Bruised by Tanya Boteju Book Review

Title: Bruised
Author: Tanya Boteju
Publisher: Simon & Shuster Books for Young Readers
Release Date: March 23, 2021
Pages: 336

Whip It meets We Are Okay in this vibrant coming-of-age story, about a teen girl navigates first love, identity, and grief when she immerses herself in the colorful, brutal, beautiful world of roller derby—from the acclaimed author of Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens.

To Daya Wijesinghe, a bruise is a mixture of comfort and control. Since her parents died in an accident she survived, bruises have become a way to keep her pain on the surface of her skin so she doesn’t need to deal with the ache deep in her heart.

So when chance and circumstances bring her to a roller derby bout, Daya is hooked. Yes, the rules are confusing and the sport seems to require the kind of teamwork and human interaction Daya generally avoids. But the opportunities to bruise are countless, and Daya realizes that if she’s going to keep her emotional pain at bay, she’ll need all the opportunities she can get.

The deeper Daya immerses herself into the world of roller derby, though, the more she realizes it’s not the simple physical pain-fest she was hoping for. Her rough-and-tumble teammates and their fans push her limits in ways she never imagined, bringing Daya to big truths about love, loss, strength, and healing.

Pre-order it on Barnes & Noble or Amazon  

My Thoughts

**Thank you so much to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for sending me an Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review!**

After surviving an accident that takes away her parents, Daya's life is turned upside down. Every day seems to be a nightmare and living with her aunt and uncle doesn't make things better. To help herself cope with loss, she gives herself bruises to fight against the internal pain.

It was clear we didn't get each other. So my balancing act was as much for them as it was for me—aim for coexistence and not much more. Don't waste their time or mine.

Daya keeps to herself and the only time she socializes is at the skatepark. After seeing a roller derby bout in action, she decides to try it because it looks like a good way to numb her pain. The only problem is that she's never played in a team before, so this will be a whole new experience for her. 

No matter how hard I hit the ground, though, no fall seemed to distract me from the ache in my chest or the festering in my stomach. It wasn't enough.

Star Rating: ★★★★☆ (4)

I loved all the characters and how real they felt. Her aunt and uncle were so fun to read about and very unique in personality. They were always trying their best to make Daya feel welcomed at home which I found very touching.

I also liked how the story was focused on roller derby, something that I don't see often in books. I found it really interesting to read about and it was pretty easy to understand.

Overall, Bruised is a great book that focuses on family, forgiveness, hurt, and love. Following Daya's journey, I loved seeing how she developed as a character. Fans of the graphic novel, Roller Girl, would also enjoy it very much. 

About the Author

Tanya Boteju is an English teacher and writer living on unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations (Vancouver, Canada). She believes feminism, diversity, committed educators, sassy students, and hot mugs of tea will save the day. She is also grateful for her patient wife who builds her many bookshelves! Tanya may have been a drag king in her well-spent youth and knows that the queer community is full of magic and wonder. With her books, she hopes she’s brought some of that magic to those who need it most.