Product Description

Customer Reviews (11)

Everything you wanted to know about Roller Derby
This book gets down to the nitty gritty and makes you laugh out loud. A little book with a lot of heart.

Not what I was expecting.
This book had a lot of fun trivia but I was expecting more info useful to budding leagues. I was hoping for more of a textbook of best practices for league management, marketing, venue scouting, etc. I was expecting it to be FOR insiders not FROM them.
If you're bout-curious this is a good read: if you are familiar with the archetypal derby girls, their lifestyles and perspectives, this might be a bit of a let-down.

My Saturday Morning Derby Fix
Down and Derby is comprehensive narrative of the sport -- its rules, history, cultural impact, personalities and evolution -- written in an intelligent and light style. Every Saturday for the last two months, I've started my day with a few chapters. Now that it's done, I'm looking for my next off-the-track derby fix, but I know I'll regularly cracking this one open for tips, anecdotes and as a reference source.

Every Roller Derby Chyck Needs To Read This
What a great book! Ever considered joining roller derby, this is your WAY IN. I love that it's historical, informative, AND entertaining. I can't wait until my baby daughter (aka the future Derby Doll) is old enough to read this. Thank you, Jennifer and Alex for writing this book!

Great book, gets some historical details fairly wrong though.
I love the book. But...

This book needed an editor to factcheck. Someone who wasn't writing the book.

A few minor errors (and one rather glaring), and how they might have been avoided:

The book says that Jerry Seltzer ceased operation of Roller Derby in 1972. Uh no, that happened in 1973. I'm guessing the writer either typoed this or inferred more meaning than was intended in someone's writing on what may have been happening within the league in 1972. Derby ending in 1973 is a very well-established fact. Wikipedia will tell you it ended in 1973. Roller Derby to RollerJam will tell you it ended in 1973. Jerry himself will tell you it ended in 1973. There are DVDs on sale on the web with 1973 games that Jerry is one of the announcers for. In other words, "just Google it."

Mercy Less was with Duke City Derby when the book was being written. She started off with Charm City, and while she might have mentioned them somewhere on her questionaire, a Google search would've clarified which league she was with.

Muffy Stopheles is with Roc City Roller Derby. Not "Roc City Rollers." The former league exists, the latter does not. Again, a simple Google search could have prevented that one.

In the gear section, it wouldn't have hurt to go a bit more in depth about the options for plates. Most skaters have woefully inadequate knowledge about their skates and how they work, so the existence of the section is certainly helpful. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (12)

How can it take so long?
It has now been more than four weeks since I ordered this product from someone or other on Amazon.com ...... and frankly I just cannot believe the quoted delivery time to get a small parcel from one civilised English speakingdemocracy to another, US to Australia has now taken over a month and it is still not here !! AND I can't make any comment about delivery until the 'quoted' delivery time is exceeded, which is another month !!! Give me strength ......... two months for one little paperback from America to Australia.
As for the book ...... I am sure that it will be great but I can barely remember what I bought ........
Sorry .... trying to be helpful, American suppliers on Amazon can be very US centric ...... the rest of the world just doesn't seem to exist for them yet ........PS: I hope this post is removed, by someone actually paying attention, before it gets to air.

Pretty much nails modern derby, blows it on the sport's history
There's no sources referenced in the book. The parts on the classic roller derby (common noun, as it touches on a number of flavors) gets things horribly wrong.

My best guess is that Mabe sourced those parts of the book from the sketchy histories of the sport found on various leagues' web sites. And not from the three-plus well-written books on the history of the sport. One of which is currently back in print, and another which I found available at the local public library.

Let's see, contrary to what she says the Transcontinental Roller Derby started off skating on a banked track, not a flat track. RollerJam did not have an alligator pit, that was Rollergames. When an author isn't sure of the answers, the best place to find them isn't Google. It's through research. Read Five Strides on the Banked Track, Roller Derby to RollerJam or A Very Simple Sport.

Amazon sold this to me then 20 days later said they can't ship
I am done shopping at amazon ever again and wanted to let you know. Your shipping is horrible and your customer service is not any better. AFTER I bought the book YOU said you HAD IN STOCK, THEN you decided to STOP SELLING IT and then WAIT 20 CALENDAR DAYS to tell me that you won't be sending my already ordered items. This is NOT the 1st time......but it is the LAST! This is not a good business plan,especially since you have made me mad enough to stop shopping with your company after 10 years! DO NOT TRUST AMAZON!

makes a good textbook
Mabe's book makes for an excellent textbook on roller derby. other reviews have labeled it as a good coffee table book, and i agree. i borrowed this, too, from my girlfriend (the other was melicious's) and liked all the additivies in it. however, it, again, is more like a textbook than anything else and could have easily been called "roller derby 101," instead.
other reviews mentioned the lack of detail in the pictures. this i agree with. i dont really know anything about roller derby (well, until after i read this informative book) and would have liked some descriptions in the photos. that was probably the only disappointment in an other wise splendid textbook about how roller derby works.

