Roller Girl

In the graphic novel Roller Girl, heroes take on the form of strong female role models who play roller derby. Astrid begins her summer looking up to roller derby jammer Rainbow Bite, saying she “looked like a superhero” (18). The Rose City Rollers are introduced by the announcer as the city heroes, and Astrid wholeheartedly agrees. Because Astrid sees Rainbow Bite as a hero, this admiration inspires her to try roller derby out herself. When Astrid finds the sport much more difficult than she expected, she wants to give up. Then, she sees Rainbow Bite’s locker in the locker room and decides to write her a note. Her hope is renewed when Rainbow Bite writes back telling Astrid to become tough, strong, and fearless. Astrid takes up this mantra and grows as a person as she aspires to become like her hero. Astrid is also propelled by her teammates and coach Heidi Go Seek, all of whom are strong females who help Astrid recognize the same in herself.

By the end of the summer, Astrid becomes Rainbow Bite’s hero as well. Rainbow Bite and Astrid have not yet met, but they have been exchanging notes, and Rainbow Bite has understood the way Astrid felt about the sport being so challenging. She is proud of Astrid for not giving up. When Astrid receives another note from Rainbow Bite offering to make a sign for her for the bout, Astrid performs a selfless act by asking Rainbow Bite to make a sign for Zoey instead. When she meets Rainbow Bite after the game, Rainbow Bite tells Astrid, “That was some wicked offense you were playing” (236) and asks for Astrid’s autograph. She also gives Astrid one more note: “It takes a real hero to take a hit for the team, and to let the spotlight shine on someone else. Thanks for inspiring me” (237). Astrid is taken aback, but humbly gives Rainbow Bite her signature. Astrid is elated that she is achieving her dreams of being tough, fearless, and strong. She even meets a young girl whose grandfather tells her she is a good role model for his granddaughter. Roller derby empowers Astrid to become a stronger, more confident version of herself and become a hero to others.

A central motif in Roller Girls is the challenges of growing up. Astrid is 12 years old and experiencing many things for the first time. She seems to be quite aware of this fact and is highly resistant to it at first. Nicole and Astrid’s mother often talk about how junior high is coming up and things will change, and Astrid is not ready for it. She is not sure what it will be like and resists by becoming emotional, cynical, and occasionally enraged. One of the reasons Nicole starts hanging out with Rachel instead of Astrid is because Nicole and Rachel are both ready to start talking to and about boys, and Astrid is not. Astrid acts awkwardly whenever she sees Nicole with her new friend Adam and does not understand why Nicole would be interested in boys. Furthermore, when Astrid starts skating every day for roller derby, her mother comments that she will need deodorant, and Astrid groans.

Eventually, Astrid begins to embrace the idea of growing up. She starts to excel at roller derby and feels the sense of freedom and toughness that comes from the sport. She becomes more independent and slowly lets go of Nicole and makes new friends on her team. Astrid also slowly gains control of her emotions, particularly her anger, apologizing for her actions and channeling her anger into roller derby instead. When Astrid’s hero Rainbow Bite tells her to be “Tougher. Fiercer. Stronger” (93), Astrid takes this to heart and repeats this mantra to herself whenever she is feeling doubtful or scared. Astrid still has a lot to learn and much growing to do, but by the end of the summer, she starts to look forward to it instead of dread it. She becomes more insightful, noting, “So much had changed over the summer. I didn’t feel like one of those planets anymore, moving in orbit with Nicole and Mom by my side. But maybe I wasn’t a lone golf ball, either” (204). At the end of the story, Astrid is shown sitting at the table with her Asteroid-decorated helmet and wearing her team uniform. She is grinning as she thinks about the future ahead of her.