Bruised
Bruised by Tanya Boteju is a young adult fiction novel published by Simon and Schuster on March 23, 2021. This 336-page book presents a vibrant coming-of-age story centered on Daya Wijesinghe, a teen girl grappling with the aftermath of her parents’ tragic accident. As she navigates her journey of self-discovery, Daya finds herself drawn into the colorful and intense world of roller derby, where she seeks to manage her emotional pain through physical experiences.
In this narrative, Daya’s initial attraction to roller derby stems from her desire to keep her grief at bay, but she soon discovers that the sport offers more than just an outlet for her pain. The story explores themes of identity, love, and healing as Daya interacts with her teammates and confronts the complexities of her emotions. Through her experiences in the roller derby community, she learns valuable lessons about strength and resilience, ultimately leading her to a deeper understanding of herself and her grief.
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“A searing portrait of self-discovery; soulful and captivating.” —Kirkus Reviews
Whip It meets We Are Okay in this vibrant coming-of-age story about a teen girl navigating first love, identity, and grief as she immerses herself in the colorful, brutal, beautiful world of roller derby—from the acclaimed author of Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens.
To Daya Wijesinghe, a bruise is a mixture of comfort and control. Since her parents died in an accident she survived, bruises have become a way to keep her pain on the surface of her skin so she doesn’t need to deal with the ache deep in her heart.
So when chance and circumstances bring her to a roller derby bout, Daya is hooked. Yes, the rules are confusing and the sport seems to require the kind of teamwork and human interaction Daya generally avoids. But the opportunities to bruise are countless, and Daya realizes that if she’s going to keep her emotional pain at bay, she’ll need all the opportunities she can get.
The deeper Daya immerses herself into the world of roller derby, though, the more she realizes it’s not the simple physical pain-fest she was hoping for. Her rough-and-tumble teammates and their fans push her limits in ways she never imagined, bringing Daya to big truths about love, loss, strength, and healing.
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