Best Friend Loved It
My best friend and I took up roller derby together.I got this for her birthday, and she went wild!
It's informative, colorful, and fun! ... Read more

Product Description
Knit neat items inspired by sassy roller derby girls with the thirty hip knitting patterns that you will find in Knockdown Knits: 30 Projects from the Roller Derby Track. Roller derby, with its cheeky players, fast-paced jams, heart-stopping pileups, and rowdy, raucous atmosphere, is just as hot as the designs in this unconventional book. The Naptown Roller Girls of Indianapolis, Indiana, share the patterns they use when they’re knitting in the off-time. On skates, they're hell on wheels; in their spare time, they've discovered that knitting is a relaxing, creative outlet. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Great book!
I bought the book to help support everything Toni does for the community.The roller girls rock, I never miss a game.The coffee shop is great, my daughter loves the fish.Once I opened this book, though, it never closed.Tons of great stories and information about derby plus knits and more.Well done Ms Dark!

Knitting & Roller Derby. Goes together like PB&J
WOW! Being a huge fan of knitting, and the various social off-shoot knitting circles that evolve from one of the most unlikely of fiber skills, I naturally had to scoop this one up. And I am so glad I did!

This book was great for two reasons:

1) the knitting of course, the patterns are fun and quirky (ex. frozen peas, a fun knit icepack cozy to wrap around boo-boos.) but really well done. Joan of Dark and her Roller girls takes their knitting seriously but enjoy every stich.

2) The entire aspect, a general history and cultural signifigance of Roller Derby is explained in such a way I was aching to dig out my old skates and join up!

Seriously, this book was so much more than I expected. A fun knittng book and a fun Roller Derby book successfully rolled (no pun intended) into one, as unlikely as that may be.

Joan of Dark Kix A$$
What a great book.I don't knit but my wife does. In any case, KDK is something special for Roller Derby fans. And ff you aren't a fan there are pages dedicated to explaining Roller Derby.Most people have preconceived notionsthat it's just WWF on skates (It's REALLY NOT!)
Each project in the book is modeled by a member of the Naptown Roller Girls Tornado Sirens.Each girl is also treated to a small informative bio too.(who knew Kitiara was a silver medalist in the World Police and Fire Games!?)
For those of you looking for unique and interesting knitting projects this IS the the book for you. Sweaters, hats, mittens and a beverage holder with a built in glove to keep the drink cold and the hand warm!
Fun stuff! For all of its content, this book is a steal!

Not your mother's knitting book
This is so different from the knitting books I remember from 30 years or so ago, when they were boring patterns that assumed everyone lived a Ken and Barbie life.They remind me a little of the Alice Starmore knitting books and especially the Celtic collection in that they explaini a little of the culture in addition to offering knitting patterns from that culture.With the Starmore books I own, they're all wearing apparrel and sylistic.With these, I've got some things to wear and a few things to knit for practical uses.

I'm no roller girl, but I am over 50 and I can see lots of practical uses for some of those injury-related knitting projects.I wish I'd had that pea bag pattern when I had knee surgery a couple of years ago.

To quote a friend of mine who doesn't knit or like roller derby but who read the book:What a fun book!

Knockout Book
How can you go wrong with a book like this?It has more action than any 'craft' book I have ever read before.It gives readers/knitters a great insight on the girls of the Tornado Sirens/Naptown Roller Girls league as well as some really awesome knitting crafts.I am a Fresh Meat knitter myself and it didn't leave me in the penalty box for finishing a project!There are projects for all levels of knitters.
Even my mother-in-law loved the vast variety of projects offered and the great insiders viewpoint on Roller Derby!It did however, concern her a bit about my safety when she saw all the slings, pillows and crutch pads! Knit & Skate on!
... Read more

Product Description
Today's roller derby is a wildly popular woman's contact sport, international in scope. This grass roots sport is built on fun, for the spirited rollerskaters and the fans alike. From Reno to Toronto, roller derby is everywhere. See 250 color images of promotional material, including fliers, handbills, logos, and posters promoting bouts for more than 50 leagues around the world, tht convey the thrill of roller derby's glamour, grit, and glory. See the ladies themselves, as they travel the globe on eight wheels. Collect the artwork and be inspired to join the fun, on either side of the railing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Look At Advertisements Of Today's Roller Derby
I have a few Roller Derby books and decided to add this one to my collection.Not alot from the past that I knew of.However for what it's worth, ok if yuo are into art and creativity of advertisement.Other then that I would pass on this book! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Roller Derby
This book is slow and very SAD to be Frank, it tells of the derby as a traveling circus with 2 main stars and a lot of jealous rivals.Great but what is it trying to do. I have been a fan of the derby since the mid 60's and I don't see the real derby anywhere in these pages.It's like the movie derby nothing to do with the derby but the dreams of someone wanting to be a part of the derby, both poor portrayals of the real derby.

