Roller Girl

Chapters 1-4

Reading Check

1. Rainbow Bite (Chapter 1)

2. Dance camp (Chapter 4)

3. Rachel tells her she has rabies and will die after touching a dead squirrel. (Chapter 2)

4. A pair of rainbow socks (Chapter 3)

Short Answer

1. Astrid’s mother takes her and Nicole to see a roller derby game, and Astrid is amazed by how tough and brave the women are, especially Rainbow Bite, who falls and gets back up as she winks at Astrid. (Chapter 1)

2. Astrid wants Nicole to attend roller derby camp with her, but Nicole would rather go to dance camp with Rachel. As a result, the two begin to grow apart. (Chapter 4)

3. Astrid becomes irritated, angry, and embarrassed. She holds the railing and tries to skate around but eventually goes to the bathroom and cries, feeling overwhelmed. (Chapter 3)

Chapters 5-8

Reading Check

1. Fall small by curling into a ball to avoid being hurt. (Chapter 6)

2. She is an awesome skater, and Astrid hopes to be like her. (Chapter 7)

3. Heidi Go Seek (Chapter 5)

4. Dyes her hair blue (Chapter 8)

Short Answer

1. Astrid cannot stop and goes fast down a hill into a bush. She falls small and is not hurt, so the team and coach congratulate her daring feat. Astrid feels energized and hopeful about roller derby now that she has survived such a risky situation. (Chapter 7)

2. Astrid is nervous but works up the courage to ask Zoey how she dyes her hair and what she knows about it. Zoey then offers to dye Astrid’s hair, and their friendship begins. (Chapter 8)

3. Astrid does not have a roller derby name. (Chapter 5)

Chapters 9-12

Reading Check

1. Warface (Chapter 9)

2. Jammer (Chapter 9)

3. To stop talking to Astrid completely/stop being her friend (Chapter 9)

4. She told her mother Nicole has been coming to roller derby and Nicole’s mom has been picking them up. (All chapters)

Short Answer

1. Astrid gets angry and throws her drink at Nicole and Rachel. She yells at them and tells Nicole she hates her. Astrid reacts this way because she is continuously bullied by Rachel, many problems in her life are mounting and becoming overwhelming, and because she is still young and learning how to manage her emotions and navigate complex relationships. (Any of these answers would be acceptable.) (Chapter 9)

2. Astrid’s mother finds out Astrid has been lying and sends her to her room. Astrid feels like she is fighting with everyone in her life and takes it out on her teddy bear. (Chapter 12)

3. Heidi tells the team that everyone is going to play, which is good news, but when Heidi tells Zoey she has been chosen to be a jammer and Astrid has not, Astrid becomes jealous and angry. Zoey is hurt by this because she feels Astrid should be happy for her, so she does not talk to Astrid for a while, prompting Astrid to reflect and change her ways. (Chapter 10)

Chapters 13-16

Reading Check

1. Broadway, movies, Hugh Jackman (Chapters 8, 14, and 16)

2. Asteroid (Chapter 15)

3. Takes many hits for her team (Chapter 16)

4. Rainbow Bite (Chapter 16)

Short Answer

1. Astrid photocopies a picture of Hugh Jackman and creates signs for the audience to use at the game when Zoey plays. She also asks Rainbow Bite to make a sign for Zoey. (Chapters 14 and 16)

2. Astrid is flattered by the invitation but would rather be with her team because they are her new friends. (Chapter 16)

3. Astrid spends her time thinking about everything she has done wrong to cause distance between her and Nicole and push away Zoey. She decides to read about Broadway and learn about Zoey’s interests to show she cares. (Chapter 14)