core bridge from younger funny graphic novels into richer middle-grade realistic comics.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 9–13
- Read aloud · 8–12
- Independent · 9–13
Prose load
Moderate
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Patchy
Works well for
- Bedtime
- Gift-buying
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
4 / 5 · Bedtime-friendly
Sensitive-child
4 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Middle grade graphic novel
- Friendship changes
- Sports
- Strong female lead
- Confidence
Avoid if
- Wants fantasy
- Dislikes friendship drama
- Prefers very silly comics
Particularly good for children who are…
- Making friends
- Reluctant reader
- Low self esteem
- Moving to secondary school
In the classroom
How it works in school.
An award-winning roller-derby graphic novel about friendship and finding your own path — a reluctant-reader favourite that opens talk about growing up and resilience.
A book children love that happens to support school — never a stand-in for the texts a class is taught with. Reviewed for the classroom · June 2026.
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
The specific recognition is the best friend choosing the other camp — Astrid signing up for roller derby expecting Nicole to come too, Nicole picking ballet instead, the painful friendship drift played alongside the sport. The graphic novel for a tween whose best mate is changing.
- Friendship and belonging
- Adventure and freedom
- Making a difference
Why parents love it
The Victoria Jamieson Newbery Honor — roller derby setting, friendship-drift plot, female sport given real weight. Strong middle-grade graphic novel that handles jealousy and growing-up honestly. Useful for any kid newly into team sport.
- Conversation starter
- Shared humour
- Great writing
- Cultural representation
About the author & illustrator
Victoria Jamieson.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
Where to go next…
Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.
More like this…
Books that share themes and topics with this one.
Buy or borrow
Pick up a copy.
- Bookshop.org ↗
- Waterstones ↗
- Amazon UK ↗
- Hive ↗
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