Reprint Or Update Is In Order!
Frank Deford did us one injustice!He never wrote another book about Roller Derby.If anyone could bring the excitment and drama of the banked track, with an understanding of it's history into a fast moving book, Frank Deford deserves an A+.A true must have for any banked track skating fan, or sports fan in general!

I LOVED READING ABOUT MY DAD !
THIS WAS A GREAT BOOK. THERE ISN'T VERY MANY BOOKS ABOUT
ROLLER DERBY OUT THERE, SO IF YOU WANT TO READ A REAL LIFE
HARD KNOCKS BOOK ABOUT, IT THIS IS THE ONE. GREAT JOB MR. Deford!

Excellent History of Roller Derby
This book is a must have if you were a fan of the IRDL's Roller Derby. The behind the scenes history of the sport and its skaters is excellent reading. It's too good to be out of print. Someone should reprint this bookso that all Roller Derby fans can have their own copy.

Derby the way it was.
If you were a fan of the original Roller Derby--and not Roller Games, or what it turned into--this is the book to find.If you can buy a copy, do so.Tells the whole story til about 1970.O'Connell, Joanie, Calvello, Ronnie Robinson, Jerry Seltzer--the whole gang's here at their zenith. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great Book But Dont Expect The History Of Roller Derby
This is a great book and just look at what a book that cost 2.50 is selling for now.But the Book does not give the history of Roller Derby or how the zRoller Games gave them great competition during the 70,s.If you want the hostory of Roller derby order the new Roller Derby Chronicles you will learn a lot more.This book I aquired this year but it holds a very sore spot in my heart when i was young i ordered this through the mail and never got it,I guess jerry Seltzer might have did that to a lot of people back them,..

From The Eyes Of A Roller Derby Fan
I have all three of the Roller Derby books...Five Strides On The Banked Track...Roller Derby To RollerJam, and this book.Although it isn't as complete into the hsitory of Roller Derby, it does focus on a few of the ones who were the trendsetters of the banked track sport.Profiles of Charlie O'Connell, Ken Monte, Buddy Atkinson Sr., his wife Bobbie, Joanie Weston, Ronnie Robinson, and the two original voices of Roller Derby.Ken Nydell and Walt Harris.Great photos of the past.Must be included with the other mentioned books! ... Read more

Product Description
Roller derby first appeared in Chicago during the Depression. With the advent of television, this dynamic, sometimes violent sport became a national favorite. In Roller Derby to RollerJam, Keith Coppage takes a fond look at the origins, history, and players of the game who made it successful, from promoters to superstars. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

A FUN READ
For those who grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area in the 60's and early 70's will enjoy this book especially if you were a fan of Roller Derby. It brings back so many memories of all those skaters who gave me their entertainment best.Like pro-wrestling, Roller Derby became more of a sports-entertainment over the years but the performers were still top-rate athletes.A great read.

GRAND SLAM! The Roller Derby fan's Almanac!
It's surprising a book is out there--what's more surprising is that it's entertainingly written.You just can't put it down.Full of great stories and beautiful photos.Includes a section on RollerJam that is veryinformative.If you ever watched the Bay Bombers week after week, you mustget this one!

The Best RollerJam/RollerDerby book ever!
This was the best book I ever read. It helped me relize all the stuff that gose on in RJ. And as I big fan, and still am, I was stoked!Wow, all RJ fans or soon to be RJ fans should read this book!

It brought back wonderful childhood memories.
I enjoyed reading about a time that I remember & the people I idolized.I would have liked a little more info on some of the past starssuch as Gerry Murry, Gene Gammon, The Atkinson's, Ken Monti, LuLu Palermo& other skaters from that era.However, I did enjoy the book & sodid my mother.We used to go to the Armory in NYC every Thursday night. It was our night out together. The pictures & history were great.

