The Derby Daredevils: Kenzie Kickstarts a Team: (The Derby Daredevils Book #1)

by Kit Rosewater, Sophie Escabasse

Overview

A highly illustrated middle-grade series that celebrates new friendships, first crushes, and getting out of your comfort zone—now in paperback

Ever since they can remember, fifth graders Kenzie (aka Kenzilla) and Shelly (aka Bomb Shell) have dreamed of becoming roller derby superstars. When Austin’s city league introduces a brand-new junior league, the dynamic duo celebrates! But they’ll need to try out as a five-person team. Kenzie and Shelly have just one week to convince three other girls that roller derby is the coolest thing on wheels. But Kenzie starts to have second thoughts when Shelly starts acting like everyone’s best friend . . . Isn’t she supposed to be Kenzie’s best friend? And things get really awkward when Shelly recruits Kenzie’s neighbor (and secret crush!) for the team. With lots of humor and an authentic middle-grade voice, book one of this illustrated series follows Kenzie, Shelly, and the rest of the Derby Daredevils as they learn how to fall—and get back up again.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781419751844
Publisher:	Amulet Paperbacks
Publication date:	05/11/2021
Series:	Derby Daredevils Series , #1
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	316,438
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Kit Rosewater has a master’s degree in children’s literature from Hollins University. The Derby Daredevils is her debut book. She lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Editorial Reviews

**STARRED REVIEW**
"This a great pick about fierce young ladies coming together through sports. The book has loads of action and plenty of heart, running with themes of friendship, being a good communicator, dealing with jealousy, and even a little sprinkle of how it feels to have a crush on someone you think is just the coolest person ever. Memorable characters and frequent illustrations bring the story to life and will make anyone want to get their derby on."

Booklist

01/20/2020

In Austin, Tex., fifth grade best friends Kenzie and Shelly can’t wait to try out for the newly formed Junior Derby League, but to guarantee that they’ll end up on the same team, they have to create a new crew of five skaters in a week. Somehow, they manage to recruit three other girls, none of whom skates well or knows anything about roller derby. Shelly suggests enlisting expert skateboarder Bree, Kenzie’s neighbor and secret crush. With Shelly becoming close to teammate Tomoko, a shy classmate with impressive basketball skills, and Kenzie’s unintentional revelation that she likes Bree, Kenzie feels unprepared for the upcoming tryouts and the changes rolling quickly her way. Through a third-person narrative, this relatable, empathic series debut introduces readers to the fast-paced sport of roller derby and hints at interesting backstories for Kenzie’s teammates—Tomoko, for instance, is withdrawn unless competing—likely setting up plenty of challenges for this underdog team to overcome in future installments. Kenzie’s transgender dad is rendered incidentally, and black-and-white drawings by Escabasse depict various scenes and highlight the inclusive character group. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Lauren Spieller, TriadaUS Literary. Ilustrator’s agent: Kelly Sonnack, Andrea Brown Literary. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

**STARRED REVIEW**
"This a great pick about fierce young ladies coming together through sports. The book has loads of action and plenty of heart, running with themes of friendship, being a good communicator, dealing with jealousy, and even a little sprinkle of how it feels to have a crush on someone you think is just the coolest person ever. Memorable characters and frequent illustrations bring the story to life and will make anyone want to get their derby on."—Booklist

**STARRED REVIEW**
"In her wonderful debut, Rosewater gives readers a look into the world of roller derby and what it entails, while depicting a relatable story of shifting young friendships... A great addition to juvenile sports fiction for school and public libraries. Perfect for fans of Victoria Jamieson’s Roller Girl, and readers seeking stories about sports-loving girls supporting each other."—School Library Journal

"A lighthearted celebration of life, friendship, and rolling with the punches."—Kirkus Reviews

"Relatable, empathic series debut introduces readers to the fast-paced sport of roller derby and hints at interesting backstories for Kenzie’s teammates."—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

**STARRED REVIEW**
"This a great pick about fierce young ladies coming together though sports. The book has loads of action and plenty of heart, running with themes of friendship, being a good communicator, dealing with jealousy, and even a little sprinkle of how it feels to have a crush on someone you think is just the coolest person ever. Memorable characters and frequent illustrations bring the story to life and will make anyone want to get their derby on."

Booklist

**STARRED REVIEW**

"...This a great pick about fierce young ladies coming together though sports. The book has loads of action and plenty of heart, running with themes of friendship, being a good communicator, dealing with jealousy, and even a little sprinkle of how it feels to have a crush on someone you think is just the coolest person ever. Memorable characters and frequent illustrations bring the story to life and will make anyone want to get their derby on."

Booklist Review

03/06/2020

Gr 3–7—Set in the world of roller derby in Austin, fifth-graders Kenzie and Shelley are two derby-obsessed best friends who call themselves the Dynamic Duo. When they find out there will be a city junior league, the Duo sets out to recruit three other girls for their squad. Along the way they meet shy Tomoko, who loves basketball; excitable Jules, who is eager to join; Camila, who is timid and reluctant; and skateboarder Bree, who Kenzie is still unsure about. Kenzie feels weird emotions around Bree that she can't categorize. In her wonderful debut, Rosewater gives readers a look into the world of roller derby and what it entails, while depicting a relatable story of shifting young friendships. Escabasse's grayscale illustrations capture the animated and feverish elements of the derby, as well as the characters' expressions and reactions. The cast of characters is diverse; Kenzie's father is trans, and the subject is discussed openly and frankly but without fanfare. VERDICT A great addition to juvenile sports fiction for school and public libraries. Perfect for fans of Victoria Jamieson's Roller Girl, and readers seeking stories about sports-loving girls supporting each other.—Annmarie Braithwaite, New York Public Library

School Library Journal

2019-11-10
The first in an illustrated middle-grade series about growing up—and roller derby.

Fifth graders and best friends Kenzie and Shelly have always done everything together. They also share the same dream: to be on the same roller derby team. It's only 2,000 days until they turn 15 and can join the local "wreck" league. But when tryouts for a new junior league are announced, the girls no longer have to wait. The catch: if "Kenzilla" and "Bomb Shell" want to be on the same team, they need to try out as a team. The Dynamic Duo must find a way to expand to a fivesome, and introvert Kenzie will need to accept that she must share outgoing Shelly with new people. The third-person limited narration sympathetically conveys Kenzie's struggle. The derby scenes are fast-paced and fun to read, with clearly explained rules; readers who hope for the further support of a glossary will be disappointed, however. Expressive black-and-white graphic novel-style illustrations show wide diversity among classmates and derby members. Kenzie and Shelly are white; new teammate and basketball player Tomoko is Asian and larger than the other girls; skateboarder and Kenzie's crush, Bree, is black and wears her hair in locs; and a third, shy Camila, is implied Latinx. Kenzie's dad is trans, a fact that is incidental to the story.

A lighthearted celebration of life, friendship, and rolling with the punches. (Fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews