Whip It - Likewise Book Reviews

"*I have been playing roller derby since shortly after reading and reviewing this book back in December 2012. I am just as in love with this book now as I was when I first read it. The only difference now is that I have watched and played a lot of roller derby but the flat track variety. I am obsessed with playing this awesome sport but I am also in love with watching it. Below is my original review without my current experiences included but it is still a good review.*<br/><br/>I have never been to a bout but after watching Whip It, the movie directed by Drew Barrymore and screenplay written by Shauna Cross, I wanted to try roller derby. The movie was really good and I liked it a lot but never knew that it was based of a book called Derby Girl or Whip It by Shauna Cross. Now that I have read the book I really like them both. There are some differences in the plot line but essentially, the spirit of the story is kept in tact. Derby Girl or Whip It is the story of Bliss Cavendar an 80's indie-rock loving, pageant attending, blue haired, 16 year-old freak of Bodeen High School in Bodeen, Texas. Bliss is forced by her pageant obsessed mother to follow in her mother's shoes to become the next Miss Bluebonnet. Bliss not only has no desire to do pageants but feel seriously misunderstood by her 'rents. During a shopping trip in Austin, Texas, Bliss comes across a flyer for a roller derby bout. She convinces her best and only friend Pash, a beautiful Middle Eastern girl, to drive her to and go to the bout. Following the bout Bliss is hooked on derby, lies about her age and joins the Hurl Scouts to become Babe Ruthless, an amazing jammer (the person who scores points for a roller derby team). Bliss's story is a train wreck, heart warming, roller derby whirlwind that will leave you laughing, crying and smiling at the same time. I loved Bliss, the Hurl Scouts, and all of the other characters that helped to make this story feel realistic and fun. This is a great book for anyone but especially those ladies out there brave enough to do roller derby or would like to at heart."