Go Coppage!
I can't think of someone more qualified to write on this subject.I was going to read it and then I said to myself, "Why bother?" :)Great title! ... Read more

Product Description
After tightening her laces with shaking hands, Lottie glanced at the other skaters, who had already rolled awkwardly around the big track. Each skater’s unsteady movements made a low rumble sound that reverberated throughout the empty Armory. The pounding of skates on the wooden surface made it difficult to hear normal voices. The skaters glided and stretched their legs; up on the big track each person appeared larger than life. Lottie noticed that the guys looked so much bigger and faster than the small group of girls. Maybe, she thought, her father was right.

What A League of Their Own is to women's baseball, Roller Babes is to women's professional roller derby.

Set in the 1950s, Roller Babes dramatically captures the story of Lottie Karla Zimmerman’s inspirational rise from the tenements of the Bronx to her stardom as the Roller Derby queen. Her road is anything but smooth as she tangles with love, loss, and the “bad” girls of the banked track.

The widely watched yet underappreciated sport of Roller Derby comes to life in Roller Babes, reminding us not only of a simpler time but also of the power of the human spirit to overcome enormous obstacles.

Customer Reviews (6)

From One Roller Derby Queen to another
weather you play the sport or not this is a must read for strong, confident women everywhere.I played on a flat track team for a few years and this was an interesting and informative read on the sport.I also was fascinated with the sport in the 70's and am grateful that I got to actually play the sport and meet some of the legends of roller derby.I was thankful to be coached by a derby legend.
I have always loved watching movies about the sport and now am glad someone finally wrote a book like this.Once you start reading this book you will not be able to put it done.Smashing!
Coco Chahell
#XXX

Roller Babes Rolls with Excitement!
I found the novel to be more than entertaining. For me it was a blast into the past of a sport I was fascinated with in the 70's as I enjoyed Saturday afternoons watching Roller Derby on TV when I was already a fairly decent skater and dreamt myself
of being the next derby 'Queen'.
It wasn't until the late 90's I participated in a year of training on the banked track with a newly formed league then went strong for a short time.
I befriended some of the old time skaters who may be characterized in the book and heard some of their stories of occurred in training but I never knew the reality of the behind scenes interaction until I read D.M Bordner's true account of what he and the female skaters experienced first hand.
As a skater and trainer myself having skated maybe thousands of miles on the banked track, it felt very realistic to re-live these exhaustingtraining sessions where afterwards one was rewarded with a feeling of elation for having "stayed in the pace line" and to the sounds ofwheels racing around the track's surface. That's a special sound only the author could describe. It as well as other reminders from the story gave me a true case of goose bumps.
Lottie certainly displayed her true spirit and dedication to the sport and especially AS A sport rather than `just a show' which since I've been involved once again today with the "all-girl flat-track Roller Derby" continues to seek more Lottie's, Blond Bombshell's and Ruby Mae's. The story takes place at a time where it wasn't expectedof women to play in sports, or even act un-lady like but these gals really defied what the public assumed and it perhaps helped paved the way for women to be more empowering and to be themselves.. We should all thank the author for this reminder.
I could not put the book down and I think everyone who enjoys heart warming and entertaining read with a story to tell, excitement to share and a genuine account of what it feels like to `skate in the pack' on at tiny oval track at high speeds, then this book is a must-read!!
In addition I highly recommend this novel for aspiring Roller Derby, retired skaters, or anyone with a goal and a dream.Reading this story will certainly encourage those with a dream to live it through and believe in one's self no matter what his or her personal past was.
That's how Lottie became "Queen" of the Roller Derby and she didn't step on anyone's toes on the way up...she trained hard and seriously and when the jealousy from the older skaters threatened her, she simply brushed them without a fight.. They say "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" and she certainly blossomed with strength & determination during her first six years as a skater not to mention those helluva set of `gams' she developed.
For today's Roller Derby skaters, this book will give them a clearer understanding of where their sport came from and that nothing is that easy and if you want to make
it as a skater today you've got to train hard, skate long and (literally) roll with the punches while skating towards those dreams with pride and faith to the end of the smelly locker room rainbow.

I

Roller Babes tells it like it is.
Roller Babes takes the reader deep into the world of Roller Derby. While this sport is fasinating in of it self, it is the characters that exsist in this book that help drive it. Lottie is a very relatable and likelable character, as she pushes forward, following her dream even as those around her fall and fight. It is her passion and love of trying to better herself that makes her so great. Lottie sees roller derby as the way she can become the type of person she always wanted to be, strong and confident and doing what she loves. This book really captures the spirit of roller derby. This sport is full of colorful characters who all have their own unquie reasons for getting into RD. But the one thing that connects that all is a drive, a sisterhood that keeps them coming back day after day.

