''Derby Girl'' is a 2007 novel by

Shauna Cross Shauna Cross is an American author, screenwriter, and former roller derby athlete. She skated for the Los Angeles Derby Dolls under the pseudonym "Maggie Mayhem" and subsequently wrote the 2007 novel '' Derby Girl'', a fictionalized version of he ...

. It tells the story of Bliss Cavendar, a girl from the fictional town of Bodeen, Texas, whose mother wants her to compete in beauty pageants, and seeks escape in the world of

roller derby Roller derby is a roller skating contact sport played on an oval track by two teams of five skaters. It is played by approximately 1,250 amateur leaguesA Roller Derby league is synonymous with an individual club or team in other team sports, as ...

. The book was named an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults and a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age. The novel was made into the movie '' Whip It'' directed by

Drew Barrymore Drew Blythe Barrymore (born February 22, 1975) is an American actress, talk show host, and businesswoman. A member of the Barrymore family of actors, she has received multiple List of awards and nominations received by Drew Barrymore, awards a ...

References

2007 American novels Roller derby mass media American young adult novels American novels adapted into films Novels set in Texas {{2000s-ya-novel-stub