Roller Girl

Astrid wakes up the next day “feeling nervous + sick = nersick” (190). It is the last practice before the big bout, and when Astrid arrives at the rink, she finds a note from Rainbow Bite even though she has not written to her lately. The note is congratulating Astrid about being able to play in the bout and asking for her derby name so Rainbow Bite can make a poster and cheer Astrid on. It also includes a P.S.: “You’re probably scared, and nervous, and just about ready to pee your pants. But don’t run from your fear. Embrace it! Because believe me, the best things in life are worth fighting for” (190). Astrid tries to apologize to Zoey, but when Astrid asks if Zoey forgives her Zoey replies, “Sure, whatever” and skates away. The players practice, and Astrid notices that Zoey looks terrified. She reassures her that she will be great, but Zoey rebuffs her again. Astrid realizes she still has not come up with a derby name for herself. When she writes back to Rainbow Bite, she asks her to make a sign for Zoey (Slay Miserables) instead.

Astrid’s mother makes her come with her to work at the college library every afternoon after practice since finding out that Astrid lied about getting a ride home. Astrid spends the time there thinking about what she did to mess up her friendship with Zoey. She starts wandering around and finds a bunch of boring books but notices one about “a history of Broadway” (198). Knowing Zoey’s interest in Broadway and knowing how Nicole thought their friendship was one-sided because Astrid never took interest in Nicole’s hobbies, Astrid decides to change her ways. She begins reading about Broadway and finds a full page of photos of Hugh Jackman, Zoey’s favorite actor. She decides to spend the rest of her money photocopying it for Zoey and first creates a doll with his face on it. The rest of the copies she keeps for a surprise for Zoey at the bout. Astrid includes a message that reads, “Hugh Jackman says: you’ll do great tomorrow” (201) with the doll and leaves it on Zoey’s doorstep. Astrid makes one final stop on her way home to see Nicole and invite her and Rachel to the bout. She asks for a truce and says she will also be at their dance recital. Then Astrid goes home, feeling like she “won something today” (203).

The day of the bout arrives, and the rising action has been building to this climax at the end of Astrid’s summer of roller derby camp. Astrid looks up at her ceiling, feeling like her world has changed over the summer. She no longer feels like she is in orbit with Nicole and her mom, but she does not feel like a lone golf ball, either. Astrid imagines herself messing up at the bout and falling into a “black hole of despair” (205). Suddenly, Astrid realizes what her derby name will be and gets to work on her uniform and helmet. She takes her team t-shirt—a tank top with a fanged smiley face on it—and puts it together with red shorts, a bandana, and blue tights. Astrid asks her mother for help applying vampire makeup and comes out of her room with an asteroid-decorated helmet, makeup, and her uniform on. She has her hands on her hips and a proud but humble smile, as if she is finally coming into herself. Her new derby name is Asteroid, “burning a fiery path through space and time” (208). Astrid realizes she forgot her rainbow socks and puts those on as her mother calls for her to leave. When Astrid arrives at the rink, the crowd is huge, and she does not see Zoey anywhere. She puts a secret plan into action to help Zoey succeed by giving everyone in the audience a stick with Hugh Jackman’s face on it for the half-time bout. Feeling nervous, Astrid goes to the bathroom and finds Zoey in there. She reassures Zoey, reminding her that she can use her failure “as a performance piece” (212). Zoey agrees, and Astrid hands Zoey paper towels while she washes the tears off her face—exactly like Nicole did for her in first grade. Astrid and Zoey leave the washroom together and head toward the rink.

Before long, the half-time show starts, and the Rosebuds are announced. Astrid and Zoey are on Team Cold Ones, and when they skate out onto the rink, it is “hands down one of the best moments of [Astrid’s] life…so far” (216). A splash page shows the girls smiling and waving with a huge crowd of flashing cameras around them. Zoey sees the crowd holding the Hugh Jackman masks over their faces, and Rainbow Bite holding a sign that says, “Go Slay Miserables!” (217). She gives Astrid a big hug, and the team cheers, shows their warfaces, and goes out onto the rink to play. The bout begins, and Astrid falls several times, but each time she gets up fiercer. She has a couple of successful blocks, dodges a hit, and holds her position as the inside blocker. Zoey does well for the most part too.

With less than a minute remaining the score is 85-81 in favor of the Black Death. Heidi pumps up the team, and a penalty is called against the Black Death’s jammer, sending her to the box and keeping the team from scoring any more. A tough player on the Black Death team known as Braidy Punch keeps blocking Zoey from making any points. Astrid slams Braidy Punch but falls over due to her smaller size. Braidy Punch then retaliates by hitting Astrid hard and launching her into the air. However, Astrid’s attempted block is enough to distract Braidy Punch, and Zoey manages to pass her then three more players, winning the game 86-85. The girls hold Zoey up in the air, and Astrid falls to the ground from being launched by Braidy Punch, stirring up a cloud of dust as she lands. Everyone on the team rushes over to Zoey, but Zoey’s priority is to check on Astrid. Astrid has hurt her ankle, but she is okay, and the team begins cheering for Asteroid: “These girls are young, but they are just as tough as any skater out there!” (228). Rainbow Bite and her team win their game as well, and Rainbow Bite invites the girls onto the rink for the victory lap. After everything is over, girls begin asking Zoey for her autograph. The man from the corner store where Astrid stopped every afternoon on her way home from practice comes up to Astrid and asks for her autograph, remarking that she is a good role model for his granddaughter. Then Astrid spots Nicole and is happy to see her. Nicole is with her dad and Adam, not Rachel, and gives Astrid some flowers. She invites Astrid to dinner, and Astrid declines, saying she would rather stay with her team. Astrid realizes her life has become a lot more complicated. She spots Rainbow Bite and works up the courage to ask for her autograph. Astrid is surprised to hear that Rainbow Bite wants her autograph too. The two of them sit side-by-side, with matching rainbow socks, and exchange autographs. Rainbow Bite writes that she sees Astrid as a hero for taking a hit for her team, and that “Asteroid” is a much better derby name than “Rose Dud,” revealing that Rainbow Bite knew who she was all along. Astrid forgets Nicole’s flowers, leaving them behind on the bleachers, and goes to dinner with Zoey and her family while looking forward to the next bout as a changed girl.