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Bruised Hardcover – March 23, 2021

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 50 ratings

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“A searing portrait of self-discovery; soulful and captivating.” —Kirkus Reviews

Whip It meets We Are Okay in this vibrant coming-of-age story about a teen girl navigating first love, identity, and grief as 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.
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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up—Daya Wijesinghe's parents died suddenly in a car crash and she manages her grief and emotions by causing herself physical pain. She discovers skateboarding and relishes the bumps and bruises that come from falling, which is a pain she can control. One day her friend from the skatepark, Fee, introduces her to roller derby. She also meets Shanti, the manager of the roller derby team, The Killa Honeys, who makes Daya want to open up and feel the feelings she has long repressed. Roller derby seems like the best opportunity to fulfill her need for pain and bruising so she tries out for the team, but finds that being part of a team makes it more difficult to hide her emotions. When Daya officially makes the team and participates in their "shenanigans," she quickly realizes roller derby isn't only about getting the most bruises or being the strongest person but being a part of something outside herself and her pain. Daya is Sri Lankan, and most major characters are people of color. Fee is gender nonconforming and their girlfriend is deaf and uses ASL. At first, Daya is unsure about her own sexuality, but soon realizes she truly cares for Shanti and that her sexuality doesn't have to be rigidly defined. The book also contains information about the history of roller derby. VERDICT An emotional story about coming to terms with grief and guilt and allowing yourself to open up to others to heal. An uplifting and engaging title for all YA collections.—Kristyn Dorfman, The Nightingale-Bamford Sch., New York City

Review

A Junior Library Guild Selection

“Boteju writes with acumen about the roller-coaster ride of being a teenager. . . . A searing portrait of self-discovery; soulful and captivating.”
Kirkus Reviews

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (March 23, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1534455027
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1534455023
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 14 years and up
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 850L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 9 and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 50 ratings

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Tanya Boteju
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Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
50 global ratings

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Serious yet fun - a worthwhile read
5 out of 5 stars
Serious yet fun - a worthwhile read
Daya Wijesinghe is conflicted by her father's values of developing emotional and physical strength to survive in the world. She faces the unspeakable loss of her parents as she struggles to cope without feeling weak. The novel is insightful about the psychology behind self-harm which helps the reader understand the dynamics of physical pain to avoid emotional pain. I love the diverse cast of characters and unforgettable personalities as we follow Daya's harrowing journey of healing, love, and friendships.The characters ring authentic as well as relatable. The story's tension is high because the cycle of self-harm is hard to break. However, I like how Daya channels her pain into something indirectly productive –– vital for her well-being and growth. The story is unpredictable, and the narrative voice is a pleasure to read. Despite the serious topic, there is lots of humor and exciting insight into roller derby culture, which is so cool.I want to be a roller derby girl and highly recommend this book!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2023
    An amazing story about an incredible journey taken by one adventurous & strong yet awkward & stifled young woman driven & defined by grief & blame. Self-harm the only way to transform the intolerable emotional pain into a more manageable physical one may lead her to a better way of living —or at least more bruises.

    Knowing the power in debilitating pain so overwhelming that just to escape it for even a moment you are willing to physically destroy yourself is to recognize, remember & relate to the characters, storylines, darkness, self-deprecating, self-destruction that these three stories so accurately potrayed, detailed & expressed. Outstandingly excellent job putting words that relate the unexplainable & expresses the unfathomable to those who haven't been there themselves.
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2021
    Bruised by Tanya Boteju is a heavier read than I would normally gravitate to, but I enjoyed every page. This one is a great introduction to roller derby, and I loved being immersed in this fast-paced world. The main character is tough, but as the book progresses, she learns to embrace different forms of strength. I would recommend this one to those looking for a more serious coming-of-age story.

    As a way of coping with the loss of her parents, Daya joins a roller derby term in hopes of externalizing her pain rather than dealing with it emotionally. The sport is unfamiliar to her, and she has never played on a team before, which pushes her to her limits in unexpected ways–both physically and mentally. I have never read a book about roller derby before, and it was really interesting to explore this world along with Daya. The dynamic cast of side characters who make up the Killa Honeys is also a highlight.

    ❀ COMPLEX MAIN CHARACTER

    Daya is a complex character, and I loved her growth. She is incredibly strong, but when we meet her, she is closed off after suffering a tremendous loss. While her ways of coping are unhealthy, it is easy to root for her, and to understand where her actions are coming from. As the book progresses, Daya discovers a different side of herself and learns to be part of a team, beginning a gradual path towards healing.

    ❀ POWERFUL MESSAGE

    Throughout this book is a powerful message about toughness. To Daya, vulnerability is a weakness, as she has been conditioned to be strong her entire life. However, as she gets to know the Killa Honeys, she starts to learn that softness is a different kind of strength in itself. In fact, her raw toughness can be considered a weakness. It is so moving to watch Daya come to recognize the softness in herself, and she doesn’t become any less tough because of it.

    ❀ A STORY ABOUT GRIEF AND SELF-DISCOVERY

    Bruised by Tanya Boteju is a story about grief and self-discovery. I loved the topic of roller derby, and the main character is well-developed. The book’s message about different forms of strength further enriches the narrative. Those looking for a heavier yet accessible read about the world of roller derby will enjoy this one.
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2021
    Daya Wijesinghe is conflicted by her father's values of developing emotional and physical strength to survive in the world. She faces the unspeakable loss of her parents as she struggles to cope without feeling weak. The novel is insightful about the psychology behind self-harm which helps the reader understand the dynamics of physical pain to avoid emotional pain. I love the diverse cast of characters and unforgettable personalities as we follow Daya's harrowing journey of healing, love, and friendships.