Rollerbabes captures that love, and presents it in all of its forms, good and bad.

"Roller Babes" is a bit off track

It's 1952 and fifteen year old, Lottie Karla Zimmerman, neighborhood tomboy does not fit in anywhere.She has a couple of friends in the Brooklyn neighborhood but usually feels the taunts and shame from boys and others because of her appearance.Home isn't any better where she tries to shield her much younger sisters from her father's drunken outburst.The only respite at home is when her Father leaves and the rest of the family gathers in front of the TV. On one such night, she is sees a broadcast of a roller derby match.

"Lottie drew even closer to the screen.Something shifted insider of her, thoughts filled with excitement.Images of herself, being one of them, part of an all-girls team awoke within her." Page 9.

Driven by a belief that the women of an all women team would be a family to her as well as a ticket out of a life she does not want, Lottie begins to pursue a future in Roller Derby. A future where she will be hated for being new, physically challenged by the rigorous demands of her sport, and made to suffer in everyway possible as she works to fulfill her dream of being the best at her sport.

What follows is an overall interesting and slow moving read that chronicles the next six years in her life as she finds out first hand that things would be far different than she imagined.Her personal pain, while the reader is repeatedly told how upset she is and how much it hurts, rarely comes through for the reader. Lottie is a somewhat stereotypical character with little development over the years as drawn as are most of the characters throughout the novel. Emotions while depicted repeatedly never really work. This flaw is glaringly obvious early in the novel in regards to the suicide of a friend and fellow teammate and her boyfriend. An area that could have been explored is virtually ignored and while the reader is told how much it hurts, before long Lottie has moved on.

The novel also lacks a significant secondary storyline. While it is not mandatory by any means to have a secondary storyline, if one is begun it should be used throughout the work. In this case the secondary storyline involves the "gruff but kind at heart" rink manager who is used to detail a back-story that abruptly ends without resolution in the first third of the work. That storyline should have been removed since it was not used in order to speed up the work and move Lottie forward in her own story.

A story, despite the criticisms involving the storytelling, is overall interesting. Using her experiences, the author paints a world where Lottie and many of her teammates succeed despite racism, homophobia, economics, injury and a host of other problems.In so doing, the author immerses the reader through extensive detail into the world of the roller derby.


Kevin R. Tipple (copyright) 2006

Feel the power of a womans spirit and determination
Bordner gives us the exciting story of one womans rise to fame in Roller Babes in the 1950's, a time when such things were unheard of. This entertaining read will take you back to the all-girls roller derby sub-culture. Read about the struggle of Lottie as she rises from a poor Bronx neighborhood into stardom as a Roller Derby Queen. Her amazing spirit and determination inspire you and you won't be able to put this book down. This book is vividly real and a compelling read. ... Read more

Product Description
A face-first dive into America's sporting underbelly.

A lifelong sports fan, Zach Dundas asks: What happened to the fun, loud-mouthed, down-and­dirty sporting culture he always loved? Has it been replaced with performance-enhancing drugs, fat paychecks and billion dollar arenas? Of course not! With a renegade's eye and a fan's resolve, Dundas scours the underground to find the games, fans, and "athletes" you won't find in the sports pages. He tracks a bicycle race across Iowa designed to confuse and downright torture its participants, chases a gaggle of runners wearing red cocktail dresses in Portland, and screams obscenities in Chicago with the rowdy fans of the DC United soccer team, and through these and other harrowing and hilarious adventures, he begins to reconnect with the thrill of sporting as he discovers a vibrant, beautiful, and thriving element of American culture-simmering right below the surface. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great appeal for the sportswoman and non-sportswoman alike
Zach Dundas' observations alone are worth the read. He is damn funny and has a wonderful knack for pointing out the hilarious absurdities in everyday life. I myself am marginally interested and involved in sports- I have dabbled here and there, but never thought I would find myself reading a book devoted specifically to such a topic. This book is well worth the read, even for the un-sporty. Aside from learning about all the off the wall sporting pursuits out there, the greatest part of this book is Dundas' encouragement of sports enthusiasts and participants who do not fit the usual super-athletic, or even physically coordinated mold. He is encouraging of everyone who has ever been interested in playing a sport or even making up a sport of their own, but has been too afraid to do so for fear of failure, injury or just plain embarrassment. His simple message is just to get off the couch, bleachers, barstool, etc. and just get out there and do it and have fun (and perhaps a few drinks) while you are at it. I heartily recommend this book!

