Blood City Rollers

Thirteen-year-old figure skater Mina Murray’s dreams of one day winning Olympic gold are forfeit when an ill-timed fall on the ice ends her career before it even begins. Fortunately (or unfortunately) for Mina, she uncovers an alternate route to athletic fame when a roving gang of young roller derby vampires called Blood City Vamps kidnap her to join their team as a last-minute jammer against the Mavens. Training with the Vamps—especially their bold, brave captain Val Halla—reinvigorates Mina’s love for skating, but when a strange creature from Val’s past puts Mina’s life at risk, Mina must choose her own path: return to her regular life or face unknown dangers and remain with her new companions on the Paranormal Roller Derby track. In this high-octane double graphic novel debut, Anderson expertly captures the supernatural complications of tossing a human into a creature feature rivalry and the struggles of finding one’s place in the world. Hill’s lively illustrations, rendered in bright, eerie neon, winningly encapsulate the frenetic pace of derby, striking a refreshing balance between spectral sports romp and queer found family narrative. Characters are portrayed with varying skin tones. Ages 8–12. (Apr.)