Along the way we learn lots about roller derby and the people who people that sport. We were avid fans of roller derby when i was a kid in the 70s and 80s growing up in brooklyn, new york. Originally published as derby girl this american classic deserves to be widely read. I feel 100x more prepared for starting derby training in a couple of weeks, because this book spends just as much if not more time talking about actually playing the game as it does talking about the history, tv shows, and movies based on the game. The book, and film, are fictionalized accounts of an experience skating with the texas rollergirls. She is presently working on a film adaptation of live nude girls unite. Its particularly interesting to look at the two in comparison, because shauna wrote the screenplay, and there is a very strong structural similarity between the two versions. For most of her twelve years, astrid has done everything with her best friend nicole. Whip it is a 2009 american sports comedydrama film directed by drew barrymore in her directorial debut and written by shauna cross, based on her novel derby girl.
Roller derby clothes roller derby girls derby time referee roller skating disney pictures art girl pretty girls. North star roller girl sammi jones on derby culture, whip it, and what a gina shiner is. The book was named an american library association best book for young adults and a new york public library book for the teen age. In whip it which is based on the book derby girl by shauna cross, bliss cavendar is a smalltown texas teen being groomed to win the blue bonnet pageant, a beauty contest that her mother marcia gay harden won long ago. The first title to be discussed in goodman community centers book vs movie program is derby girl by shauna cross. Whip it roller derby trainer alex cohen on skating, scrimmaging and choosing the best derby name. Drew barrymore, director and roller derby girl time. Both the book and the move follow bliss cavendar indie punk girl growing up in the small conservative town of bodeen, texas. Our group read the book and then took a trip to eastgate to see the movie adaptation during its first week in theaters. Whip it has great roller derby sequences but more than that and more than most male sports movies we get to see the personalities of those involved and they shine. The movie is based on a book called derby girl and follows a teenager, bliss ellen page, discovering the sport of roller derby. D ideas for sport illustration art roller derby roller derby always thought this be fun, and look at the sexy battle wounds. But its not exactly what bliss envisions for herself.
Shauna cross s derby girl was named an american library association best book for young adults and quick pick for young adults, a yalsa best book for young adults, and a new york public library book for the teen age. Shauna crosss derby girl was named an american library association best book for young adults and quick pick for young adults, a yalsa best book for young adults, and a new york public library book for the teen age. It is now a major motion picture, whip it, directed by drew barrymore. Based on shauna cross popular novel derby girl, barrymore pushes audiences into the rough and tumble world that is american roller derby its no holds barred, as the movie exposes the tattooed, crass, and unashamedly fiesty characters who pride themselves as being derby girls.
Based on the book derby girl by shauna cross, an actual texas rollergirl, whip it casts poor bliss as a girl who wants more out of life than her stereotypical small texas town can offer. In the book, bliss cavendar sticks out like sore thumb in her small town of bodeen, texas. We wanted to write a book that derby girls could give to their parents to help them understand what this sport is and why it can be so addictive. I excitedly went out and read the book derby girl by shauna cross recently retitled whip it, the inspiration for the movie. Brooke comes up to her and offers to bring her and shania into austin for some shopping, looking to spend some quality time with her daughters. Shauna crosss whip it was named an american library association best book for young adults and quick pick for young adults, a yalsa best book for young adults, and a new york public library book for the teen age.
Pash is surprised its the same girl that shared a bed with bliss during sleepovers. North star roller girl sammi jones on derby culture, whip. If any of these works belong to you and you would like to be credited, please let me know i would be happy to do so. It stars ellen page as a teenager from the fictional town of bodeen, texas, who joins a roller derby team. Jenny and i had collaborated before on the set of whip it. The roller derby look book has just been published this week. By day, however, the former npr reporter tears around an angled track as a rock em, sock em roller derby girl. Not because they want to fit into some killer bikini, but because they want to win. Written by shauna cross based on her book derby girl, whip it. It tells the story of bliss cavendar, a girl from the fictional town of bodeen, texas, whose mother wants her to compete in beauty pageants, and seeks escape in the world of roller derby. It is a quick, easy read and i finished it feeling satisfied and excited by the story.
This was a great introduction to derby, especially if you are considering joining. It had been a rough day and this was a perfect read to lift my spirits. Pg 111 minutes this is drew barrymores directorial debut. The next scene shows bliss lying on her bed, a pageant dress beside her. Their breakup is predictable and the family resolutionbig finish is straight out of hollywood the author is a screenwriter. Arc courtesy of goodreads first reads and penguin canada. I never knew about roller derby until seeing the movie whip it. Whip it is a 2009 sportsthemed dramedy film directed by drew barrymore, adapted from writer shauna maggie mayhem cross 2007 novel derby girl.
Her mom, a former pageant winner herself played by marcia gay harden, is living out her dreams again through her daughter. Shauna cross, the writer behind the 2007 novel and the movies screenplay, based the story on her experiences with roller derby shes the real maggie mayhem and set the story in her hometown of austin, texas. Roller skating whether you did it as a child on your block, were a disco diva on the dance floor or kicked some ass as a roller derby girl. Barrymores whip it is infectious fun scenestealers. It is now a major motion picture directed by drew barrymore. Derby girl by shauna cross is the book that it was adapted from. I fell in love with the characters and the relationships each of them has with one another. The film is coproduced by barrymore and barry mendel.
But after astrid falls in love with roller derby and signs up for derby camp. Whip it and derby girl megapost youth services corner. The film stars ellen page as a 17year old reluctant beauty pageant contestant named bliss cavendar in bodeen, texas, who discovers and falls in love with the austin roller derby circuit. Drew barrymore knows films shes being doing it all her life and this may look lightweight and simple, but the way the camera tells the story is excellent it is all well. Roller derby scene refs sorting out the raucous roller girls of the roller derby scene.
Shauna cross is an american screenwriter, novelist and former roller derby athlete. Whip it is based on derby girl, a 2007 novel by roller derby athlete shauna cross. I spent a lot of time over the last year putting this project together, and now that it is finally finished, i cant believe its real. Roller derby started here in the good old usa and was recreated in austin, texas. These are the same girls who are now willingly spending hours upon hours a day, sometimes six days a week, training their bodies. Falling hard is the story of 14yearold annie who has recently moved to the u. Her mom, a former pageant winner herself played by marcia gay harden, is. My life revolved around television when i was young still does and my family and i used to watch the derby bouts late night on ktvu, and our local uhf channel, featuring teams like the new york city chiefs, the brooklyn red devils, and the san.
I had dreams as a girl to be on a roller derby team. The book is at its best when bliss discovers roller derby and joins the team, but lags when she spends time with her new rocker boyfriend. For fans of raina telgemeiers smile, a heartwarming graphic novel about friendship and surviving junior high through the power of roller derby. Okay, we all remember how much i loved the movie whip it, right. It is really a growing up story and concerns the plight of the last abused minority children. Its been well established that drew barrymore is both adorable and a free spirit. Specifically, it is when a skater grabs a teammates handarm and is pulled forward, whipped around.