95 Books In 2006, George W. Bush read 95 books. We will do better.

This book is a very readable introduction to the game of roller derby. It goes over the sport’s history in a fairly comprehensive way, describes how derby works and briefly explains the rules, and then looks at what it takes to play derby, and the various levels of involvement a person can have with the sport. It even has an appendix with brief discussions of depictions of derby in movies and tv shows, which is a useful feature for folks looking for more information. I would have liked a similar appendix for books and magazines, or even a collection of online resources. My favourite element of this book were the interviews with players, refs, and other notable derby personalities. Those interviews really help to put a face on the sport without falling into stereotypes.

This is not the book to turn to for discussions of strategy or an in-depth breakdown of rules. It’s the basics of derby, explained in a fun and straightforward way. I can see myself giving this book to friends & family who ask ‘what exactly is this roller derby thing you’re doing?”

~Claire