Not particularly analytical or organized, but very pleasurable
In this good-natured romp through the "underbelly" of American sports, Dundas hangs with beer slugging joggers (the Hash House Harriers), brutal overland bicycle racers, denizens of the re-emerging (consciously ironic, self-parodying) national roller derby league, U.S. major league soccer, and fencers (the foil/épée/saber kind).

There are also briefer looks at darts, trans-continental car races, street bike polo, urban golf (played on city streets), the Kentucky Derby as a fairly unco-opted spectator activity, futsal, and falconry.

The author takes a swipe at arena sports and "videophilia," but he doesn't spend a lot of time constructing the case against corporate sports or forecasting the future of the alternatives. The book is mostly an enjoyable look at off-beat physical pastimes -- participatory, grass roots, self-funded, weird and unpredictable, and above all, fun -- and the people who pursue them.

Although Dundas makes a big deal about forays to D.C., Chicago, Austin, and rural Iowa to witness tournaments and talk to participants and organizers, much of the book centers on and celebrates Portland, which is part of its attraction for Portlanders like me, but also a limitation. It's something of a DIY report, by an experienced and adroit writer on a rather limited budget.

In other words, it's partly a love letter to Stumptown: "As one of America's postmodern, Left Coast cities, Portland's traditional jock culture is weak, while its willingness to sacrifice dignity in pursuit of a good time is strong."

Not particularly well organized or analytical, the book does make pleasant company. Where else will you see a roller derby team described as a "sentient meat blizzard"?

Eventually, the journalist stops observing and plunges in. Renegade sports culture teaches that "it's better to do things badly yourself than pay to watch other people do them well," he writes. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (24)

Distinctive voice
A quick read. I finished it on a lazy Sunday after seeing Whip It. Cross does a good job of giving Bliss Cavendar a distinctive voice. But since Bliss is a teenager and kind of self-centered, that voice gets annoying really fast. I'd probably like it more if I was still 14.

A Fast, Fun Read
High school misfit Bliss Cavendar, aka Babe Ruthless, dyes her hair blue, loves indie music and wants OUT of the tiny Texas town that makes her feel like she must have been misplaced by her real family who are surely living in some cool urban setting like San Fransisco or NY City. Instead, Bliss has a beauty pageant obsessed mother who hopes Bliss will be able to win the big name crowns she never did. Bliss is going through the motions to please her mom, mostly keeping her sarcastic thoughts to herself, when she discovers Roller Derby--a no holds barred counter culture scene she desperately wants to join.

Bliss has never been athletic and at the Derby tryouts she has to pretend she is already 18, but after some streaking laps around the track in her old Barbie skates she earns a spot on the Hurl Scouts team (think a gang of bad-girl girl scouts.) To get to the team's practices in Austin she has to tell her parents she's taking an SAT prep class and hitch a ride on the senior center's bingo bus.

Of course the local Miss Bluebonnet beauty pageant is on the same night as the biggest derby event of the season.

A fast, fun read. If you enjoyed the movie, you'll love the book--the author wrote the screen play--and if love the book you'll want to see the movie. With smart dialog and family members that bicker but ultimately come through for each other, Whip It reminds me a little of the movie Juno--and of course Ellen Page stars in both.

Sassy
Bliss is the odd girl out in town filled with superficial Barbies and their jock boyfriend Kens. Even her mother is determined to make her into a pageant queen to fit the cookie cutter mold of her passed youth. Bliss isn't having it. With the help of her best friend Pash they lie their way into going to a Roller Derby match, which Bliss falls in love with. She embraces her inner hell raiser and becomes Babe Ruthless.

The book is a journey through the life of a misfit from finding her calling to love to heartache to acceptance. The author does an amazing job of using Bliss's sarcastic and sassy voice to tell it. A great read.

Whip It's Good!
Whip It is a fantastic book! I wanted to read it before seeing the movie, and let me tell you it does not disappoint. From the very first page, I was laughing hard enough to embarrass myself in public. It's hard to describe to non-reading friends how something as simple as letters and words can be strung into sentences and thoughts that can have such a strong effect on a person, but if you read Whip It and don't bust out guffawing and snorting at totally inappropriate moments then you'd better check your pulse, baby.

Bliss Cavendar - damn that's a great name - and she's a phenomenal character... character being the operative word here. She doesn't fit in at all in Bodeen, but Bliss is totally comfortable with herself - a real rarity for a teenage girl. She is thoroughly authentic, with an original voice and genuine understanding of who she really is. I fell in love with her, and with all the delightful misfits orbiting around her.

Shauna Cross is an amazing storyteller. She "gets" small-town Texas as only a native can. The relationships she writes are so fresh and dynamic, you just can't help becoming absorbed in their lives. The story is incredibly engaging and just... FUN! It's wonderful to reading something so witty and enjoyable after a hard days work. Whip It is a real treat!