    The characters ring authentic as well as relatable. The story's tension is high because the cycle of self-harm is hard to break. However, I like how Daya channels her pain into something indirectly productive –– vital for her well-being and growth. The story is unpredictable, and the narrative voice is a pleasure to read. Despite the serious topic, there is lots of humor and exciting insight into roller derby culture, which is so cool.

    I want to be a roller derby girl and highly recommend this book!
    Customer image
    5.0 out of 5 stars Serious yet fun - a worthwhile read
    Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2021
    Daya Wijesinghe is conflicted by her father's values of developing emotional and physical strength to survive in the world. She faces the unspeakable loss of her parents as she struggles to cope without feeling weak. The novel is insightful about the psychology behind self-harm which helps the reader understand the dynamics of physical pain to avoid emotional pain. I love the diverse cast of characters and unforgettable personalities as we follow Daya's harrowing journey of healing, love, and friendships.

    The characters ring authentic as well as relatable. The story's tension is high because the cycle of self-harm is hard to break. However, I like how Daya channels her pain into something indirectly productive –– vital for her well-being and growth. The story is unpredictable, and the narrative voice is a pleasure to read. Despite the serious topic, there is lots of humor and exciting insight into roller derby culture, which is so cool.

    I want to be a roller derby girl and highly recommend this book!
    Images in this review
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    Customer image
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2021
    I received an ARC from Netgalley and Simon and Schuster and this is my honest review.

    This was a highly emotional read and I must admit that there were hilarious moments in it but there was a lot of angst and drama to get through as well. I was drawn to this story because I didn't know anything about roller derby and I was definitely curious and what made this story even more appealing to me was the fact that there were queer, young-adult people of color in this story.

    My heart really went out to Daya because she has lost her parents in a car accident and she turned to self-harm as a way of coping with their untimely demise. However, I felt as though self-harm was being glorified a lot because most of the story portrayed Daya's intense joy whenever she was being physically hurt by her own actions and by others. In spite of that, I must admit that there is definitely a powerful message within this story because Daya eventually learned how to deal with her grief and she also learned that there are different kinds of strength and she even falls for a wonderful girl named Shanti (I think she has the biggest heart ever!) I was thoroughly entertained by the side characters on the Killa Honeys roller derby team and I have so much love for Fee and Caihong, Daya's friends from the skateboard park. I also loved the way Daya found her new "chosen family" in the company of the Killa Honeys roller derby team, especially when she least expected it.

    Without a doubt, this is a poignant young-adult novel, however, I couldn't get into the story and fully connect with Daya. I really wished the author had focused more on Daya's healing and her coming to terms with her parents' death because most of the story was focused on Daya's anger, frustration and self-harm.
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2023
    This book is SO GOOD! I couldn’t stop reading, it was powerful and cool and the characters really pulled me in. I like how they weren’t perfect. Very loveable book.

Top reviews from other countries

  • Della B
    5.0 out of 5 stars so much more than roller derby
    Reviewed in Canada on January 21, 2022
    Bruised is so much more than a novel about roller derby. It is a deep and thoughtful look at survivor’s guilt of an eighteen year old after loosing her parents in a car accident. It is convincingly written through the POV of a young woman dealing with her guilt through self harm. I am blown away by the story and know others will be too.
  • MD
    5.0 out of 5 stars A story about pain and healing
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 9, 2022
    This is the first book I’ve read that acknowledges one of the ‘less common’ forms of self-harm: bruising. I’ve recently come to realise that I like YA books that are about pain and hurt and despair. And for that reason, I picked up this book as soon as I heard of it. Bonus: it’s about roller derby. I LOVE skating. Right away, I knew I’d love this book and I wasn’t wrong.

    But I actually loved it even more than I expected to. We’ve got an f/f relationship (I loved Shanti as soon as I met her!) and nearly every character is queer and of colour.

    Daya Wijesinghe is grieving her parents’ deaths after she was the sole survivor of a car accident. She blames herself, thinking she caused it by being ‘too soft’ (her parents were arguing about her losing a boxing match when the accident occurred). Thus we have 18 year old Daya who’s trying to prove she’s “hard” and “strong” and who despises anything she perceives as weakness. She won’t talk to her friends about her feelings, she won’t hug anyone, and she won’t connect to her uncle and aunt who she now lives with it. There is just so much anger inside Daya, and she is drawn to roller derby because it’s a contact sport where she can bruise herself more and more. She can slam into others. She can hurt and be hurt. She can feel pain.

    And then there is Shanti and her sister Kat. Both are troubled girls, but they cope in different ways. Shanti is ‘soft’ and connected to her emotions. Kat is ‘hard’ and puts up walls around herself. Kat is the leader of the roller derby team that Daya auditions for, and there’s a weird attraction triangle and jealousy between the two sisters.

    While nearly all the characters are queer, with the exception of the older lesbian couple (who are great!), none of them are really labelled as being LGBTQIA+. They just are.

    This book is full of strong characters, and it’s a book that examines team sports, rivalry, pain, hurt, healing, self-hatred, self-harm, guilt, grief, and death. Highly recommended.