Description
Set against the backdrop of roller derby, The Jammer is a poignant story of broken bones and healing hearts from one of Australia's most popular middle-grade authors, Nova Weetman.
Fred has moved around her whole life, one small town after another. She never minded starting over because she always had her mum, her dad and her love of roller derby. On the track she was Fred or Dead, the star jammer, a gun at smashing through a line of bodies and scoring for her team. But now Fred's life has fallen apart, and she can't imagine putting her skates on again. After road tripping to Melbourne with her dad, Fred meets a bunch of people who think they know what's best for her. And although she tries to avoid it, roller derby has a way of barging back into her life. A true jammer could push through anything, but Fred doesn't know who she is anymore. What do you do when the thing that could save you is what hurts the most?
Review
Set just after Fred’s Mum has died from cancer, Fred and her Dad are travelling from Queensland to Melbourne to catch up with her Mum’s old friends.
Fred and her Mum had a passion for roller derby, and both played the tough and important position of jammer. However, since her Mum has been gone, roller derby brings up too many memories that Fred wants to shut out.
In Melbourne they stay with her step-uncle and stray pet lover Graham, and reconnect with her Mum’s best friend Max (aka Maxxed Out in the Roller Derby world), and her daughter Ally. Fred also forms a friendship with Sammy, a shy roller skater.
These people, together with her laid-back Dad, slowly show Fred that it is ok to move on with your life, helping Fred to eventually find a level of peace and happiness that at first seemed impossible.
This is a touching and emotional novel, handling issues of grief, family, friendship and the importance of following our own path and doing the things that give us joy.
Perfect for readers of all ages, but particularly those aged 10 - 14.
Reviewed by Rob