Whip it, the novel
Great story. The book is very real and interesting. Shauna Cross did really well capturing the essence of derby. ... Read more

Product Description
Former professional Roller Derby skater, referee, photographer and fan, Jim Fitzpatrick spent years compiling a huge collection of memorabilia of the original Roller Derby along with some of the outlaw leagues which sprang up over the years.Now for the first time he gives a glimpse into the wild world of banked track mayhem with many rare and never before seen photos.A number of photos had been given to him by his friend and Roller Derby legend, Ann Calvello.Ann wrote the forward to the book.Also a number of soon to be classic photos taken by Jonathan Perry, famed Roller Derby photographer, are included along with a few the author had taken over the years.
Enjoy this look back on a sport which refuses to die.The original Roller Derby ended in 1973 but today still lives on in a number of variations, including the all-girl leagues which now number in the thirties. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Nice book but overpriced.
A nice book for old school Roller Derby fans.Lots of rare pics and they're all captioned.However, many of the pics are grainy and are of the same skaters, over and over...Calvello, Barbara Baker, Dolores Tucker, etc.Way overpriced at $75.

Derby
Been a derby fan since the mid 60'ssaw many a game in Chicago and St. Louis it wasn't TV that killed the derby as this book and others illuded to.It was very poor management by the greed of the Seltzer family.Your opinion in this book is alright but think of where you would have spent money like making it a game of speed and less violence and develope more stars from places other than California.

Roller derby....A Classic it is
I really enjoyed Jim Fitzpartick's book. I was good to see pictures of the good old days of Roller Derby and not what a joke promoters have turn it into. I attended every game held at the old Cleveland arena in the late 60's and earlt 70's and never heard profanity out of the IRDL skaters. When the lame T-Birds showed up the scene changed. Thanks a million Jim for the wonderful memories.

Roller Derby Classics and more!
This is a wonderful pictorial history on the original Roller Derby.It brought back many fond memories, not only of the game but the people who skated it.What added to the book was the fact you could tell how much the author loved the sport.After growing up a fan, he tells of later became a professional skater and then a referee.He even included many wonderful photographs he personally took at many of the games along with some behind the scenes shots.

I especially loved seeing the early days of the sport long before I was born.I also appreciated the captions below the photos explaining who the skaters were, the locations and years involved.Often other books included wonderful photographs but supply no helpful info to let you know where or when it took place.

I know the price may be a little steep, but as a collector I have purchased single photos or magazines on E-Bay for over $25 a piece.A book like this containing hundreds of wonderful photos is well worth it!

This is a must book for anyone who grew up loving the Roller Derby.Here's to the good old days!

A Must For Every Roller Derby Fan!
There isn't alot written on the subject of Roller Derby.As a matter of fact, there isn't much written in this book, Roller Derby Classics.However what little is written is not only entertaining, it gives a brief background into this author's career as a Roller Derby skater & referee.It also has an introduction ( A Rather Colorful One!) by Ann Calvello, and is written as though she is standing next to you, in a conversation!
The pictures have a caption on the bottom.It is brief yet with the picture tells a thousand stories and brings back many a fond memorary for this Roller Derby fan!Yes, the price of the book is abit steep.However for what it is worth, I am not disappointed by Fitzpatrick's work to make this book possible for ever Roller Derby fan, and those interested in Roller Derby!It is worth every penny!Or worth saving your pennies for! ... Read more

Product Description
This is nonfiction commentary.Chapters: Whip It, Blood on the Flat Track, Hell on Wheels, Kansas City Bomber, Unholy Rollers, Derby, Roller Derby Girl, Red Dirt Rebellion Rollergirls. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 28. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Whip It is a 2009 film directed by Drew Barrymore and written by Shauna Cross, based on Cross's novel Derby Girl. The film is Barrymore's directorial debut. The film stars Ellen Page as Bliss Cavendar, a small town teenager who joins a roller derby team she discovers in Austin, Texas. The film received generally positive reviews from critics. It grossed $13,043,363 in North America. Bliss Cavendar (Ellen Page) is a misfit in her small town, Bodeen, in Texas and has no idea where her life is going. She allows her mother to push her into entering beauty pageant after beauty pageant, despite having no interest in it herself. She and her friend Pash (Alia Shawkat) dream of escaping their small town, with Pash planning to go to an Ivy League School in a big city and Bliss hoping to find something that will help her figure out where she belongs. During a shopping trip to Austin she finds it roller derby. She and Pash secretly go to the roller derby event in Austin under the pretense of going to a football game. Bliss only wishes to tell the Hurl Scouts that they are "her new heroes" and is suddenly thrown into the idea of being in Roller Derby herself when Maggie Mayhem (Kristen Wiig) replies, "Well, put some skates on. Be your own hero." Returning to Austin, Bliss tries out for the Hurl Scouts, a derby team that has never won a game. Having no real experience, Bliss is nevertheless faster than any girl on the team, and makes the cut. Despite the determination of Razor (Andrew Wilson) their coach, the other "Scouts" are happy to be number 2 ...http://booksllc.net/?id=18065848 ... Read more

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ROLLER DERBY NEWS 1958 HIGHLIGHTS ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR), published by Thomson Gale on May 9, 2007. The length of the article is 970 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Retro fitness.(Recreation)(Roller derby racers bring on enthusiasm, agility)
Author: Gale Reference Team
Publication: The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR) (Newspaper)
Date: May 9, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Page: A1

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

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Chapters: Gotham Girls Roller Derby, Rat City Rollergirls, Carolina Rollergirls, Minnesota Rollergirls, North Star Roller Girls, Dallas Derby Devils, Windy City Rollers, Denver Roller Dolls, Big Easy Rollergirls, Providence Roller Derby, Arch Rival Rollergirls, Texas Rollergirls, Tucson Roller Derby, Pikes Peak Derby Dames, Montreal Roller Derby, Rocky Mountain Rollergirls, Salt City Derby Girls, Detroit Derby Girls, Dc Rollergirls, Oly Rollers, Nwa Rollergirls, Ohio Roller Girls, Demolition City Roller Derby, Philly Rollergirls, Boston Derby Dames, Mad Rollin' Dolls, Charm City Roller Girls, Rose City Rollers, Rollergirls of Southern Indiana, Tallahassee Rollergirls, Arizona Roller Derby. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 113. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Gotham Girls Roller Derby (GGRD) is a flat track roller derby league based in New York City, New York. Founded in late 2003, Gotham Girls Roller Derby was the first skater-operated flat track roller derby league in the metropolitan New York area. GGRD is a founding member league of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) which was formed in November 2005. GGRD hosts flat-track roller derby competitions which showcase bouts among the various teams in the league. The league is made up of four home teams that play within the league and at times compete with member teams from other WFTDA leagues. The league is also home to inter-league competition teams, the Wall Street Traitors and the Gotham Girls All-Stars, which are teams compiled of league skaters from all four home teams and compete against other leagues. The Gotham Girls All-Stars represent the league in WFTDA inter-league competitions that count towards WFTDA national rankings. The skaters, referees, and other league volunteers have the option to adopt 'skater n...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=18736454 ... Read more

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Chapters: Naomi Klein, Annie Sprinkle, Sleater-Kinney, Transfeminism, Roller Derby, Riot Grrrl, Sex-Positive Feminism, Buffy Studies, Peaches, Charmed Academia, Girl Power, Not Bad for a Girl, Bikini Kill, Sandy West, Seriality, Karen Finley, Bitch, Rockrgrl, Radio Sloan, Jd Samson, Year of the Woman, Postmodern Feminism, Donna Dresch, the Myth of Matriarchal Prehistory, Kathi Wilcox, Feminists Against Censorship, Bust, Lipstick Feminism, Girl Heroes, Subtext Magazine, Inga Muscio. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 189. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Transfeminism can mean more than one thing. Robert Hill defines it as "a category of feminism, most often known for the application of transgender discourses to feminist discourses, and of feminist beliefs to transgender discourse" (Hill 2002). Emi Koyama does not believe this is complete enough for this complex topic. Koyama's writing highlights an intentional and wide-ranging overlap with anti-racist feminism and third-wave feminism . Hill goes on to say that the work of transfeminism concerns the creation and integration of transfeminism within mainstream feminism. He defines transfeminism in this context as a type of feminism "having specific content that applies to transgender and transsexual people, but the thinking and theory of which is also applicable to all women". Despite the relatively late introduction of transfeminism as a term, transfeminist work has been around since the early second wave in various forms, most prominently embodied by persons such as Sandy Stone, considered the founder of academic transgender studies, and Sylvia Rivera, a Stonewall rioter and founder of Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries. In 2006, the first book on transfeminism, Trans/Forming Feminisms: Transfeminist Voices Speak Out edited by...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=973368 ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR), published by Thomson Gale on December 5, 2007. The length of the article is 738 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Fashion show to benefit local roller derby team.(General News)(REGION)
Author: Gale Reference Team
Publication: The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR) (Newspaper)
Date: December 5, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Page: E32

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more